[Rushboy]

I am curious to see what will be named.
My favorite style of music is classic rock.

[mick wolfe]

My best "guess" is the Denon 103. This if you're looking for a LOMC. The stick in the mud is that you'll need a step up or SUT of some ilk. If you're looking at HOMC's, you might well include moving magnets and moving irons in your search. Nagaoka, Soundsmith, Grado and maybe for high output MC's, Dynavector, Hana or Denon DL-110 on the cheap. I can only speak for the Amadeus arm, but it's never met a cartridge it didn't like in regard to compatibility. I currently use alum. bodied re-tipped 103's (by VAS) with an A23 SUT.

[Rushboy]

Hello Mick,
the Denon DL103 and the Denon DL110 were also my first thoughts.
In another forum, however, some users said that the tonearm on the Simplex was far too light for the Denon.

Greetings Peter

[mick wolfe]

I think the silicon damping system of the Well Tempered designs makes the arm quite flexible in regard to various cartridge compliances. I believe Mike Pranka has echoed this same thought in a post here just a few months back.

[rotarius]

For classic rock, I'd stick with good MMs.  Otherwise Dl103.  If that one seems unrefined, try DL301 mk2.

[/mp]

Stating a specific price point and new vs. used & what condition is probably more constructive than writing low budget. One person's cheap is another's unaffordable.

As always, YMMV.

[SET Man]

Hey!

    I currently have 3 cheap MC carts right now, all under $500. Two are currently in my system right now... Hana EL and Denon 103. But there are on two different turntables/arms though. Haven't swapped them to really compare them.
   
    The Hana EL is on my Helius Alexia table with Omega copper arm and the Denon 103 is on 1971-2 Transcriptor Hydraulic Ref turntable with SME 3009 II Improved arm. Both go into Cinemag 3440AH SUT.

    I enjoy them both..., the Hana to me sounds on a warm side of things, with fuller mid but still detailed high and good sense of speed. A very enjoyable cart. The Denon 103 to me sounds more neutral in the mid, with some pop albums with leaner sound this could be a bit annoying. Great full bass and surprisingly detailed high considering it got old school conical stylus. With great recording and old jazz the 103 is really great. But overall the sense of speed is slower than the Hana though.

    I also have Audio Technica AT-OC9XEB MC at $260... I listened to it briefly on the Helius TT/arm set up, but not enough to say any for now. Will swap out the Hana for this soon.. maybe.
   
    Anyway, as mentioned before not a true comparison due to the fact they are on different TT/arm combos and the Hana is close to the end of stylus life also, the 103 got 50hrs on it. But if you ask me to choose only one right now? I'd go with the Hana for me... I listen to a lot pops and electronic music.
 
 

[S Clark]

I have a high output Ortofon Quintet Red that is close to new that isn't getting used.  They are $400 at Music Direct and I'd take pretty deep discount-$200+.  It's highly detailed yet solid mids.  On the JVC table I bought it for it's not a good match, but on my Jelco it's great.   Compared to the Dynavector 10x5, it has greater clarity but the Dynavector was better overall in the JVC table.   But the Dynavector is now a $800 cartridge. 

If interested, shoot me a PM. 

[VinceT]

Had the Dyna 20x2 on my WTL, didn't do anything for me. In fact I am probably going back to MM or MI carts. Thinking about a Nag or LP gear to get a little more warmth and dynamics. Had the denons 110 and 160 in the past those were OK carts, nothing special imho. I listen to all kinds of stuff, so imo a good MM or MI will be a good all rounder kind of cart. Plus I won't have to futz with the cart loading and simplify my phono playback.

[Rushboy]

I will definitely not be buying a Nagaoka again. On my old Rega, I often had static discharges with the Nagaoka MP300.

[rotarius]

Hard to beat an old Shure or Grado for rock albums.  With good stylii that is.  I had a retipper take a new Grado prestige and upgrade the stylus to a nude elliptical with great results.  It's crazy that you have to spend over 600 bucks to get a Grado with a nude tip these days.  Vintage Grado tips were far better.

[S Clark]

Had the Dyna 20x2 on my WTL, didn't do anything for me...

Interesting.  It's my cartridge of choice on my Pioneer P3 tonearm.  On my Jelco 750 I like a modified Sumiko Blacbird with microridge stylus.  I also like the Ortofon Quintet Black. Hana SL not so much. 
Everyone is different.  That's a good thing.

[VinceT]

In regards to the OP's preferred genre being classic rock, probably can't go wrong with a solid MM/MI cart. I think in my case I know i could have gotten more out of the Dyna cart, but that would require gear swapping to find the right synergy. I found the overall presentation (with my associated gear) had a very nice soundstage, but lacked the dynamics I was looking for. Versus going down the upgrade path rabbit hole, I'm probably going back to MM/MI carts and simplifying my phono rig, and if I upgrade anything, will be a better amp to pair with my GR LS9's.