Over the years, since 1961, I must have owned 30 to 40 may be 50 cartridges in one form or another. Every version of a 681, 881, 981, every V-15, plus quite a few M series. There were Empires, Signets, and so many different Ortofons If I had to list them all I'm sure I'd forget one or two, maybe a half dozen. My favorite out of that bunch was a SL 15 MK II by Ortofon. But it was a compromised tracker. Nothing like my V-15 V or 981 HZL or Grace F9E. But I loved the sound even if I had to deal with SUT's that were a pain in the neck. Then I was introduced to Dynavector. My 20 X2 HO is the best cartridge I have ever owned. It has the sound of the Ortofon, but with out the tracking issues. Set it a 2.1 grams and go. I have yet to here it mis-track on a clean record. And it falls in your budget. It has clean bass, very very quiet background, glorious midrange and lower highs, and above 6, kHz will present what ever is on the disc. If its trash or beautiful percussion sounds the 20X2 will reveal it all to the listener.
The better your phono stage the better the sound. An austere stage will give the 20 a hardness you may not like, an older SS or tube pre-amp a softness you may cherish or detest. Right now I'm scratching my head over the purchase of a XX2. If I do that then will an Ovation with a TT5 follow or will it be a SME 15 with a 309? Scratch, scratch, scratch?
If you do buy the 20, be sure your TT is up to snuff. The older Thorens I owned were all freight trains right out of the box new. Thank heavens for a TD 125.