This cartridge was easy to install in the tonearm of my Empire 598 II turntable from 1973.  I used to run Shure V15-III and IV cartridges, back in the day, but this Audio Technica sounds every bit as good to me listening to the old vinyl.  I plan to buy another as a spare soon.  This has a universal mount, so you can use it on modern tonearms, too.  I think you'd have to spend $60-100 more to really notice any difference in sound quality versus a "better" cartridge, which would be a minimal difference.