All over the map here.
Started my vinyl quest with a brand new Glider L2; hadn't heard it but remembered reading a positive review on it years before, and my local hifi shop was a Benz dealer. It was very good; I was pleased, and knew vinyl was going to be my thing. Upgraded to a new Ortofon Kontrapunkt "c" a year later, also unheard (though I did get to audition an "a"), and it was even better. Pleased again, but still I wanted more! Then I experimented for a while, buying various mid-upper line Ortofons and Benzes (e.g. Jubilee, Windfeld, Reference 3) on the used market (mostly Audiogon), with very "meh" results. Disappointing. In the end I didn't attain more musical satisfaction versus the Kontrapunkt -- which I wish I'd kept, since I'm not sure whether I prefer its successor the Cadenza Bronze (currently used in a headphone rig).
Then by chance I got to try a VERY old & tired Koetsu Onyx (Alnico, not Platinum) plugged into my system, and instantly knew that was the sound for me. Pure musical bliss. By now I've bought a number of Koetsu, most used, except for a new Coralstone and an Onyx Platinum I had rebuilt by Koetsu. My used market experience here was very good -- sellers were very honest and meticulous; each used Koetsu I've received has sounded just like a brand new one. You can save a BUNDLE vs. the absolutely crazy US list prices, which seem to be absurdly marked up for no good reason. The Platinums sound different than the old Alnico, the former being more modern and accurate, but both are fabulous.
I still get curious about today's popular fancy cartridges, but remain very happy with my Koetsu children. Haven't pulled the trigger on anything else. I've heard the Ortofon Anna in unfamiliar systems a few times, and it was very nice, a fabulous technical performer in a system with Tannoy Kingdom Royals and top-line VAC electronics, but didn't quite hit that "critical mass" of musicality overall.
My Alnico Onyx is out for rebuild (keeping original magnets), and I've probably got enough good hours on my Koetsus to last until I can't hear well anymore. The Platinum models pair extremely well with my Rogue Ares Magnum (and Sky 40 or 1131 SUT, plus my blend of NOS tubes picked over years of experimentation) -- though superficially appearing to be far below the Koetsu pay grade, I can't complain on its results. The "Magnum" upgrade was a notable improvement, even with external SUT. I tried the new VAC Renaissance phono stage, and preferred the maxed-out Ares. As we all know, cartridge / phono pairing is crucial -- the VAC might actually work very nicely to soften up the top Ortofons, though I didn't get to try that.