If you don't have a low-mass arm, it would better to use the M97xE with the built-in stabilising brush deployed. While I don't own an MP-110 myself I've spent a great many hours listening to one, without hearing any undue amount of surface noise from new or well maintained records. A cheap record cleaner (Studebaker in my case) is one of the best investments I've made to raise my vinyl enjoyment. I don't know if his calculator takes into account resistor damping or not, which may change that value. That Hi-Fi World article definitely was interesting, especially the way it put the 2 brands on completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

By the way, this would be going on a Harman Kardon T-45 C turntable, if that makes any difference as far as compliance/compatibility. I remember your post of OM10 as well, which is essentially the reason why I was able to widdle down my options. the former mostly for being too clunky for the slim headshell design and the latter for being rather clunky as well, but mainly for only moderate compliance. Bar none, Grado does have my loyalty for sure, in fact they started me on my quest for quality sound. TT is a Denon DP23-F that I got a few months ago "almost new" for €40 in replacement of my AT-LP5 that I never really liked.I tried a Goldring 1006 (Rega Baerwald alignment) in my Rega instead of Exact a while ago just to see/hear the difference between different stylus profiles.

I've had varied results with the MP-110 in different turntable/pre-amp combinations, ranging from bright and breezy to thick and heavy.

top end and high midrange was noticably restricted,high treble in particular sounded muffled and generally absent. And the notion that this can't be true as a result of the AT having a microline stylus is fundamental misunderstanding of the complexities involved in sonic reproduction from groove walls. I did exchange the ML because I thought I was at about 500hrs with the ML and I wanted something to compare.