While choosing a turntable, take a note to a phonograph cartridge that is one of the decisive factors for getting perfect sound as a result. The poor-quality cartridge renders high-end amps or speakers useless when playing your vinyl. So how to choose the best phono cartridge?
Phono cartridges, whether expensive or budget, come in various shapes and sizes and are designed as electromechanical transducers for playing records. To discover which one will be the best phono cartridge for your turntable and records, read the following reviews of the most popular models on the market.
What is a Phono Cartridge?
A phono cartridge (cart) is an electro-mechanical unit to turn the content of the record into an electrical signal with the further amplifying it to deliver music. Its construction depends on its type – whether it is an MM cartridge or an MC one. The main parts of the carts are a diamond stylus, a rubber suspension, a magnet, a cantilever, and coils.
- A diamond stylus tracks the records.
- The cantilever holds a stylus on it one end and a magnet on another one.
- The suspension provides the precise tracking of the groove with the stylus.
- A magnet accepts the vibrations from the cantilever starting vibrating and generating voltage in the coil.
- The coil passes a signal to a phono stage.
Then the electrical signal comes to the amp or speakers to be turned into sound.
Standard or P-mount Cartridge
The majority of record players are equipped with standard or universal cartridges that are mounted onto them. How to determine that your cart is standard? They are connected to the tonearm via 2 vertical screws and 4 wires.
P-mount cartridge is hooked up to the tonearm directly via 4 pins (T4P plug) on its back without any additional adjustments.
Certain users may lack the confidence to accurately identify the type of cartridge. In this case, they can find out the information in the manual or on the manufacturer’s website.
Moving Magnet (MM) or Moving Coil (MC)
Best phono cartridges are based on two main technologies and, accordingly, are powered with Moving magnets and Moving Coils.
A moving magnet cartridge has a magnet attached to the metal cantilever with the diamond. As the replaceable diamond tracks the vinyl, it interacts with the coil and converts the signal from magnetic to electrical.
In an MC cartridge, two coils with a magnet between them move a cantilever. The turntables with MCs have diamonds that cannot be replaced.
While both types can produce high-quality sound, music enthusiasts often prefer the more expensive MC models, as cheaper units tend to have poorer quality.A MM cartridge offers far better value for everyday home usage.
Best Phono Cartridges
Standard Cartridge Reviews
Moving Magnet Cartridges
Audio-Technica AT-VM95E — Best Turntable Cartridge for the Money
The transparent “sound as it is” output is enough to call it the best moving magnet cartridge. It tracks the records with precision and creates a detailed stereo image. Mounting and setting up the cartridge can be a challenging task for novice turntable users, as it requires careful attention to properly connect the wires. Still, if you have some experience in cartridge replacement, you’ll appreciate the threaded brass inserts system that requires just two screws to fix the cartridge on a tonearm.
The cartridge is equipped with the sturdy aluminum cantilever holding the elliptical stylus. The latter is 0.7 x 0.3 mil size and has the bonded round shank construction. It tracks the frequencies within the range of 20Hz – 22,000Hz easily ensuring the exact frequency response and high dynamics. The sound flows easily and is well-balanced. The soundstage has a good scope, and the imaging is accurate. The channel separation is standard for turntables making 20 dB. The output makes 4mV supported with the coils wound in a specific way. On average, the vertical tracking force measures 2.0g, with a minimum of 1.8g and a maximum of 2.2g. This lets insert the stylus into the groove precisely yet not causing it any harm.
The VM95 series cartridge is compatible with six different types of styluses, allowing for easy upgrades or replacements without having to change the entire cartridge. Additionally, Audio-Technica offers other stylus options with varying shapes and durability that are also compatible with the cartridge.
Pros
- The polymer housing secures the distortion-free performance, without hiss.
- Tracks LPs and 45RPM records with the same ease and accuracy.
- The mounting kit for the product is versatile as it includes screws of both 8mm and 11mm sizes, as well as a pair of washers.
Cons
- Frequently skips on the old records.
- The treble is a little bit bright.
Ortofon 2m Red — Best Phono Cartridge Under 100
The Ortofon – 2m Red MM phono cartridge is remarkable for its bright red design and producing precise sound with the expressive midrange, wider soundstage, sensitive, and warm vocals. The treble and bass frequencies are well-balanced, with excellent separation between instruments. However, the lower frequencies may require more strength or emphasis to achieve a more balanced overall sound. The Hi-Fi level shouldn’t be expected from the unit in this price range, but all the records sound very soft.
The device is very simple to align and adjust to prevent distortions in the inner groove. This model has 1.8 grams of tracking force that is a bit heavy, but it is typical for budget devices. It could become the best moving magnet phono cartridge, but metal dome materials’ damping is average making some high-frequency harmonics resonate. But it can be eliminated when subduing high frequencies with a crossover.
Pros
- New screw mounting system with high output level allows fast calibrating and screws mounting into the cartridge itself without little bolts.
- Good tracking even on bouncy old hardwood floors.
Cons
- As the volume increases, the brightness of the sound diminishes, resulting in a loss of detail in the audio.
- High coil inductance worsens phono preamp’s hiss.
Shure M97xE — Best Phono Cartridge Under 1000
My phono cartridge reviews can help but include the Shure M97xE that is designed especially for music geeks. Its elliptical diamond fits perfectly aluminum low-mass cantilevers with thin walls and is easy to replace. Its sturdy mounting block, which is composed of lightweight yet enduring die-cast aluminum, makes the gadget stand out. The Shure M97xE phono cartridge is equipped with a damped Dynamic Stabilizer brush to play any record. It also damps tonearm resonances at low frequencies.
The Shure phono cartridge demonstrates flawless bass and midrange performance; that’s why it can be considered as the best phono cartridge under 200, but it lacks good frequency response. Both male and female voices sound pleasant, but none has a strong presence. As for electric guitar, it sounds expressive and well-balanced with other instruments. Each kind of drum is rendered with a lot of detail. It rolls off highs too early by default, but it’s not a great problem when having an adjustable phono preamp.
Pros
- The package contains screwdriver, mounting hardware, stylus alignment guide, and cleaning brush.
- Stable frequency curve within the acceptable range of 7 to 12Hz.
Cons
- Over 4000Hz, it cannot deliver a balanced presentation.
Audio-Technica AT95E — Best Phono Cartridge
The Audio-Technica phono cartridge is an affordable and high-performance cartridge that delivers clear sound (including bass) and good stereo separation. Even if the anti-skating is not adjusted, the tracking is excellent. It can be the best cartridge under 100 for playing very old records to reproduce every single as accurately as possible but it may not fit those who want to enhance bass essentially (it improves midrange best of all).
While dealing with all musical genres, the balance between highs and lows is perfect, and the dynamics are evident everywhere. The unit removes the majority of surface noises from the records. It is better to calibrate the weight up to 1.7 grams to eliminate scraping and dragging sounds.
Pros
- Rhythm instruments sound just the right amount of abruption and aggression.
- It fits even high-mass tonearms.
Cons
- Tiny nuts can cling to the end of the screws during the cartridge installation.
- The sound is not particularly detailed.
Ortofon 2M Blue — Best Phono Cartridge Under 300
The cart was constructed of plastic angular casing and a changeable nude elliptical stylus. The stylus is not just a diamond tip, but it is completely diamond up to the end of the cantilever. The cart has a typical output (5.5mV) and track force (1.8g) to be compatible with any turntable and phono preamp. Its shape matches the tonearm perfectly because of their similar shapes.
The Ortofon 2M Blue reveals all the vocal’s peculiarities and passages that are in harmony with both melody and bass, making it the best mm cartridge. The sound is detailed, but the treble is a bit harsh. The cart requires very careful anti-skating adjustments to avoid buzzing on both left and right channels.
Pros
- It tracks inner grooves with a little or no IGD.
- Mounting in 10 minutes with no tinkering or patience-testing techniques.
Cons
- The bass is not so solid when comparing it with the identical records in digital format.
- The amount of background noise is not very low (some pops and clicks are audible).
Sumiko Pearl — Best Phono Cartridge Under 200
The cart was created to be installed on a standard ½-inch mount turntable or headshell. It is compatible with record players of such brands as Dual, Denon, Marantz, Sony, etc.
For the first track, this cartridge offers clear and balanced sound over the full spectrum, but soon some distortions become audible. It requires making all the settings perfect, including alignment, anti-skate, tracking weight, and azimuth. This cartridge may improve recordings from scratched LPs by giving clear voices and middle without sibilance, as well as instrument expansion into an immersive soundscape.
The unit delivers solid bass and sharp highs. There may seem to be a shortage of lows, but they are improving after just half an hour of play time. Though it is not able to analyze and separate bits, the Sumiko Pearl can be nominated as the best cartridge under 300 because it comes with an enhanced channel separation of 30 dB (the majority of cartridges in this price range can boast only 22 dB) to make sound imaging perfect.
Pros
- Easily replaceable diamond stylus.
- Wide frequency response (12 – 30 kHz) from the lowest bass up to high treble.
Cons
- Since the cartridge is somewhat tall, it may not fit a head-shell with standard length fittings.
Ortofon 2M Bronze — Best Phono Cartridge Under 500
The Ortofon comes with a tool kit (scale, cleaning brush, two sets of long and short headshell screws, and a screwdriver) in the box. The unit’s weight, size, and construction make it compatible with the majority of recent turntable models. Its stylus has a svelte profile for tracking the highest frequency content, and its footprint is large enough to prevent the record’s premature wear. To eliminate resonances, the cabinet is built of the novel material Lexan DMX Piano Black.
The model demonstrates precise reproduction and neutral tonal balance as for the best moving magnet cartridge. The Ortofon 2M Bronze produces clear sound without even a slight buzz at any frequencies. It allows hearing all the sound features of various instruments (guitar, saxophone, drums, piano, and others) getting a chance to become the best phono cartridge under 500 for vinyl records lovers. The cart is able to tighten bass up and separate the musical instruments even while listening to heavy and thrash metal.
Pros
- Increases the sound quality of the record, making surface noise unnoticeable.
- Eliminates inner groove distortion.
Cons
- Despite being the best phono cartridge under $500, a bit of stiffness is present while the cartridge is new. It takes 100 hours or more to offset this effect.
Moving Coil Cartridges
Denon DL-103
This model has a well-balanced sound: the highs are transparent and clear, the bass is tight, and the middle is quite robust. The sound can be adjusted by changing the phono stage impedance. For example, when setting 390 (+/- 120) Ohms, one can get great high frequencies. Its output is 3 mV that is required to adjust the transformer (100 – 120 Ohms) and to get a quiet phono preamp.
The optimal track force is 2.5g that’s why adding weight to the headshell is recommended. The desirable tonearm mass is no less than 0.6g.
If all of the parameters are met, the cartridge creates a fantastic soundstage with tremendous dynamics and crisp 1K and 5K tones.
Pros
- The Denon DL-103 improves the sound making it richer and deeper eliminating the vinyl noises.
- It perfectly reproduces sensitive instruments (bells, triangles, tambourines, etc.).
Cons
- A flimsy mounting arrangement with open-edge bolt channels that make the headshell connection not rigid.
Audio-Technica AT33PTG/2
This Audio-Technica moving coil cartridge is built of high-quality materials and has various advances. It sounds full and transparent and is easy to install thanks to the simple four-prong construction.
The cartridge has a dual moving coil mechanism with a neodymium magnet in the middle. The magnetic field is enhanced with the permendur yoke, which provides for the fast signal “reading” and transformation. The pure copper construction of the coils also ensures sound clarity — being extremely lightweight, they move fast and guarantee live dynamics of the music.
The cartridge’s uniqueness is further attributed to its abbreviated cantilever, which facilitates the precise alignment of the stylus along the groove relief. The cantilever is made of the tapered boron and is also lightweight, which lets it react fast to the stylus movement. As a result, the pops and clicks originating from the old disks are audible but not obtrusive.
The stylus has a square shank and a micro linear diamond structure. This lets it fill the grooves of LPs and 45s without effort and retract a lot of detail. The sound flows smoothly and offers a broad, deep soundstage with precise imaging and frequency response. The latter is vast, catching the sub-low 15Hz and reaching the ultra-high 50,000Hz. The voices are clean and rich, with even the smallest harmonics nicely delineated. Overall, the sound is natural and balanced.
Pros
- The reduced impedance of the moving coil (10W) ensures the neutral tonal balance.
- The vibration-free design brings little to zero sound distortion.
- The stylus durability is estimated at 1,000 hours.
Cons
- Can sound harsh on the phono stages with the high output.
- In complicated compositions, the bass may lack loudness.
Audio-Technica AT-F7
Its build quality means metal cabinet, the non-replaceable stylus that is not an issue because its price makes it more rational to replace the whole cartridge but not the stylus separately. The highest design standards are obvious from the stylus’ nude elliptical shape providing fast and accurate mounting into the shank and PC-OCC wiring made of high-purity copper. Besides, it comes with stainless suspension wire to improve high-frequency reproduction.
To use this cart, the turntable should have a high-quality amp and MC phono preamp. In this circumstance, the model offers improved frequency response without boosted highs, precise stereo imaging, and clean and transparent tones.
Pros
- Easy alignment due to the cart’s two parallel sides.
- No inner groove distortions.
Cons
- The aluminum bolts cannot provide firm fixing. Stainless-steel ones are recommended.
- There isn’t enough refinement in the bass.
Cartridges for DJ
Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge
The Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge is a highly recommended product for professional DJs and turntablists. The cartridge features a unique and sleek design that fits perfectly on most turntables. The sound quality is outstanding, with clear and detailed audio reproduction across all frequency ranges. The bass is punchy and tight, while the highs and mids are crisp and well-defined.
One of the standout features of the Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge is its exceptional tracking ability. It can handle even the most demanding vinyl records without any skipping or distortion. Additionally, the cartridge has a high output level, making it suitable for use with a wide range of mixers and amplifiers.
The installation process is straightforward and can be done quickly and easily. The Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge comes with a stylus brush and a protective case for easy transport and storage.
Overall, the Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge is a high-quality product that delivers excellent sound performance and durability. It’s a top choice for DJs who demand the best in sound quality and tracking ability.
Pros
- Perfect for scratching and cueing and for battle DJing, as a result.
- This cartridge delivers excellent sound quality.
- The cartridge’s unique and contemporary appearance adds a touch of sophistication to any DJ’s equipment.
Cons
- The package arrived in a slightly damaged condition.
P-mount Cartridges
Audio-Technica AT85EP — Best Budget Phono Cartridge
Thanks to the elliptical stylus and the Audio-Technica innovations, it produces a clear sound with an even frequency response and non-muffled low-end, which is often a problem with the budget level turntables.
The construction consists of the dual magnets moving along the specifically designed coil. The latter has the para-toroidal shape and accounts for the precision of the signal transmission. The cantilever is aluminum and is tipped with the standard size (0.3 mil x 0.7 mil) elliptical diamond stylus. The shank has a bonded round shape. The components and the overall build feels durable and precision-made.
The AT85EP’s sound is strong and rich, with well-defined mids and lows. The middle line is energetic and clear. The lows have a strong foundation. The highs might be a bit warm; yet, the overall performance is concentrated and balanced. It creates a soundstage with good imaging, where the instrument and voice separation are distinct and detail is plenty. The old records sound fine, with the pops being present but non-intrusive.
The setup is simple and does not need the use of any other tools. The stylus is replaceable; so, the sound can be further upgraded or take on a new tonal balance and dynamics. This is an excellent choice for inexperienced turntable enthusiasts.
Pros
- The weight (0.96oz) is universal and doesn’t require the tonearm adjustment at the majority of turntables.
- Crisp and detailed vocals without muffled spots.
- The inner groove distortion is minimal.
Cons
- Sound definition isn’t as good as it is in more costly versions.
- Might skip on the worn disks.
LP GEAR CFT4PSE
The LP GEAR CFT4PSE is a premium quality cartridge designed for use with P-mount tonearms. It is compatible with a wide range of turntables and offers exceptional sound quality for audiophiles who are looking for an upgrade from their current setup.
The cartridge features a highly polished elliptical diamond stylus that ensures excellent tracking and accurate sound reproduction. The lightweight aluminum cantilever is also designed to be durable and precise, resulting in a detailed and dynamic sound with exceptional clarity.
The LP GEAR CFT4PSE P-mount cartridge is easy to install and maintain, making it a convenient option for those who want to upgrade their turntable without any hassle. It offers an excellent balance of high-frequency detail, mid-range warmth, and tight bass response, making it ideal for a wide range of musical genres.
Overall, LP GEAR CFT4PSE P-mount cartridge is an excellent choice for audiophiles who are looking for a high-quality cartridge that can bring out the best in their vinyl collection. It is a well-designed, durable, and reliable cartridge that offers exceptional sound quality at an affordable price.
Pros
- The phono cartridge offers great sonic performance considering its price.
- It tracks quite well at 1.5 grams, demonstrating decent performance.
Cons
- The cartridge’s bright color gives the impression of a cheap component, even when connected to a high-quality carbon fiber tonearm/headshell.
Buyer’s Guide
High Time to Change a Phono Cartridge
The carts’ mission is to enhance the record players’ sound quality. That leads to the stylus’ wear that should be replaced. There is a risk of destroying the records if the proper period for replacement is not observed. A degree of wear of both outer and inner cart’s edges should be taken into account.
The change in sound quality leads to the entire cartridge or only stylus (needle) replacement. What is more efficient? Purchasing a new stylus is a wise option if physical concerns, different types of noise and distortions, and disturbance of channel balance are revealed.
If the cart has expired or is broken, a new stylus is worthless, but the cart must be replaced. One more reason for installing a new cart is a desire to upgrade the turntable system making it more advanced. Also, the cart and stylus prices may be almost same. Purchasing a new cartridge would be more logical in this instance.
The Turntable Stylus’ Expiration Date
The standard cart has a service life of 300 to 1000 hours of record playing time. Much is determined by the amount of time spent listening every day. For instance, in case of using the record player 1 hour daily, every 2-years replacement is recommended. Take into consideration the manufacturer’s recommendations. Those who own a second-hand turntable should replace the cart right after its purchase.
Cartridge vs Stylus – What to Buy, How to Choose
The cartridges are often called styluses, but in fact, a stylus is just a diamond part of the cart tracking in the record groove.
The cartridge has a direct influence on sound quality. There are devices designed for both professional DJs and household listening. A new cart is an excellent method to get new experience. While thinking of it, pay attention to a price that starts from $25 and reaches $15 000. New stylus is the only possible decision for entry-level record players with non-removable carts (they have no mounting screws). Choose the stylus that is compatible with the turntable.
Hi everyone! I’m Thomas Moody, also known as Guitarzan.