A QUICK GUIDE TO CARTRIDGE SELECTION
This guide is not a written in stone, but a simplification and basic idea of what to get. There are reasons to use other than the recommended. That will depend on your specific needs. For instance, our recommendations for restoration usually takes into consideration presumed record warps and record damage, and also production work. Vintage records in fine condition may be served well with audiophile cartridges.
APPLICATION | CARTRIDGE | MOUNTING STYLE | LP STYLUS | RECOMMENDED TURNTABLE | GRADE | FEATURES |
Casual Listening | Audio-Technica ATN3472P | P-Mount | Conical | All P-Mount turntables | Standard | Standard |
Casual Listening | Audio-Technica AT3600L | Standard | Conical | AudioTechnica, medium grade turntables, hi-end record changers | Step-up | 0.6 mil LP stylus for better tracking of highs |
Casual Listening | Esoteric CN1000MKII | Standard | Conical | AudioTechnica, lo-to medium end turntables, record changers | Standard | Elliptical 78 available for superior sound |
Casual Listening | ShureM92E | P-Mount, standard | Elliptical | AudioTechnica, mid-grade turntables, hi-end record changers, has adapter for starndard mount | Step-up | Elliptical 78 available for superior sound |
Basic Restoration | Shure SC35C | Standard | Conical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica, changers | For older discs/78s | Heavy tracking, rugged, good for restoration |
Basic Restoration | Shure M78S | Standard | Conical 78 | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica, changers | Mono, for 78s | Light tracking, for listening/basic restoration |
Step-up Restoration | Shure M44-7 | Standard | Conical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica, changers | For older LPs & 78s | light to medium tracking, Elliptical 78 available for superior high-frequency sound |
Step-up Restoration | Grado 78E | Standard | Conical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnicachangers | Mono, for 78s | Heavier tracking, rugged, low-mass stylus armature improves sound of highs/percussion |
Advanced Restoration | Grado DJ100 | Standard | Elliptical |
Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica, changers |
For older discs | Heavy tracking/Custom 78 sizes available, very good for restoration |
Advanced Restoration | Nagaoka MP-110 | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica, medium to hi-end turntables | Step-up | Medium tracking, custom 78 sizes available. |
Advanced Restoration | Stanton 500.V3 | Standard | Conical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica, changers | Standard | Heavy tracking/good for restoration/Elliptical 78 available for superior sound |
Audiophile Listening | Grado Green | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica medium to hi-end turntables | Step-up | Audiophile discs/Custom 78 sizes available. |
Audiophile Listening | Nagaoka MP-110 | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica medium to hi-end turntables | Step-up | Audiophile discs/Custom 78 sizes available. |
Audiophile Listening | Grado Black | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica medium to hi-end turntables | Small Step-up | Audiophile discs/Custom 78 sizes available. |
Audiophile Listening | Stanton681EEE MKIII | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica medium to hi-end turntables | Step-up | Audiophile discs/78 stylus available. |
Audiophile Listening | Shure M97xE | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica medium to hi-end turntables | Step-up | Audiophile discs/78 stylus available. Warp and static electricity resistant. |
Audiophile Listening | Nagaoka DM-500 | Standard | Line Contact | Trovatore, T3378, hi-end turntables | Dramatic step-up | Audiophile and LP discs only |
Audiophile Listening | Grado Sonata | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, hi-end turntables | Dramatic step-up | Audiophile and LP discs only |
Audiophile Listening | Grado Sonata | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, hi-end turntables | Dramatic step-up | Audiophile and LP discs only |
Audiophile Listening | Grado Gold | Standard | Elliptical | Trovatore, T3378, AudioTechnica medium to hi-end turntables | Improved Step-up | Audiophile discs/Custom 78 sizes available. |
If you already have a turntable made by other than us, pay particular attention to our cartridge feature descriptions on the previous page.
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