Which turntable cartridge

But before diving in, let's go over some cartridge fundamentals. Things are about to get technical. The cartridge is an electro-mechanical device that translates the information in record grooves into an electrical signal that can be amplified to produce music.

There are many different types of cartridges. To keep it simple, we will focus on the operation of a moving magnet or MM-type cartridge many of the principles remain the same for moving coil cartridges.

The diamond stylus tip is the only part of the cartridge that makes direct contact with the record. As the stylus traces the movements of the grooves, it vibrates the cantilever. The cantilever is a rigid tube with a stylus mounted on one end and a magnet on the other. The rubber suspension allows the cantilever to pivot so that the stylus can accurately track the grooves.

Vibrations from the stylus tip travel along the cantilever to the magnet. As the magnet vibrates, its magnetic field varies. These variations in the magnetic field generate a small voltage in the coils, which corresponds to the movement of the magnet thanks to Lenz's Law. Two magnets are attached to the cantilever at a 90 degree angle each with a corresponding set of coils.

For more info on how stereo cartridges work, check out this article. Stylus shape: The shape of the stylus affects how it makes contact with the record groove. The narrower the contact radius, the better the stylus will be able to track modulations in the groove. This high-output moving-iron cartridge features a tapered cantilever with dual SD diamonds for smooth yet highly detailed sound. Also, the fine metal body provides the low end for defined, rumbling lows. In addition to that, the gold-plated connector pins eliminate all corrosion and minimize contact resistance.

Furthermore, the super permalloy pole shoes provide maximum sensitivity while the shield reduces noise pickup. Finally, the Samarium cobalt magnet ensures maximum output. Notable moving magnet cartridge: Goldring link to check the price at MusicDirect. This MM cartridge represents every audiophile dream: ultimate sonic performance with the convenience of a replaceable stylus. That being said, the included stylus is a nude, natural diamond Gyger S profile.

This revolutionary piece was designed to be closer to the record cutting head than any other design. As a result, the sound coming out of the speakers is the closest possible to the shape of the groove with none of the high-end sibilance.

Official website: goldring. Moreover, he was a pioneer in the use of high-purity materials such as 6N copper and platinum iron magnets. His legacy continues to fuel the company that manufactures in Japan with USA-based headquarters. Did you ever think your records would sound their best when played with a stone cartridge? Besides being eye-catching on the outside, the inner parts make it soul-catching as well. Furthermore, together with the uncanny stone housing, they create an ethereal sound and feel for which Koetsu is famous worldwide.

Official website: koetsuaudio. Fast forward to the present, three generations of skilled craftsmen and talented engineers who breathed music and sound from the crib now run the company. Like Koetsu utilizes ground-breaking technology to shape stone and make cartridges, Grado revolutionized the industry, making them with high-grade timbre. In this case, the company integrates Jarrah, diamonds, and a twin magnet system with their patented Flux-Bridge technology to achieve outstanding performance.

Also, they used ultra-high purity long crystal along with an oxygen-free copper wire for the coils to increase transparency. Finally, the Grado-designed ellipsoid diamond rounds up one of the best-sounding MC cartridges on the list.

Notable moving iron cartridge: Grado Aeon3 link to check the price at Audio Advice. What can be the outcome of sapphire, diamond, and wood? The answer to that question is nothing but the purest sound with outstanding tonal balance, dynamics, and realism. Furthermore, the exceptional level of detail, colour-correct harmonics, and low end make this a one-of-a-kind cartridge.

This unit is hand-built in Brooklyn by some of the most experienced and talented craftsmen in the industry to bring you uncanny performance every time you set it on the grooves of your favourite record. Official website: gradolabs. This grants the company the capability to perform thorough quality assurance tests at each step of the path, ensuring that only the best-performing, reliable, and well-made cartridges ever leave the factory.

It is about time you discover them. Notable moving magnet cartridge: Nagaoka MP link to check the price on Amazon. The MP in the name of this state-of-the-art cartridge comes from moving permalloy, one of the best materials for building cartridges in the world. Besides that feature, this cartridge utilizes a superfine line diamond mounted on a high-strength boron cantilever to translate vinyl grooves into the most detailed, wide-range music coming out of your speakers. Besides the detail, and because of the samarium cobalt magnet, this little unit is also capable of some serious power weighing only 8 grams.

Finally, the anti-ferromagnetic permalloy shield casing keeps the audio as clean as possible. Given the vast nuances of the stylus shapes and the cartridges themselves, there is truly no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing a pickup. But if you like the spherical style stylus for playing 78 rpm records , DJing a set with some scratching and back-spinning, or the general convenience of wider availability and options, an MM cartridge might be a great fit, since you can update and replace your styli much easier without replacing the entire cartridge.

Plus, you can access the cartridge and stylus replacements far easier with a wider range of affordable choices. Of course, there are many different turntable cartridge types, and the turntable, amp, adapter, and overall listening set-up you have will massively inform what matters most.

At the end of the day, there are valid arguments for the most die-hard MC cartridge fan and the most intense MM cartridge devotee. For nearly 40 years, SUMIKO has provided the finest array of phono cartridges to discriminating analog enthusiasts around the world.

Moving Magnet Cartridge. Related posts. November 5, by Sumiko in Design. October 29, by Sumiko in Real life. Seeking the Best Online Record Store? Verdict: A quality cartridge system that is fine-tuned for skip resistance, has a high output, and is made with DJs in mind Getting in to the world of DJing vinyl requires numerous technological considerations. Latest Articles. Phil Elverum teases expansive Microphones vinyl box set.

Our 10 favourite new vinyl releases this week 12th November. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Consent Management Consent Management. The Vinyl Factory Group, trading as: The Vinyl Factory, Vinyl Factory Manufacturing, Phonica Records, FACT Magazine, FACT TV, Spaces Magazine, Vinyl Space, and The Store X, uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: - basic site functions - ensuring secure, safe transactions - secure account login - remembering account, browser, and regional preferences - remembering privacy and security settings - analyzing site traffic and usage - personalized search, content, and recommendations - helping us understand the audience - showing relevant, targeted ads on and off our web properties Detailed information can be found on our Privacy Policy page.

The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.

The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It does not store any personal data.

Functional Functional. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.