The Best Budget Turntable Cartridge For 2024
The Rundown
1. Best Overall: Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green
Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green is a durable cartridge with low resonance. This cartridge provides increased output voltage and has a specially wound coil that can handle high tracking pressure. The green housing will complement your turntable and also keep it protected from dust and debris. Read Review
2. Best Bang For The Buck: Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Cartridge
The Ortofon 2M Red is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth. With its low distortion and high output, the 2M Red is optimized for use with a wide range of phono preamps. Whether you're upgrading from stock cartridges or replacing an existing Ortofon moving-coil model, the 2M red will provide your vinyl collection with hours of listening pleasure. Read Review
3. Best Sleek Design: Numark CC-1 | Premium, Ultra-Robust DJ Cartridge
Introducing the Numark CC-1. A premium DJ cartridge with a sleek, slim-line design that's robust and easy to handle. The CC-1 offers enhanced tracking and high output, making it perfect for spinning and scratch enthusiasts alike. And it's consistent quality ensures that whether you're playing at home or on the road, your sound will always be clear and precise. Read Review
4. Best Efficient: Gemini Sound Professional DJ HDCN-15 Vinyl Record Player Headshell Cartridges
With a rubber washer for a perfect snug fit, the Gemini Sound Professional HDCN-15 Vinyl Record Player Headshell Cartridges are crafted in a stylish silver body. The headshells are designed to replace your old, worn out ones and bring your vinyl collection back to life, with a professional quality sound. Read Review
Finding the right turntable cartridge is just as important as finding the best turntable. This is because a turntable cartridge has to not only fit your specific turntable, but also match your musical preferences. After all, you can listen to any record no matter what type of turntable you have – it’s how well it sounds that matters. Unfortunately, most people aren’t even aware of the importance of a turntable cartridge until they buy their first one and find out how much the upgraded sound means to them.
Fortunately, there are plenty of sources out there which can help you in choosing the best budget turntable cartridge for your needs and price range. In this article, we will look at some of the best options available on the market in case you don’t want to break the bank but still get a high-performance product. There are many more details below – keep reading to learn more!
Following extensive study and analysis, we've come up with the Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green, which we hope will meet your demands. However, it is not the only thing on our list. We also show a full buyer's guide and a number of different options are available to help you find the most suitable.
RELATED: We've researched 5,916+ real reviews in 2024 on top-rated vinyl sound systems to help you decide what to buy. See our top picks and ultimate guide here.
Our Top Picks
- Aluminum cantilever
- Threaded inserts in cartridge body enable cartridge to be mounted to headshell with just two screws - no nuts required
- Durable low-resonance polymer Housing
- Specially wound coils increase output voltage
- VM95 Series dual Magnet cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil Elliptical stylus
- Universal fit for most turntables
- Upgrade from stock cartridges
- The Ortofon 2M Red features an Elliptical diamond
- Can be upgraded with an Ortofon Stylus 2M Blue
- The Ortofon 2M Red is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth
- Ready for Anything - Professional, highly-versatile cartridge suitable for every DJ style
- Hear Every Detail - Full range frequency response from 20-20,000 Hz
- Consistent Quality, Enhanced Fidelity - High-output and enhanced tracking ideal for spinning and scratch enthusiasts alike
- Style-Driven Design - Sleek, slim-line design that's robust and easy-to-handle
- Robust, Reliable - Precision-engineered circular diamond stylus tip
- Crafted in a Stylish Silver Body.
- Features a Rubber Washer for Perfect Snug Fit to Tone Arm
- Features Tracking Arms for Ease of Use.
- Get Your System Back Up Easily With Gemini HDCN-15 Pre-mount Cartride and Needle.
- Features a Covered Long Lasting Elliptical Stylus for Strong Tracking.
- VM95 Series dual Magnet cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil Elliptical stylus
- Specially wound coils increase output voltage and Aluminum cantilever
- Universal 1/2"-mount head shell for 4-pin Turntable cartridges
- Threaded inserts in cartridge body enable cartridge to be mounted to head shell with just two screws - no nuts required
- Note: This part of the stylus is extremely delicate and can bend from any slight force
- Center shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk
- Durable low-resonance polymer cartridge housing
- MicroLine stylus traces record grooves with incredible accuracy, resulting in nuanced audio reproduction that elliptical and conical styli simply can’t match
- Stylus’s multilevel shape also wears better than other styli, while reducing the wear on your records
- Paratoroidal coils improve generating efficiency
- Equipped with dual magnets that match the left and right channels in the stereo record groove for outstanding channel separation and extended frequency response
- Cartridge features dual magnets to match the left and right channels in a stereo record groove for outstanding channel separation and extended frequency response
- Paratoroidal coils improve generating efficiency
- MicroLine stylus traces record grooves with incredible accuracy, resulting in nuanced audio reproduction that elliptical and conical styli simply can't match
- Center shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk.Durable low-resonance polymer cartridge housing
- Stylus's multilevel shape also wears better than other styli, while reducing the wear on your records
- Output Impedance 14 ohms
- Threaded inserts in cartridge body enable cartridge to be mounted to headshell with just two screws - no nuts required
- VM95 Series dual Magnet cartridge with 2.7 x 0.26 mil shibata stylus
- Durable low-resonance polymer Housing
- Universal 1/2"-mount headshell for 4-pin Turntable cartridges
- Aluminum cantilever
- This is two cartriges with pre-mounted styli in an aluminum flight case
- Accurate sound reproduction and an excellent groove handling
- Will fit all DJ turntables with a removable headshell
- A Sturdy model for scratch and backcueing
- The new generation of Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ cartridges are tailored uniquely to the demands of modern turntable DJs
What to Look For in a best budget turntable cartridge?
Anti-skate Force
Pre-amps
Some turntables come with switchable preamps that can be switched on and off depending on the plugging device.
Tracking Force
Adjusting the track force can be delicate, but this is worth it to improve sound quality. You also have a lower chance of damaging your records by too much downward force.
Adjusting the counterweight at the back of your tonearm can change the tracking force. First, balance the tonearm horizontally. Next, twist the counterweight to get the right downforce (as indicated in the instruction).
Styluses And Cartridges
The stylus, or "needle", is what sits inside the grooves of the record. It is crucial to choose the right shape for the stylus. An elliptical stylus will pick up more information than one that has a conical surface because it touches more records. Audiophiles also believe that conical styluses work better with old records because they take up more space after the groove has been expanded through repeated plays.
The stylus is held in the cartridge, which converts its movements into electric signals. The most popular cartridge types are moving magnet (MM), and moving coil (MC). Most turntables will use MM cartridges because they areer and more convenient to change needles. However, MC cartridges can be lighter and pick up more groove changes than MM cartridges. They are also more costly.
Record Speeds
Fully Automatic
The extra electric signals along the tonearm and the mechanical movement are what audio purists believe affect the sound. Full-auto, however, is the best option if you don't want to have to stand up for half an hour every time.
Drives
Models with direct drive motors are mounted beneath the platter. In a belt drive, the motor is attached to one end by a rubber belt. The turntable can be spun at higher speeds and is compacted by direct drives. Belt models, on the other hand, isolate any extra noise from the motor.
FAQs
Is It Bad To Leave A Record On The Turntable?
It is. It is a habit that even certified audiophiles sometimes forget to put their records in their jackets, but it's important to always do this.Your record will be more likely to get damaged or dirty if it is not kept out in the open. You're guilty of this habit, but at the very least you should not forget to close the dust cover.
How Many Times Can You Listen To A Vinyl Record?
The vinyl record is a great resource for work. The record can be listened to over 100 times with no loss of sound quality.What Makes One Turntable Sound Better Than Another?
You need to take into account many factors. The quality of both the stylus and cartridge is important. Some turntables simply have more features, which allow for better accuracy and less vibration.What’s An Automatic Turntable?
A turntable that is automatic uses a combination of automatic features and a tonearm to lift itself from its resting place and position itself above your record for playback. After the track has finished, the device will automatically lift from its resting place and go back to the original position.This is a preferred method by some users as it reduces the amount of effort required to stop and play your turntable. However, this does not mean you can't manually lift the tonearm. It's still possible.
How To Make The Turntable Louder?
If the phonostage isn't connected correctly or not properly, your turntable might play slowly. A properly sized, wired and connected phonostage is the best way to unlock your turntable's potential.Can You Connect A Turntable Directly To Speakers?
It all depends on whether the connectors in your device can accommodate your speakers. Most of them will. It shouldn't be a problem connecting your turntable and its speakers.Do I Need A Preamp For My Turntable?
Both yes and no. A preamp is necessary for every turntable to convert its sounds into something your record player can hear, as well as other audio devices.Because most turntables have their preamp built in, it's not necessary. If this is the case then you don't need a separate preamp.
However, we understand that not everyone wants to improve their sound and decide to purchase a preamp separately. For more information, if you are one of these people, please see our next question.
There are numerous points to pick from in general, but doing so well may help you be more convenient and save time! When selecting a best budget turntable cartridge, pay close attention to the elements listed above, and don't forget to verify the safety.
Have you picked a product like that after reading our article on how to choose and top the best budget turntable cartridge? Hopefully, the information provided will assist you in selecting the best option for you.
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