Best Cartridge Upgrades for Your Record Player

If you want to make a cartridge upgrades for your record player, there are many excellent options available in the market. There can be two main types of turntable cartridges – one with moving coil and the one with moving magnet.

Thus, choose your product wisely depending on the kind of record player you have at home. Here is a list of 9 of the best cartridge upgrades for your record player.

1. Goldring E3 Phono Cartridge

It is a reliable and affordable cartridge providing a variety of features. Also, it is a moving magnet cartridge that weighs just 6.9g.

Above all, some of the main reasons for using it include:

Expressive
Highly refined
Plays well with other kits
Provides accurate reproduction of the original recording
Also retains the unique musicality, nuances, and rhythm
Features aluminium cantilever and super elliptical stylus
20 Hz to 20 kHz of the frequency range

Thus, it is a versatile cartridge that you can use with a wide range of players. Moreover, it delivers precise and clean sound, with all the power and clarity that you will require. As a result, rhythm is handled efficiently and fits perfectly for many midrange decks.

2. Ortofon Quintet Blue

It is an affordable and excellent moving coil (MC) cartridge for your record player. Furthermore, it is easy to fit, lightweight, balances well and delivers high-quality sound.

Some of the key features of the Ortofon Quintet Blue are as follows:

Creates agile sound along with a high degree of sonic precision and detail
Rhythmically intense with excellent attack
Offers lots of refinement
Weighs just 9g
Nude elliptical diamond mounted with aluminium cantilever base
Features ABS/aluminium construction

It seems like this product adds more space, detail and depth to the sound. This cartridge is an excellent choice for different types of music, including rhythmic. Also, the sound is on the smoother reproduction and more moderate dynamic strength sides.

3. Nagaoka MP110

Note that it is a moving magnet (MM) cartridge that fits and aligns easily and is affordable. Moreover, it has the power to bring to life even an otherwise dull system. Additionally, there is an excellent midrange. However, when it comes to dynamics, it sounds like a premium cartridge.

Some of the main features of the Nagaoka MP110 are as follows:

Weighs only 6.5g
Excellent insight and detail
Creates light and breezy sound
20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range
Features aluminium alloy construction

4. Rega Carbon Phono Cartridge

This moving magnet cartridge is a high-quality upgrade option. It is designed for easy installation and is accurate in reproducing music. Moreover, the Rega Carbon may be an affordable upgrade, but it delivers much more than its price tag.

Some of the key features include:

It sounds excellent in versatile situations
Delivers solid bass and excellent upper mids
Delivers output of 2.5 mV at 1 kHz
Also, the conical stylus ensures performance even when the set up is not precise
Generates solid bass with adequate extension and power
Excellent rhythmic performance along with perfect timing

5. Dynavector DV10x

The Dynavector DV10x is a high-quality MC cartridge at an affordable price. Even more, it is based on a proven, classic cartridge design. Likewise, the new 10X5 High Output MC cartridge has many new features. All of them can make it so much more precious as an upgrade:

Special magnetic flux damping
Softened magnetism and neodymium magnet
No hardness or edginess that is common with MC cartridges
Reduced impedance due to increased coil wire diameter
A new aluminium head block

6. Benz Micro Glider S

This MC cartridge is priced at a slight premium and more than makes up for what you pay. But, it has a clean sound with excellent bass response. Moreover, the Benz Micro Glider S creates elegant music with features like richness and liveliness. Thus, it delivers a luxurious musical experience.

Some of the main features of this Benz cartridge are as follows:

Features Benz Dynascan and Gyger S stylus resulting in high performance
Highly neutral frequency response
Quality separation between instruments
Wide soundstage
Even more, it features aluminium construction
Output of 0.4 mV and frequency response 10 Hz to 50 kHz

7. Audio Technica AT-F7

So, if you can install it properly, this can be the perfect upgrade you may be looking for so long. The Audio Technica AT-F7 is a moving coil cartridge that weighs just 5g. Additionally, it delivers refined sound, has excellent build quality, and is perfect for acoustic music. Therefore, this cartridge is a step up from the first upgrade and has all the features of a premium model:

Has high build quality
Refinement performance is elegant
Perfect for delicate music

The elliptical stylus and dual coil design provide excellent transparency and clarity of tone. Thus, there is precise stereo imaging. Also, the use of stainless suspension wire enables quality expression in the high-frequency range. Moreover, the use of highly rigid VC mold and potassium titanate helps reduce unwanted vibration.

8. Pro-Ject Pick-it DS2 (CARTRIDGE UPGRADES FOR YOUR RECORD PLAYER)

The Pro-Ject Pick-it DS2 is a feature-rich MC cartridge. Consequently, it delivers excellent sound, brings out the best of musical genre, and is easy to fit. Also, the product is unique because it is laser shaped out of synthetic polymer. Thus, it helps boost performance while creating a low-resonance base.

Generates dynamically expressive and robust sound
Delivers enough bass and punch
Generates composed presentation and lots of detail

Lastly, its square shape further makes it easy to set up and align.

9. Shure M97xE (CARTRIDGE UPGRADES FOR YOUR RECORD PLAYER)

Firstly, the Shure M97xE provides premium features on a budget. Also, it is the perfect upgrade if you are a music aficionado. The mounting block is robust yet light, as it is made of die-cast aluminium. Therefore, even complicated records can be played because of the damped dynamic stabilizer brush. Also, even low-frequency tonearm resonance gets damped.

Key features include:

Excellent midrange performance
Seamless bass
Vocals are smooth
Excellent expression and balance between different instruments
There is plenty of detail
Accurate reproduction of complicated musical passages

Finally, it is a high-performance cartridge featuring finely polished elliptical diamond tip.

Conclusion on CARTRIDGE UPGRADES FOR YOUR RECORD PLAYER

So, these are 9 of the best cartridge upgrade you should consider for your record. However, no matter which product you choose from the list above, stay assured that your purchase will be worth it. Thus, check all these products and put your comments below.