Are you trying to find phono cartridges among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling phono cartridges on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 10 hours of research and did 53 phono cartridges tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best phono cartridges you can buy today
- Universal fit for most turntables
- Upgrade from stock cartridges
- The Ortofon 2M Red is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth
- The Ortofon 2M Red features an Elliptical diamond
- Can be upgraded with an Ortofon Stylus 2M Blue
- Universal fit for most turntables
- Upgrade to the Ortofon 2M Red
- The Ortofon 2M Blue adds more dynamics and resolution, sounds more open and reproduces more details
- The 2M Blue features a Nude Elliptical diamond
- Stylus is replaceable
- Produces crystal clear clarity over every sound frequency
- Fluidity across the frequency spectrum
- Up-to-date modern construction materials
- Full dynamic range
- M Series dual Magnet cartridge with 2.2 x 0.12 mil micro-linear stylus
- Aluminum cantilever
- Durable low-resonance polymer housing
- Threaded inserts in cartridge body enable cartridge to be mounted to head shell with just two screws - no nuts required
- Compatible with any at-vmn95 Replacement stylus
- VM95 Series dual Magnet cartridge with 0.6 mil Conical stylus
- Aluminum cantilever
- Specially wound coils increase output voltage
- Durable low-resonance polymer Housing
- Threaded inserts in cartridge body enable cartridge to be mounted to headshell with just two screws - no nuts required
- M dual Magnet cartridge with Micro line stylus
- Aluminum cantilever. Mount-Half-inch. Vertical Tracking Angle- 23°.Dimensions-0.7 H x 0.7 W x 1.1 D inches
- Par toroidal coils improve generating efficiency. Recommended Load Impedance : 47,000 ohms
- Center Shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk
- Durable low-resonance polymer cartridge Housing
- AT-VMx dual moving magnet cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical bonded stylus
- 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical bonded stylus tracks the record groove with accuracy for outstanding audio reproduction
- Paratoroidal coils improve generating efficiency for enhanced channel separation, channel balance, and transient response
- PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) coils – and fewer coil turns – deliver highly responsive, three-dimensional sound reproduction with excellent transient response
- Center shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk for clear stereo sound
- AT-VMx dual moving magnet cartridge with microlinear stylus
- Microlinear stylus tracks the record groove with incredible accuracy, providing more nuanced sound reproduction than elliptical and conical styli
- Paratoroidal coils improve generating efficiency for enhanced channel separation, channel balance, and transient response
- PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) coils – and fewer coil turns – deliver highly responsive, three-dimensional sound reproduction with excellent transient response
- Center shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk for clear stereo sound
- EXCEPTIONAL ANALOG SOUND QUALITY The Green3 delivers rich, warm, and detailed audio with Grado’s signature moving iron design—ideal for vinyl lovers and audiophiles alike.
- ELLIPTICAL DIAMOND STYLUS Precision-ground elliptical stylus tracks grooves with accuracy and reduces distortion, revealing more nuance and depth in your records.
- HAND-ASSEMBLED IN BROOKLYN, NY Each Green3 cartridge is carefully assembled by the Grado team using techniques refined over decades of analog innovation.
- COMPATIBLE WITH MOST TURNTABLES Standard 1/2" mount fits a wide range of tonearms. Easy to install and pair with your favorite hi-fi setup or vintage system.
- ENGINEERED FOR PERFORMANCE & VALUE Positioned above the Black3, the Green3 features select coils for improved frequency response and channel balance—bringing higher-end performance at an accessible price.
- Wide Compatibility:Replacement phonograph cartridge could apply to most record players,such as Victrola, Boytone, Capehart, CROWN, EANOS, Fisher, GPO, GRACE DIGITAL AUDIO, ION, Innovative-Technology, Jensen, Leetac, MAGNAVOX, Numark, Pfanstiehl.
- Easy to use:The turntable Cartridge is designed for 33 1/3, 45, 78PRM records.Use with Gramophone and record player,work on Vinyl record Small accessory but with exquisite workmanship.
- Economic and durable: convenient installation,Wear-resisting.Easy to install. Compatible with all turntables accepting standard cartridge-mounted cartridges.
- Stronger and Better: Compared to the other piezoelectric cartridges, The track force of our Stylus is stronger, the separation and balance are better. Output: (at 1K Hz=3.54cm/sec) 200-300MV Channel distortion:≤ 3 dB Seperation: ≥ 15 dB Frequency response: 80-10000 Hz (±7dB).
- Premium Material:The output of the pickup is higher, frequency characteristics and sound quality are better ,and the stylus can be replaced at any time.Made of all environment-friendly materials, the metal coating is anti-scratch and not easy to oxidative stain and more durable.
- Replacement Stylus for Ortofon 2M Blue
- Can be used to upgrade Ortofon 2M Red
- The 2M Blue features a Nude Elliptical diamond
- Recommended tracking force is 1.8g
- A genuine replacement part for Ortofon 2M Blue and 2M Red cartridge
- Included Components: Cartridge; Screws
- M dual Magnet cartridge with 0 3 x 0 7 mil elliptical Nude stylus
- Aluminum cantilever
- Para toroidal coils improve generating efficiency
- Center shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk
- Durable low-resonance polymer cartridge housing
- VMx dual moving magnet cartridge with microlinear stylus
- Microlinear stylus tracks the record groove with incredible accuracy, providing more nuanced sound reproduction than elliptical and conical styli
- Significantly lighter stylus tip (compared to previous model) allows for more precise tracing of the record groove
- Solid boron cantilever quickly transmits vibrations from the record groove, ensuring accurate reproduction of dynamic musical passages
- PCUHD (Pure Copper Ultra High Drawability) coils – and fewer coil turns – deliver highly responsive, three-dimensional sound reproduction with excellent transient response
- 0.6 mil conical diamond stylus shape
- Carbon fiber cantilever
- Tracking force range: 1.5 g - 2.5 g (2.0 g recommended)
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Genuine Goldring cartridge
- Introducing the E4: The E4 cartridge is designed as the ultimate upgrade for any modern budget or midrange turntable. As the range’s flagship model, E4 represents the pinnacle of E Series engineering and performance. It is designed to be compatible with all medium-to-high-mass tonearms of the type found on the majority of budget to midrange turntables.
- Magnetic Duplex Technology: All cartridges in the range feature Magnetic Duplex Technology- a 'dual magnet' generator assembly means it can more accurately reproduce the stereo information in the record groove, providing better channel separation and a more involving and musical sound stage.
- Expert Adjustment: The E-series cartridges have been designed to allow micro-adjustments during production. It means the cartridge can be safely installed on a turntable because the angle that the stylus makes with the record surface has been pre-set. The result is an optimised channel balance that ensures a consistent and reassuring performance for the life of the product.
- Stylus/Cantilever: A super-elliptical nude diamond stylus features lower effective tip mass, improved rigidity and better high frequency detail retrieval than ‘bonded’ elliptical alternatives. The lightweight and superior stiffness of the hollow aluminium cantilever allows the stylus to trace medium-to-high frequencies with greater accuracy.
- Specifications: Colour: Blue, Cantilever: Aluminium, Stylus profile: Nude elliptical, Stylus radius: 0.3 x 0.7 mil, Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, Channel balance: 1.5 dB at 1 kHz, Channel separation: >20 dB at 1 kHz, Sensitivity: 3.5 mV (1 kHz @ 5 cm/sec), Load resistance: 47 kΩ, Fixing centres: 12.7 mm (0.5 in), Playing weight: 1.5 g - 2.5 g (1.75 g recommended)
- M dual Magnet cartridge with 0 3 x 0 7 mil Elliptical stylus
- Aluminum cantilever
- Par toroidal coils improve generating efficiency
- Center Shield plate between the left and right channels reduces crosstalk
- Durable low-resonance polymer Housing
- Perfect Replacement: Replace AT3600L record player cassettes, can be used as a replacement or backup tape for many famous record players
- High-quality Materials: The at3600l cartridge is made of high-quality metal and ABS materials, which is durable and wear-resistant. Even with high-frequency use in daily life, it can maintain the performance of the product and extend its service life
- Pure Sound: More accurate magnetic cartridges make the sound cleaner. Whether playing rock, jazz or other types of music, it can make the sound more delicate and pure
- Small and Portable: The moving magnetic cartridge is small and light, does not take up too much space, and will not increase the burden of the record player. It ensures the stability and purity of the sound quality during playback, making every listening a relaxing and enjoyable music feast
- Sound Frequency: The at-3600l cartridge can better control the tone, making the low frequency full and flexible, the mid-frequency warm and broad, and the high frequency clear and bright
- Fits most standard turntables
- Easily relpaceable stylus
- Elliptical diamond
- Offers distortion free playback of stereo records
- Low mass design reduces record wear
- VM95 Series dual Magnet cartridge with 0. 3 x 0. 7 mil Elliptical Nude stylus
- Aluminum cantilever
- Durable low-resonance polymer Housing
- Threaded inserts in cartridge body enable cartridge to be mounted to head shell with just two screws - no nuts required
- Compatible with any at-vmn95 Replacement stylus
How to choose a good phono cartridges
Does the idea of finding a fantastic phono cartridges make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in phono cartridges. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top phono cartridges products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top phono cartridges on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top phono cartridges brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top phono cartridges based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the phono cartridges were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good phono cartridges, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your phono cartridges.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting phono cartridges for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our phono cartridges. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what phono cartridges should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on phono cartridges.
