Category Archives: cartridges
Technics EPC-205C MK3
The nineteen seventies vinyl world was awash with high compliance moving magnet cartridges. Shure’s M75ED – introduced in 1974 – dominated the scene. With its super light body and high compliance, the company claimed it could track securely down to
Technics EPC-205C MK3
The nineteen seventies vinyl world was awash with high compliance moving magnet cartridges. Shure’s M75ED – introduced in 1974 – dominated the scene. With its super light body and high compliance, the company claimed it could track securely down to
Audio Technica AT-OC9X
Behold the new Audio Technica AT-OC9X, the fourth update of this evergreen moving coil in thirty two years. It sports a choice of stylus types including Bonded Elliptical (AT-OC9XEB, £210); Nude Elliptical (AT-OC9XEN, £300), Microlinear (AT-OC9XML, £480), Shibata (AT-OC9XSH, £570), and Special
Audio Technica AT-OC9X
Behold the new Audio Technica AT-OC9X, the fourth update of this evergreen moving coil in thirty two years. It sports a choice of stylus types including Bonded Elliptical (AT-OC9XEB, £210); Nude Elliptical (AT-OC9XEN, £300), Microlinear (AT-OC9XML, £480), Shibata (AT-OC9XSH, £570), and Special
Audio-Technica AT-VM95SH
Well, you can’t exactly call this Japanese cartridge specialist prolific. Audio-Technica has made its own phono cartridges since 1962, but in that time has released far fewer models than European rivals such as Ortofon, for example. Yet age has not dulled the
Audio-Technica AT-VM95SH
Well, you can’t exactly call this Japanese cartridge specialist prolific. Audio-Technica has made its own phono cartridges since 1962, but in that time has released far fewer models than European rivals such as Ortofon, for example. Yet age has not dulled the
Audio-Technica AT-VM530EN
After what feels like decades of waiting, Audio-Technica introduced a range of nine new cartridges in 2017, comprising 500, 600 and 700 Series bodies with seven different versions of styli, including special line contact, Shibata, MicroLine, elliptical and conical types. All
Audio-Technica AT-VM530EN
After what feels like decades of waiting, Audio-Technica introduced a range of nine new cartridges in 2017, comprising 500, 600 and 700 Series bodies with seven different versions of styli, including special line contact, Shibata, MicroLine, elliptical and conical types. All
Dynavector DV-20X H
Any analogue addict worth his record collection will remember the old Ultimo 10X, a high output moving coil designed and manufactured by Dynavector of Japan. Back in the late nineteen seventies it was one of the most musical budget pickups
Dynavector DV-20X H
Any analogue addict worth his record collection will remember the old Ultimo 10X, a high output moving coil designed and manufactured by Dynavector of Japan. Back in the late nineteen seventies it was one of the most musical budget pickups
Ortofon MC Kontrapunkt b
Back at the turn of the new millennium, Ortofon launched three new Kontrapunkt moving coil cartridges to commemorate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the death of Johan Sebastian Bach. The a and b comfortably outsold the c, with all
Ortofon MC Kontrapunkt b
Back at the turn of the new millennium, Ortofon launched three new Kontrapunkt moving coil cartridges to commemorate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the death of Johan Sebastian Bach. The a and b comfortably outsold the c, with all
Elite Electronic Industries 700
The late nineteen seventies cartridge market was a vibrant one, as you would expect. This was the height of the vinyl boom, when the format was all-conquering and the only way to play back recorded music in high quality stereo
Elite Electronic Industries 700
The late nineteen seventies cartridge market was a vibrant one, as you would expect. This was the height of the vinyl boom, when the format was all-conquering and the only way to play back recorded music in high quality stereo
Lyra Titan i
Jonathan Carr is surely one of the world’s finest living cartridge designers. Along with his Japanese cartridge builder Yoshinori Mishima, and Norwegian business partner Stig Borge, together they form Lyra. The company has been going for nearly three decades now – launched
Lyra Titan i
Jonathan Carr is surely one of the world’s finest living cartridge designers. Along with his Japanese cartridge builder Yoshinori Mishima, and Norwegian business partner Stig Borge, together they form Lyra. The company has been going for nearly three decades now – launched
North West Analogue
There’s something highly personal about moving coil cartridges, and they lie very deep in an analogue addict’s affections. When they wear out, they’re not easy to replace. There are some excellent modern designs from a number of manufacturers, but sometimes people
North West Analogue
There’s something highly personal about moving coil cartridges, and they lie very deep in an analogue addict’s affections. When they wear out, they’re not easy to replace. There are some excellent modern designs from a number of manufacturers, but sometimes people
Audio Technica AT-95E
Meet the Honda Civic of cartridges. There are better ones, there are worse ones, but you always know what you’re getting – a quality product that does the job you bought it for. It’s not flashy, nor is it particularly
Audio Technica AT-95E
Meet the Honda Civic of cartridges. There are better ones, there are worse ones, but you always know what you’re getting – a quality product that does the job you bought it for. It’s not flashy, nor is it particularly
Ortofon VMS20E MkII
There were times in the mid nineteen seventies when Ortofon cartridges were everywhere. Practically every new sub-£100 turntable seemed to come sold with an FF15E – a fine sounding £15 budget design – whereas your Rega Planar 3s, Ariston RD40s and
Ortofon VMS20E MkII
There were times in the mid nineteen seventies when Ortofon cartridges were everywhere. Practically every new sub-£100 turntable seemed to come sold with an FF15E – a fine sounding £15 budget design – whereas your Rega Planar 3s, Ariston RD40s and
Rega R100
Launched in 1978, this moving magnet cartridge sold for the princely sum of £37, which was a lot of money in those days for a phono cartridge. Indeed in a world where an Ortofon VMS20E at £25 was considered extravagant,
Rega R100
Launched in 1978, this moving magnet cartridge sold for the princely sum of £37, which was a lot of money in those days for a phono cartridge. Indeed in a world where an Ortofon VMS20E at £25 was considered extravagant,
profile: Hideo Matsushita
The Japanese founder of Audio-Technica first moved to Tokyo aged 32, and went to work for the Bridgestone Museum of Art in 1951. The museum’s director urged him to run what he called ‘LP concerts’, and, “these were much more
profile: Hideo Matsushita
The Japanese founder of Audio-Technica first moved to Tokyo aged 32, and went to work for the Bridgestone Museum of Art in 1951. The museum’s director urged him to run what he called ‘LP concerts’, and, “these were much more
Shure V15VxMR
In hi-fi, there have been few longer lasting things than the Shure V15. From 1964 to 2005 it was the American company’s flagship pickup cartridge, and went through no less than eight different incarnations. It built up a tremendously loyal fanbase; for
Shure V15VxMR
In hi-fi, there have been few longer lasting things than the Shure V15. From 1964 to 2005 it was the American company’s flagship pickup cartridge, and went through no less than eight different incarnations. It built up a tremendously loyal fanbase; for
Goldring G900IGC
It’s hard to imagine just how radical Goldring’s G900 series seemed when launched in the late nineteen seventies. In a world of relatively heavy, lowish compliance cartridges, here was a state-of-the-art device that weighed a silph-like 4 grammes. As zeitgeisty
Goldring G900IGC
It’s hard to imagine just how radical Goldring’s G900 series seemed when launched in the late nineteen seventies. In a world of relatively heavy, lowish compliance cartridges, here was a state-of-the-art device that weighed a silph-like 4 grammes. As zeitgeisty
Koetsu Red Signature
Yoshiaki Sugano’s unique combination of skills defined his Koetsu range of cartridges. He was said to be a musician, artist, calligrapher and even quite handy with swords. The story goes that his life was a study of his hero, the
Koetsu Red Signature
Yoshiaki Sugano’s unique combination of skills defined his Koetsu range of cartridges. He was said to be a musician, artist, calligrapher and even quite handy with swords. The story goes that his life was a study of his hero, the
Arcam E77
Not long after it introduced its award-winning A60 integrated amplifier, the Amplification and Recording company of Cambridge (A&R Cambridge, latterly ARCAM) began work on a series of high quality affordable moving magnet cartridges. The first to reach dealers was the
Arcam E77
Not long after it introduced its award-winning A60 integrated amplifier, the Amplification and Recording company of Cambridge (A&R Cambridge, latterly ARCAM) began work on a series of high quality affordable moving magnet cartridges. The first to reach dealers was the
Goldring 1042
Back in the early nineteen nineties, vinyl was on the wane. There was an ‘end of the century’ feel to it, a sense that the sting of death would visit it before too long. For this reason, the supply of
Goldring 1042
Back in the early nineteen nineties, vinyl was on the wane. There was an ‘end of the century’ feel to it, a sense that the sting of death would visit it before too long. For this reason, the supply of
Shure M75ED Type 2
It’s a very long time ago now, but if you warped back to the mid nineteen seventies and did a survey of the most popular phono cartridge in existence, this would surely win. From around 1974 to 1979, the Shure
Shure M75ED Type 2
It’s a very long time ago now, but if you warped back to the mid nineteen seventies and did a survey of the most popular phono cartridge in existence, this would surely win. From around 1974 to 1979, the Shure
Lyra Dorian
Selling for £495 at launch in the UK back in 2007, this was the Japanese cartridge specialist’s cheapest pickup ever, and although benefiting from designer Jonathon Carr’s tremendous experience, was not entirely hand built by Lyra’s artisan Yoshinori Mishima. Instead, the
Lyra Dorian
Selling for £495 at launch in the UK back in 2007, this was the Japanese cartridge specialist’s cheapest pickup ever, and although benefiting from designer Jonathon Carr’s tremendous experience, was not entirely hand built by Lyra’s artisan Yoshinori Mishima. Instead, the
zStereo 