How to choose a cartridge?


Aside from compliance, and whether one has enough gain and loading options, how does one choose a cartirdge?

There are a few shops that have one or two brands, and other shops that have other brands… etc.

It is a either visiting a lot of shops, or using some other method.

I have seen a few plots of response and 2nd, 3rd harmonics for a limited number of carts.

The other method is scouring the reviews and digest the colourful wording used to describe the carts.

As an example I am considering:

  • SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC Star
  • AT ART9xi
  • Benz Micro LP S
  • Hana ML
  • and some others…

Does one just flip a coin?

128x128holmz

Showing 1 response by realworldaudio

I'd say that it's very hard to expand on the merits of a cartridge without considering the step up / phono stage. In my experience the cartridge - step up / phono  matching is just as, or even more important than the cartridge itself.

Try looking for people who have the same step up / phono as you do, and what were their experiences with these cartridges.