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:

Does one just flip a coin?

holmz04-27-2022 2:13am

terry9 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,242 posts 04-28-2022 at 03:47am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I think it is something of a crapshoot. When you audition a cartridge, you are also auditioning the set-up, and set-up is at least as important IMO. By that I mean that I have heard modest cartridges sound very good, and expensive cartridges sound bad. Unless your TT is very quiet, and your tonearm can be adjusted every way from Sunday, you will never get everything that a cartridge can deliver. And TT don't wear out, neither do tonearms. So I suggest that you upgrade your TT and your tonearm. Worked for me, but YMMV.