Which cartridge for Graham 2.2 arm?

Look at Dynamic compliance measured at 10Hz


If you see a Japanese cart then most likely the compliance is measured at 100Hz ! If so you must convert it to 10Hz, to do so simply x 1.7


With $500 budget you’d better look for MM or MI cart than for MC.

Check Garrott Brothers P77i cartridge, you can buy it new from the manufacturer in Australia online (convert 690 AU$ to USD first, it will be ~$505 and this is the best you can buy in my opinion)

To Buy a worn MC cartridge is nonsense, even the worst Koetsu Black cost much more than your limit. Garrott Brothers, who rebuild cartridges for decades, claimed the original Koetsu was poorly made!

I’m wondering how people can recommend a worn/used Koetsu for a person you said his budget is $500 max??? A good Koetsu cost probably $5k. This is overpriced cartridge for reach people, the price for them is irrelevant (higher price for them is always better, no matter if the quality is not any better).

If you don’t mind used (as you said) buy MM or MI and look for a NOS stylus at least! The stylus you can swap yourself in 10 seconds (not that retippers crap).

Read about Garrott, because 99% of audiogon users never heard about it, but you can search audiogon to find a story written by R.Andreoli (he was like a son for them). Unfortunately the brothers are no longer with us, otherwise they could be number one cartridge repair service!



The P77 is legendary series of Dynamic Coil cartridges (MM), at $500 you can’t buy any better cartridge (new). The P77i is the latest version, still in production in Australia. The cartridge is sweet on top quality tonearms. I’ve been using mine on Reed 3p (it’s €5k tonearm). 

Even JICO SAS stylus is compatible with old and new Garrott.

No, you’re not wondering, not at all. You’re just trying to take a cheap shot. Nobody recommended a Koetsu. I said buying used opens up a lot of options and mentioned one example I have seen.

You can convince yourself of your cleverness but the plain fact of the matter is the more you twist the truth around to fit your predetermined narrative the more you undermine your own credibility. Do it enough you risk sounding like just another MDS crank.

No matter what you seen for sale somewhere, you have no idea what it was. Koetsu BLACK is the worst Koetsu cartridge, but the brand itself is one of the most expensive brand ever. If you seen a worst Koetsu model somewhere for ridiculous price then it’s a worn cartridge that must be repaired, I know very well the going rate for used cartridges.

The most expensive brand and the worn used cartridge is the worst combination ever for a buyer!

A buyer with low budget can find a perfect cartridge (MC, MM or MI) from the brands like Audio-Technica, Garrott ... etc. 

Koetsu is a luxury cartridge that cost $5k and they are for experienced users who tried many different cartridges or for those who does not count money. Koetsu service is terribly expensive.