What's interesting and fun about a turntable is that you can make all kinds of modifications to improve performance or shape the sound to your ear. It doesn't necessarily cost very much. You can use different supports and shock-absorbing feet, play with the settings and the phono preamp, equip yourself with a felt or cork mat and a pressure puck, touch the tone arm, the power supply, the cables connection or even to the belt and the drive motor. But the simplest thing is of course to change the phono cartridge. This has an immediate and often clearly audible effect, both on performance and sound range. Phono cartridges can be found from a few dozen to several thousand euros. Our colleagues from the editorial staff of the American magazine eCousticsspecialist in audiophile products, have just published a selection of the best models at affordable prices.
This selection from the magazine eCoustics has the merit of sweeping wide. It covers almost all uses with prices ranging from around €150 to €750. It includes twelve models, both MM type (moving magnet) and MC type (moving coil).
Nagaoka MP110: the most audiophile cartridge at a low price
Type: MM elliptical diamond
Indicative price: 160 €
See ON-mag test
Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML: a safe, ultra-versatile value
Type: Micro Line Diamond MM
Indicative price: 170 €
See test on ON-mag of versions VM95C and VM95SH
Rega Nd3: the best upgrade for small vinyl turntables from the British specialist
Type: MM elliptical diamond
Indicative price: 230 €
Goldring E4: one of the best performance/price ratios in its category
Type: Super-elliptical nude diamond MM
Indicative price: 260 €
Grado Opus 3: champion of musicality with woody sweetness, made in Brooklyn
Type: MM with elliptical nude diamond
Indicative price: 350 €
Denon DL-103: an iconic, affordable and timeless MC reference
Type: MC to conical diamond
Indicative price: 350 €
Ortofon 2M Bronze: a high sensitivity and high resolution MM cartridge
Type: Fine Line Diamond MM
Indicative price: 360 €
Hana EL: an MC reference full of elegance and sonic delicacy
Type: Elliptical Diamond MC
Indicative price: 450 €
See ON-mag test of the Hana EH version
Sumiko Wellfleet: for a very dynamic and transparent sound
Type: MM with elliptical nude diamond
Indicative price: 550 €
Sumiko Blue Point N°3: a soft, detailed, superbly spatialized restitution
Type MC: elliptical diamond
Indicative price: 590 €
Grado Sonata 3: an MM cartridge with particularly expressive, brilliant and warm restitution
Type: MM with elliptical nude diamond
Indicative price: 700 €
Dynavector 10X5 MK2: for the splendor of timbres and stereophonic image
Type: MC diamond Shibata III line contact
Indicative price: 750 €
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