Find the Best Cartridge | Ortofon Turntable Cartridge Guide

The impact of cartridges on your audio experience

The responsibility
of the cartridge

Choosing the perfect cartridge for your turntable can be a daunting task, with a multitude of options and considerations. Yet, the right cartridge is pivotal, as it translates the grooves on your vinyl records into a captivating soundstage that elevates your listening experience.

Here, we understand the challenges in finding the ideal cartridge and are dedicated to guiding you through the process. Let us help you discover the perfect match that harmonizes with your preferences and complements your system setup.

Will any cartridge fit any turntable?

While many turntables are compatible with a wide range of cartridges, it's essential to check compatibility before making a purchase. Turntables may have specific requirements regarding cartridge type, mounting style, and tonearm compatibility. Before buying a cartridge, consult your turntable's manual or manufacturer's specifications to ensure compatibility.

Consider the format and connector type: Half-inch mount cartridges have larger pins connecting to four individual wires at the tonearm's end, secured with two screws spaced 1/2” apart. Direct bayonet connector cartridges plug directly into the tonearm's end, secured with a single screw.

Moving Coil or Moving Magnet?

How do I choose
the right cartridge?

When selecting your turntable's cartridge, it's crucial to think about future possibilities like stylus replacement.

A cartridge with a replaceable stylus offers the advantage of effortless upgrades down the line. To ensure compatibility with such an option, we suggest considering a Moving Magnet cartridge.

If you're pursuing an extraordinary musical journey, we wholeheartedly recommend delving into the realm of Moving Coil cartridges.

Learn more about cartridge types

Dive into the
world of cartridges

Discover why Moving Magnet cartridges continue to be a popular choice among vinyl enthusiasts.

Learn more
Explore Moving Coil cartridges and why they are preferred by audiophiles worldwide.

Learn more

Diamonds

Tipped or Nude Stylus?

The high-quality Ortofon styli are made from diamonds and can be divided into two types of constructions: Tipped and Nude diamonds. A tipped or bonded diamond is where the diamond tip is mounted on a metal shank.

Nude diamonds, on the other hand, weigh less than their tipped counterparts, leading to enhanced responsiveness, greater detail, and reduced distortion. The most advanced Hi-Fi cartridges from Ortofon utilize pure Nude diamonds for optimal audio performance.

Getting into the groove

Diamond shapes

The diamond is the only part of the cartridge that makes direct contact with the record groove – and its shape plays a crucial role in how accurately and detailed the sound is reproduced.

The finer and more advanced the diamond cut, the larger the contact area with the groove. This gives the stylus a better ability to capture every nuance and detail in the music. Slim, sophisticated shapes follow the groove more precisely and get closer to the profile of the original cutting stylus used to create the record.

There are several different stylus shapes, each with unique characteristics:

Spherical diamonds (also called conical)
Elliptical diamonds and Fine Line
Line Contact (such as Shibata, Ortofon Replicant 100, and Fritz Gyger 70)

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Matching Cartridges
with Tonearms

Tonearm mass and cartridge compliance

The resonance frequency can be calculated by using the formula: F = 1000 : (2 x π x √ (M x C))
F - Cartridge resonance frequency in Hz

π - 3.14159265359...

C - Cartridge compliance lateral in µm/mN

M - Total tonearm system mass, which is the sum of the Mass of the cartridge, mass of the headshell and screws, and the Effective mass of the tonearm (all values in grams).

Resonance frequency within 7-12 Hz is optimal for the system.
Resonance frequency slightly outside the optimal interval 6.5-7 Hz and 12-14 Hz can be considered an option that might be used without problems.
Resonance frequency outside the interval 6.5-7 Hz and 12-14 Hz is questionable, and the system might not work properly.

High compliance cartridges

A cartridge with compliance in the range of 10 to 20 µm/mN is moderate compliance cartridge, and a cartridge with a compliance value above 35µm/mN is a very high compliance cartridge.
Low mass arms match well with both moderately high and very high compliance phono cartridges. A tonearm whose effective mass is rated at 10 grams or below is considered low mass (e.g., early SME’s and Grace 747).
Low compliance cartridges

A phono cartridge with the compliance in the range of 5 to 10 µm/mN is considered as a very low compliance cartridge. Moderate mass tonearms are good companions for moderate to low compliance cartridges.
A tonearm whose effective mass is rated between 11 and 25 grams is considered moderate mass (e.g., SME IV, IV, V, VI, Triplanar, Graham). Arms above 25 grams of mass are high mass in nature (Eminent Technology, Dynavector).