Phono Cartridges by Audio Technica, Dynavector and Grado, $69 to $2,150 

Love it!! I’ve jumped back in over last year. Never got rid of any of my albums. 👍

I have a AT-VM95e cartridge that I upgraded with the ATN-VM95ML (micro line), the red stylus. I have it set up on my Technics SL1200MK7 and, although the VM95e is very good for the price, the VM95ML has a much better soundstage and gives way more details. The tracking is also very good, never skips and there is less inner groove distortion. It's also good for approximately 1000 hours compared to the VM95e that is rated at 300 hours. It's a lot more expensive than the VM95e but it's still very affordable when you compare it with the other 4 cartridges in this review.

That 1200g is just great. I am not sure a better table exists at that price point or even much higher. It is so versatile, well engineered, and that arm is very good. It's an amazing table. It may be one of the best engineered pieces in audio today.

"It's not about accuracy, it's about musical pleasure." Couldn't agree more. My Benz LPS brings me a great deal of pleasure, even though one could argue it isn't the most accurate cartridge. The Benz sounds beautiful though, and definitely has its own personality without obscuring detail. Thanks for the review, one can tell the Audiophiliac has passion for analog!

Two thumbs up for this one! The descriptions of each cartridge and their individual personality came through loud and clear. Gave me lots to think about with regard to my analogue front end and how to develop it in the future.

Great job explaining what you get when you move up the ladder. Also a great idea to have a ‘party cartridge’ for when someone asks: what happens if I touch the needle.

One of my old Technics turntables uses P-mount cartridges. Very glad Grado still makes some fine ones in that format here in the USA. Their Prestige Line makes me happy.

I love my nagoaka mp110. Very musical and tracks like a beast. Very good at handling inner groove distortion as well!

Thanks for more cartridge reviews, Steve. Always appreciated.

I made the switch to mc from mm and as long as your preamp supports mc, highly recommend trying a mc. Mine is an affordable Ortofon MC Quintet Red. Great job as always Steve!

Outstanding as always Steve. Your description that each cartridge has it's own "personality" is spot on. My M95 is still rocking my Technics SL-Q303. Keep up the great wok.

I love switching carts. Just something about it. That Grado is a beast. Remembered years back that Audio Technica A?315 cheapy was so good back in the day. I think in the 90s they where about $45

I had the original Platinum and the Platinum 1 and miss them. (There is no Grado dealer here currently and I am not confident in setting up my own turntable.) The Grado "woody" cartridges get you to talk about music and not not about hi-fi effects like imaging, focus, etc. It is also phenomenal that Grado has only raised the price $100 on this cartridge in 20 years when other companies have had much greater price increases.

Great job of covering the basics as well as the mid-price range of cartridges. Very helpful info for the novice as well as the inveterate listener.

I still have several new Shure M97HE cartridges from 1983 that I have with the HK T40 turntable beautiful sound combo!

Used to work in audio store in NYC.Carried Dynavector and I got a 10 x2, audio heave for 3 years then put the stereo away,went away to school and CDs broke. Thirty years later looking a vinyl collection bought VPiI traveler and New dynavector 10 x 4 or 5 , I forget. Not impressed , but I remember these took forever to break in, well cantilever collapses , I take Advantage of Dynavector trade in policy and each time I send the core back there is a bump in cost. Now not so reasonable. Dynavector pulled the price bump I explain to them that this is 5 th cart, and I know how to set up acartridge. I’ve had enough and buy Nagaoka M 110 while I’m deciding what to do. You know the ending of this story Dynavector quality control and attitude, does not justify a 4-5 x increase in cost, still rocking Nagaoka. Great value no snob appeal. Try one .

I have a few of these and my favourite is the Grado I too bought a Technics exactly to do this sort of cartridge switching!

The 95E is a cartridge I love! I also use the EN and SH styli for the 95 series. All are incredible value, although I can't hear any meaningful difference between the bonded and the nude ellipticals. Not worth the extra money. The ML is tempting, too. Better long term value since the stylus lasts longer.

Ha. again, at 73 .... found out I can't even switch the tiny wires on the back of cartridges anymore, arthritis or something, hands are both stiff and shake.... goes with ears topping out at 8000 hz on cd / Utube frequency tests. So, Do I notice any difference between 20+ years old Stanton 681eee ( fancy 'stereohedren ' or whatever needle ) and Ortofon 2mBlue.....? have 'Armed Forces' and .'my aim is true ' on original LP, I always liked both of 'em.

Thanks for mentioning Elvis Costello's Get Happy album. It always elevates the mood and is another great example of Nick Lowe's production genius. Without him EC's first albums would not have had their great success.

Fully agree! Each cartridge brings its own particular magic!

I've had several Grado cartridges over the years and loved the sound. The drawback to all of them was the background hum they produced. Nobody could tell me how to get rid of that hum and I finally collected all of them I had long since stopped using and gave them away.

Love cartridge reviews!

I am with you on Grado, currently have all three of my tables set up with Grdao. One with an old Green, one with a prestige silver 3 and one with a Gold..

Steve: Loved the review, it sounds like you had a great time swapping out and listening to the various cartridges. You have convinced me to step up to a two turntable system on my next upgrade.

Just purchased a Dynavector XX2 Mkii a few weeks ago. An absolutely stunning cartridge. I had tried the 20X2L with a 58 dB gain phonostage and it just wasn't a good match. The 20X2H produced much better sound in that system. I then moved up to the special HO version of the XX2 Mkii and was very pleased with the improvement over the 20X2H. I now have a phonostage that can properly work with .3mV cartridges and this cart is head and shoulders above even the special HO XX2 Mkii that I had before.

Kinda makes me glad I'm on the Digital team. As much as I loved listening to records back in the day, streaming great quality music is just so convenient. Maybe I'm lazy. Maybe the spirit will move me to get back into records...one day.

Fantastic comments Steve. Very useful and important. Definitely the most important is the pleasure of music. For me , your best video. Thanks for your work.

I had been using a Reson Recca but could not get a new stylus so I remembered how much I used to like The Grado 8MZ so I bought a Grado Sonata. I have had it a a couple of months now and love the sound.

I have become a huge Ortofon 'blue' fan. My new U-Turn 'custom' table ordered with it, and so impressed over the EXACT 2 on my Rega P6 in direct comparison via a switcher. I ordered a second blue and had it professionally installed on the Rega!

Love your content and passion for audio. Incredibly inspiring. Thank you!

There's no way that anyone else could make a presentation about ANY audio product, this much fun. Not even close. Great advise about owning an AT-95e for use during less than ideal circumstances. Most especially when non-audiophile company is present.

ALL those cartridges are great! And the Grado "Opus 3" is special at the beginning of the Grado "woodies".

Great video Steve. Whatever happened to SHURE....in the 80's the Shure V15 III, IV and V were highly regarded.....THANKS.

I bought the 95 with conical stylus for $39.00 for old and damaged flea market records and am amazed at the sound. I wouldn't want to do a double blind test against some of the expensive cartridges !

I loved my AT-VM95E until I accidentally bent the cantilever. I replaced the stylus with the AT-VMN95EN, and the difference was significantly better, so I’m even happier with it now! Peace.

I have the AT-VM95e. It does what I need it to do.

Love these reviews and your enthusiasm, Steve. What alignment scheme are you using with yourTechnics? Some of your cartridges seem further forward in the headshell than the Technics standard 52mm overhang. Thanks!

Thanks for another interesting, informative, and enjoyable video, Steve! BTW, the word you were looking for is “tactility!” 🔥❤️🔥

Great video made with such enthusiasm. I got back into vinyl in 2014. I kept my small collection of around 150 albums and I’m so glad I did. On Monday evening, I listened to some albums from the 70’s and they sounded really good. Yesterday evening, I played an album recorded about 5 years ago and it sounded awful by comparison, with a huge lack of dynamic range and space. This is what puts me off buying new music on vinyl because as with so many modern records, the sound is overly compressed. What does impress me is that my analogue playback system, which cost around 25% of my digital front end, can sound just as good.

i run the dynavector 20x2 and the parasound jc3+ myself. It’s the perfect cartridge for me.

Love the reference to the “time machine “ in your comments on listening to Dizzy. I have an old demo record from 1954, RCA “Hearing is Believing “ and I always think of the grooves being made by real musicians during the session. Same grooves, brought to life again each time I play it.

A few years ago, when I was researching turntables, I was on the fence between the Rega Planar 8 and the Technics that you have. Ultimately I came down on the Rega side. The Rega is cool-looking (reminds me of a space ship) but, seeing all the FUN you're having switching out cartridges has really got me kicking myself of late . . .

I need that Grado. I miss my old Grados. Still have an AT95 and need to fire that one up again. Mainly using an Ortofon 2M Bronze these days, but really want that Grado. Also need Comes a Time on vinyl. Another great record!

You should try a Denon DL-103R on your SL-1200G. I also own a 1200G and run my 103R from time to time... sounds very nice. Great combination, especially on a heavier headshell. Very neutral with sparkly highs... especially piano music sounds wonderful!

Because of this review I bought a XX-2 MK II a year later. Wow, the detail and the extended bass is just the best, and yet it has a relaxed sound too. It easily surpassed my 20 X2 MK II high output. Thought I would let you know I totally agree with you for once. $2250 worth of agreement. Having a Mcintosh MP100 phono pre-mps really helps too. There is no back ground noise at all. But I will say if your TT has mechanical issues the XX-2 MK II will reveal them.

Great review. Really enjoyed and appreciated it. As you say, it's all about the music. When I was younger, it was just about the music. Then, in later years, I grew more and more interested in the equipment. But I never lost sight of that equipment having to be musical. For those who commented about having a P mount on their tonearm, an adaptor, which converts the P to the Standard 1/2 is available. Ortofon and Audio Technica do them, as do others.

The AT ART9 is an internet audiophile legend known for its ultra refinement, colorfulness and huge sound stage. A high end bargain. The XI and XA are the newer models. Steve, you should have spent more time on this one.

I love that Clark Terry Portraits recording - except I have the CD version- and I was excited when I found it! I remember hearing Clark Terry in concert in Southeast Texas (can’t remember if he played at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas or if it was in Houston) in the early ‘70s. He was in the Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen at the time. What a great musician!

You can do the same thing by using a 20 X 2 or an XX-2 by using a program Eq to give the same coloring as the other cartridges. I love my Dynavectors because they are accurate and if you want more brightness or warmth or drive a bump here or there with the program EQ and you have everything. Another thing about the Dynavectors is the fatigue factor is very much lower than other cartridges. Keep the records clean and the stylii clean and the Dynavectors are some of the best out there. No matter the price. Yes one of them is a HO.

I like the Nagaoka MP-110. It has an elliptical .4 x .7 stylus. That more rounded shape is safe for playing 7 inch styrene 45s. It costs about $150. Looking for a good cheap cartridge; the Audio Technica AT 3600L is priced at about $25. It has a bonded conical round stylus. Safe for old 45s. The Ortofon 2M Mono is a good choice for mono records. Some stylus / cartridges will damage mono records. It. It’s about $300.

I had a Dynavector 23r Ruby decades ago. Wow.... those were the days.... and one day, the cantilever collapsed. On then to a Koetsu Black Goldline....

You should do a video on tapes, especially cassette tapes. All great recordings are made from analogue tape sources. Played on vintage equiment, they trounce everything. Cleaniness, demagnetization of tape path, proper adjustments and all Dolby OFF are essential.

Hi Steve. Thanks for the great review on an interesting selection of carts. Been a while since you reviewed any phono stages - are any reviews pending..? I’m not happy with the sound of my analogue setup, and I think my phono stage is the weak link.

Great review Steve, thanks. Whatever the drawbacks are to a removable headshell-and I’m not sure if there are any-I regret not thinking about this on my recent turntable upgrade purchase.

The Grado sounds promising, Steve. I’m just getting back into vinyl and so far I’ve tried the Ortofon 2M Blue, it came with a Fluance turntable, and an Audio-Technica VM540ML. I much prefer the sound of the latter but mostly because the 2M Blue has been extremely noisy and harsh in my experience. I had a heck of time getting rid of a hum, swapping out cables, power sources, rearranging components, etc., and switching to the VM540ML fixed it. Now I’m looking to upgrade my cartridge again and $400 is the most I want to spend. Can you recommend a few other cartridges in the price range of the Grado to check out. Many thanks, love your channel. Current system components - Fluance RT85 + Rega Fono MM Phono Stage/Preamp - Audio-Technica VM540ML - Audio-Technica LP5 + iFi Zen phone preamp - Ortofon 2M Blue

Steve you would never believe the caliber of sound provided by the Sumiko Blackbird HO through a MM stage; quiet, dynamic, rich and balanced; prefer it to Lyras that I have heard; no hype you will be surprised and hard to justify carts at the 3.5k dollar level; listening through Martin Logan 13A

Another very entertaining video from Steve. I'd like to correct a couple of statements just for the record :-) Limiting and compression has been used since the 1950s on almost every pop record and most jazz records made since then at leoast in the mastering phase. We engineers still love the sound of those vintage compressors and limiters such as the LA 2A by Teletronix and the Fairchild limiter. My other correction is that Randy Newman's record did NOT sound great because it was analog but because you had A list performers, producers and engineers working on it. Now that records are made in bedrooms, you rarely here this sort of grand production made by experienced professionals using acoustic instruments any more. Finally, a question. Do many of the viewers listen to mostly older recordings made with analog equipment on your analog set up or will you put on the vinyl version of a modern pop album made digitally and enjoy it just as much?

I am a cd fan since 1987. My current 2-channel system sounds unreal. Best analog system I owned had a Grado MF3. Great sound on a Dual CS 607. Me stick to cd.

IMO, one of Steve's best reviews - plus, I always love the records he mentions. I am going to try to find that Elvis Costello album now. Unfortunately, I think I am limited on cartridge choices with my Rega P10.

In the 90s when I was in retail we use t superglue the stylus mounting to the body on at at mm cartridges.

Gettin "back" into needles. I might split with $400 for a Grado....some day. In the meantime my 95E makes me happy. I will be trying other versions of the 95E. Nice reproduction at a fantastic price. I get it, it's not a giant, but it's something I can afford! Thanx Steve!

YEAH! WE ARE THE A-TEAM! WOOHOO!!😃

Would love to see where the Clearaudio Charisma V2 MM slots in this comparison; it uses a boron cantilever and the double polished Gyger S-shaped diamond stylus are also found on the exceptional Goldfinger Statement cartridge.

My observations Steve. I feel like listening to music after watching your videos. I'm pretty much done buying gear. You're the only reviewer that I watch and listen to because I enjoy hearing what you are listening to. You have turned me on to some great tunes. You aren't dogmatic about "what is the best", most everything has it's merits....unless it doesn't! The $69 cartridge reminds me of listening to Led Zeppelin 1 with a Grado Black ($99). It has it's listenability aspects that work. I'm enjoying my end game cartridge, a Grado Reference3. I don't buy much vinyl anymore, but I'm glad that I have a nice cartridge. And it's the low output 1mv, which for me is better than the 5mv even with my sub $500 Pro-ject phono pre. It gives me an upgrade aspiration!

It’s all about low level listening for me now. Thanks man!

thank you for doing this Steve-excellent video

My vdh crimson sounds awesome in my well tempered amadeus GTA. Got a pair of apogee stages the other day. Mesmerising.

Hey Steve! I love my AT VM740ML for the same reasons you liked your AT. I tried some MC’s and they had some more detail but that “fun” factor was missing. Are there any MC’s that would be worth looking into that are similar to my 740’s mojo (but more detail etc)? Thanks!!

I also have cornwall iv, zu druid iv and now the apogees!! Listen to little dragon excellent group, and Sampha.

That first AT 95 cartridge was only $50 then jumped up $20 seemingly overnight. Nothing even happened to affect prices when they did that. They just did it just to do it.

I like that you share what you listen to. I sometimes go to Apple Music and listen to a new recording I’ve never thought to listen to. Will I get the vinyl? Maybe.

What about a Nagaoka?

Steeeeeeeve I was waiting to hear the cartridges with some music. Where was that??????

Just outfitted an 80s Dual auto turntable with the VM95E and it really woke her up compared to the stock Ortofon. Very enjoyable cart for the $! How do you submit user systems?

I think you just made my mind up what to buy next. I’ve got vm95ml, 2m Blue, and a V15Vxmr that I lucked into on eBay. I like the sound of all three, But in all the years before I only ran Grado, it’s what I could afford, available to me and I loved the sound. Question though, you think the Shure and Grado might have the same sound signature? Right now the Shure has bass weight and definition over the other two, all else fairly equal.

Steve, great vid. As always big fan of your record related reviews. Just FYI I use a Audio-Technica VM520EB Dual Moving Magnet Elliptical on my music hall mmf-1.5 Modest equipment but I like it. Thx for the video. ☮️

Steve’s Word of the Day : tactibility. I think since we have a Viewer System of the Day why not Steve’s Word of the Day! Today’s challenge to all audiophiliacs is to use Steve’s Word of the Day “tactibility” in a conversation today. 😉👍🏻😂. Maybe we can have a new feature Steve’s Audiophiliac Word of the Day.

Hi Steve, have you ever heard the APT Holman phono preamp ?

Really enjoyed this video. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. How many Technics headshells do you have? Do you switch out cartridges as often during your regular listening or testing of other gear? Get Happy may have been compressed during production (it's an early Nick Lowe production after all), but the 20 songs on that album are all pretty short songs (half are under 2:30, with a few under 2:00). The album isn't really all that groove crammed (like Todd Rundgren's A Wizard A True Star album).

love my oc9,also my new cheapo ultrasonic cleaner,everyone should get one....

Get Happy! Big Man, Tall Man, Happy Man! Great record.

Another thing that should be qualified is system synergy. A Grado cart will sound best in a brighter, more forward sounding system. In a neutral or relaxed system chances are you will miss the lack of detail, especially on darker recordings. The AT ART9XI and Dynavector XX2 are neutral and comparatively highly dynamic and so refined. You get the detail of the best digital but even better sound because of the smoothness of vinyl and their polished, never offensive or glaring presentation. The AT 95E is not in the conversation and it should not be for the price. Sounds good but expectations need to be tempered.

The original UK F-Beat label press cut by George Peckham of Costello's Get Happy had much better bottom than the US Columbia press.

Audio Technica is carrying the ball for tech based cartridges vs Golden ear home made entries now that Shure has dropped out.

I hope someday soon you will audition the new Clearaudio Charisma V2 MM. it retails for $2,200. I would like a comparison between it and the AT ART 9Xi. My MM phono stage has a much better S/N ratio than my MC stage which is also very good. The trade off with MC more noise but more info; now using Sumiko Blackbird HO into the MM stage; looking to step up. Reviews say the Charisma has strengths of both. Thanks in advance.

you need to try the goldring ethos cart and superb for the price! what is the mass of the arm on the Technics? not really a great arm I believe. why don't you have a another arm as well? all you need is some sort of a container box weighed down with tungsten powder or kiln-dried sand and a rubber bottom like a mouse mat stuck to it, you can do that?! make sure the top is thick three quarters ply or acrylic/perspex. try the blackbird arm better than the sme v. you could get containers/boxs made to fit different arms and do arm shootout lol

Please review the Grace F9 elliptical

Great review, thanks very much. Giles

Do you have to "burn in" a cartridge? I just replaced an ancient Technics SL-5 with an AT85EP with a Rega Planar 2 with upgraded cart, the ATVM540ML. I've never spend as much money on either TT or cart, and I'd like to make sure I get the best sound possible. PS are certain carts better for specific musical styles, i.e.one for rock and one for classical???

How do you set each cartridridge? Do you add more gain on some of these?

Great review, thanks

Steve, I need some advice. You use vinyl for almost all of your sound tests and I respect your opinions. Do you have a video with your picks of the best cartridges under $300? I recently had my Shure V15 IV stylus get trashed by some unknown individual (probably grandkids). I was lucky enough to buy a new one from Ed Saunders a few years ago, but he is now out of business. I can buy a replacement stylus, but since Shure no longer makes them, it would be from some aftermarket company. Jico makes one but is about $180 and has mixed reviews. Do you think its time to buy something current that will also outperform the V15? And would a MC in or around $300 sound better than a MM? I'm using a Parasound Halo P5 preamp with a Fantasia Audio Upgraded Hafler DH-500 driving Infinity Kappa 7.1 series II speakers. thanks for your guidance.

Some of these cost more than what I think is ok for an amp

Would be good if you did sound demos and let us hear for ourselves

Hello Steve, would you please compare your Technics SL1200 G turntable with the cheaper 1200 GR? Is it in regards to the sound quality a big difference?

Good video thanks

Steve, I watch different audiophiles talk about cartridge comparison, but never see the process. I would think that the tracking force must be changed, maybe with each cartridge. It seems to me that a comparison video like this one can take a lot of time. What is your process?

Did I miss which of the amplifiers that Steve has were used for this comparison? (Pass labs, First Watt, Schiit Aegir, Denon)?

Loved the reviews, Steve. Which Grado were you using - high or low?