The Audiophilia team's favourite phono cartridges. All styles and budgets. 

One thing to add... if you get the Ortofon red and then decide to upgrade to blue ( although I think the red sounds real nice) .. just buy the blue stylus and do the quick slide-out and slide-in .. keep the red for those times when you are playing older records in not-so-good condition... so your blue doesn't have to get that usage.

I would say that the Ortofon 2m Red is the beginner’s cartridge, and that someone should start with that. The Red still has good sound, and there are people who like and are OK with the sound of it. There’s no reason to spend more money if you’re OK with the Red. In fact, when I upgraded to the Red from the Audio Technica AT95E, I was blown away by the sound difference. I ran the Red for quite some time before I took the plunge and upgraded to the Blue. But I had one experience that probably doesn’t match what others have experienced. I upgraded from the Blue to the Bronze. Yes, there was some improvement in sound. But nothing close to the difference between the Red and the Blue. I didn’t feel that it was worth the whopping $220 price difference. So I saved my money and went back to the Blue. And I’ve stayed there ever since. I realize that the uber-audiophiles consider what I’ve just said akin to blasphemy. I consider myself an audiophile, so I get at least some of their point. But it’s more important to get something you’re happy with and can live with (much less afford) than it is to get the latest, greatest and highest on the food chain. So if the uber-audiophiles consider me blasphemous and call me all sorts of names, let them. As I laugh at their comments, I’ll be happily listening to my Ortofon Blue (and not have to take out a loan because I overspent on my cartridge that impresses no one)!!!

I chose the Ortofon 2M Red for the SME arm on my Transcriptor Hydraulic when I'd finished its rebuild, I was so impressed right out of the box that I upgraded to a 2M Blue stylus the next day. I was then so impressed by the Blue that the next day I swallowed a lump and invested in the 2M Black cartridge, I have to say it was worth every penny.

Rega 3 with Shure v15 3

A more detailed cartridge isn't always better. It can be very spiky and grating on the nerves. You need more than one. I have a black and a blue and often I prefer the blue depending on the recording.

I'm the happy and original owner of a mint condition Yamaha PF-1000 turntable. I bought it new in 1984 for $350.00, it was then Yamaha's flagship turntable. But get this it's specs such as wow and flutter are notably superior to Yamaha's current flagship turntable, which sells for $8,000. And that's the case with a number of other expensive turntables. It has a low mass tonearm and needs a medium-high compliance cartridge. Today, low compliance cartridges are the norm. Fortunately, Ortofon, Music Hall and Soundsmith still make med-high compliance cartridges. There may well be a few others that I haven't run across yet.

17:45 the Hana is excellent

2:08 the 2M Red is for me the worst buy on a cartridge, it sounds awful with big IGD

At the end you talked about “maxing out your tonearm”. Maybe you already have a video on this topic, but I would be very interested in understanding tonearm compliance, limitations, and cartridge matching.

Mu-Tec is the most lovely sounding cartridge.

This is excellent information. I have a question. Would you spend ~3000.00 on a cart and pre-amp combo or the DS Audio Optical combo? Sorry if this seems like an odd question, but I already have a ~1800.00 Cart/phono combo I enjoy, and I am looking at setting up another table.

Thank you for the video. Some people believe that stylus wears out after a certain amount of usage. Others believe that stylus wear is basically a myth. I have been considering to get a Rega Apheta 3. How stylus wear plays in your decision to obtain a premium price cartridge? Thanks.

O dynavector?

I am getting my Hanna ML with a boron Cantilver and Micro Ridge stylus for $500 US fund Andy Kim in Sacramento CA

I have been enjoying the AT VM540 ML - great top end but, realising its limitations in dynamics / heft/ power / weight of sound ( I'm not sure of the technical term) etc I have ordered a Lyra Delos...but one has to be patient because demand is outstripping supply..at the moment

Are there any Grado cartridges that sound as good or better than the Ortofon 2m Blue or Goldring e3? I like the idea of buying from a domestic US manufacturer if possible.

Dynavector?

Curiously poor sound quality on the commentary...

I did buy a used Clearaudio Goldfinger, I guess it is even above the Titan, at least in price so I guess it sounds a little bit better. Totally HAPPY with it when the vinyl is PERFECT but if not this cartridge can drive you crazy, it is really revealing of any noise, it forces you to find records in perfect condition. So I wonder, is there anything out there that sounds as and as good as the Goldfinger and isn´t that revealing on "dirt" in the grooves? I can listen very loud, no limits there because no neighbors and I mainly listen to Pop/Rock/Metal from 70s and 80s

My favorite cartridge was an 80's vintage Boston Acoustic MC 200. Unfortunately, the stylus was accidentally broken off; and it is no longer made.

how about the Gold Note Vasari Red Phono Cartridge ?

I really appreciate your videos. You cover all price points

Thanks for an interesting overview! I think it is difficult to really conclude my preference when only upgrading once the stylus is worn, or broken, but Grado led me to MI, which led me to Soundsmith and now I’m stuck in the spending money ladder on their products 😬 For the SL-12 in the office I have dialled in on very engaging AT’s; 120, 540…

I thought you stated Line contact was your favorite? Just wondering why, and how you feel vs micro line stylist?

Great selection of cartridges! Man, have they gotten expensive?! The Umami has gone up since you made this. The only one that I found for under $2000 was an open box model. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Thanks for putting this together.

Thanks for putting a video together on higher end carts. I would have appreciated a bit more comparisons to other carts in similar price range and why you think the chosen ones are the best bang for buck. I would think that the $2-3K is the most interesting "realistic" budget point for many audiophiles. So that range may deserve particular expansion. I haven't heard too many carts, (Ortofon 2m red blue black, SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC*) where the last is my current and preferred one. I am curious about others like the Apheta 3 and the Hana. My pie in the sky cart is the Soundsmith strain gauge ($8K with dedicated phono stage). I love different approaches to cart designs. The comment on phono stages was a bit buried at the end and deserves emphasis and consideration.

Goldring?

Thanks for the video, you have some heavy hitters there. For high-end on a more sensible budget have you ever reviewed the Audio-Technica Art 9? I've been using it for several years now and find it to be excellent in all areas of reproduction, ticking all audiophile boxes and being balanced, smooth and just real. It's in a VPI Prime going into an iconAudio PS3 all-tube phono. But, I could never compare it to mega-buck cartridges. I don't have a large library of mono pressings but can confirm that the AT33 Mono is excellent!

Hello Audiophilia. Thank you very much for your inspiring videos - it's wonderful to watch. Godspeed

Thanks for your work on this video. I would be curious about your experience/perspective on re-tipping.

I use an Ortofon TA-210 so I can easily swap cartridges for each situation. I have the Orto 2M Mono you put up but when it was supplied ready mounted - so only VTF requires changing from my SPU - GME MC cartridge - and I second your reviewers choice on this cart. Of course, if you play mono many of those are old enough to not be RIAA. So I got the MM because I use the Graham Slee Jazz Club to play those old curves especially Decca FFRR - makes a massive difference - I have a 2m Blue and it is great with poorer condition records and 45's which I use it for.

no soundsmith?

I have a broken Hana ML, Sumiko Amethyst, Grace F9 Rudy Cantilver hyper Oliptical stylus

I’ve got an Umami Blue on an Avid Acutus table with a Kuzma 4 point 9”. It’s my favorite cartridge I’ve heard in my system, except for the Avid Reference Ruby which is triple the cost of the Hana.

Have you ever reviewed the My Sonic Lab Signature Platinum MC cartridge?

Those better produce the artist in my home when I play the record.

You must load those old Aphetas way down if your phono preamp allows it, to 50 or 30 Ohms.

Nice list! Of the one's you showed, I only have one, the Allnic Rose. But that one is giving me trouble with sibilants on many records, so I actually prefer my Hana ML or Ortofon Cadenza red which are both great value for money I think.

Many thanks for this great video!

Very interesting. Would love to see this video’s corollary, as you hinted at the end, of phono preamps.

I started with an Ortofon Red and it nearly put me off vinyl for life as CD sounded better. Fortunately I discovered the AT VM range and I've not looked back since. Why do you not mention the AT cartridges? They are ubiquitous, easily upgraded, generally compatible to give very good sound and great value for money.

so, which is the best one ?

If you are able to, you should try out the Lyra Atlas Lambda SL cartridge. Last year, I compared 3 different cartridges on top spec Linn Sondek LP12 setups (with my Zesto Andros Deluxe 2 tube phono stage). These were the $7000 Linn Exstatik cartridge, the $9000 Lyra Etna cartridge, and the $13000 Lyra Atlas Lambda SL cartridge. I listened to a number of different style tracks using each cartridge (in the above order). Within the first track with the Atlas, I knew I would order that cartridge. The different was night and day, where it seemed like we were using a totally different class of system. The noise level dropped through the floor, and became extremely holographic. I then listened to the rest of the tracks to confirm my decision. I just couldn't believe how much of a difference in sound quality existed between cartridges at this price point, if one assumes the idea of diminishing returns.