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Discover great audio sound

Find the right
cartridge for you

Whether you're discovering vinyl for the first time or looking to upgrade your sound,
we're here to help you find the right cartridge for your needs and setup.

CARTRIDGE FINDER · HI-FI & DJ

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Check turntable compatibility

Check compatibility

Will any cartridge fit any turntable?

Not every cartridge is compatible with every turntable. While many cartridges use a standard mounting system, factors such as tonearm design, mounting type, cartridge weight, and compliance can affect compatibility and performance.

It's also important to consider your turntable's setup and whether you're replacing an existing cartridge or looking for an upgrade. Choosing a cartridge that works well with your tonearm helps ensure proper tracking, alignment, and sound reproduction.

Not sure which cartridges fit your turntable? Use our Cartridge Selector to explore compatible Ortofon cartridges based on your turntable's brand and model.

How do I choose
the right cartridge?

Choosing the right cartridge depends on several factors, including your turntable setup, listening preferences, and what you want to get out of your vinyl collection.

For Hi-Fi listening, an important consideration is whether to choose a Moving Magnet (MM) or Moving Coil (MC) cartridge. Both technologies offer distinct advantages, and the right choice depends on your equipment, budget, and sound preferences.

Not sure where to start? Whether you're a Hi-Fi enthusiast or a DJ, our Cartridge Finder helps you explore suitable options based on your setup and preferences. Answer a few simple questions and get personalized recommendations in less than two minutes.

Learn more about cartridge types

Dive into the
world of cartridges

Delve into the principles of Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges to determine the perfect fit for your demands.

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

An essential aspect of choosing the right cartridge is ensuring compatibility with your turntable's tonearm. The total effective mass of the tonearm, which includes the cartridge and headshell, must be considered. To maintain a cartridge/tonearm system resonance frequency within the acceptable range of 7 to 12 Hz, whereas 10 Hz is recommended, it is necessary to choose a cartridge with the mass and compliance matching the tonearm.

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).

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