You are listening to records for a few reasons, we will go on a hunch and say you do this because of their warm, analog sound. For you to make sure that they sound as good as possible, you will not want to cut corners here.
But this does not mean that you have to break the bank, either. So, for you to determine the best cartridge or stylus combination for you, you will first have to determine how you are using your turntable. There are a few questions you will need to ask:
- Is it just a record player that provides background music for your sanctuary?
- Is it for rocking a party with smooth mixes?
- Or, will it be used for a little bit of all the above in a more well-rounded general fashion?
MUST READ: Best phono cartridge under $200
Although only you may know the answers to the above questions, we can say that the well-rounded cartridge is usually the way to go. Unless you are an audiophile that has an ear for the most littlest of details, you can find quite a number of cartridges that sound fairly good overall, that give energy to all your club mixes, that offer solid tracking as a battle weapon, and that will not make you break the bank.
You might also want to look into the price of replacements, too. If it is financially possible for you, we recommend that you get at least two replacement styli at the same time. It is even better if you are able to stockpile them.
It is always better to be safe than it is to be sorry, and unfortunately, things always happen, but you would want to make sure that you are ever prepared for anything that is to come.
If you are a lover of vinyl records, there is a great chance that by now, you know the importance of a good quality phono cartridge, but your having to find the one that meets all your needs is not an easy task. It is always a good move to go online to do some extensive research as to find the one that will work best for you.