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Record Player Cartridge Replacement

Posted on 5/25/24 at 11:55 am
Posted by BigOrangeVols
Knoxville
Member since Jul 2015
3082 posts
Posted on 5/25/24 at 11:55 am
The time has come for me to replace the stock cartridge on my AT-LP-120. I'm looking at the ortofon 2m blue cartridge, but I have a couple questions if folks don't mind helping:

1. I'm seeing the ability to purchase just the cartridge OR to purchase the cartridge mounted on a head shell - which of these should I go with? Can I use the existing AT head shell and just replace the cartridge or do I need to exchange both.

2. Ortofon 2m Blue looked well rated - are there other cartridge setups I should consider instead? Should I stick with an AT product for ease/continuity (if so, which one)?

3. Anything else I should be considering for general upkeep of my table?

Thanks - have a great Memorial Day weekend.
Posted by tiggerfan02 2021
HSV
Member since Jan 2021
3843 posts
Posted on 5/25/24 at 2:48 pm to
www.vinylengine.com

There is a wealth of knowledge on just about anything vinyl/turntable related there, and a lot of helpful posters.
You can get some good ideas on which direction you want to go.

Enjoy your records!

ETA: Just noticed some jackass DVd you. SMH
This post was edited on 5/25/24 at 2:50 pm
Posted by SingleMalt1973
Member since Feb 2022
21717 posts
Posted on 5/25/24 at 7:14 pm to
You can just replace the stylus if you liked the one you had. You don’t have to replace the whole cartridge. If you want to try a different cartridge I would just buy it on a headshell. It should come aligned from the seller. If you put a whole,new cartridge on your old headshell you will have to align it. As far as which cartridge, just look at reviews on youtube. I had to choose when I bought my Fluance between Ortofon Blue and Nagaoka MP110. From reviews the Ortofon was very clear, loud and somewhat sterile. While the Nagaoka was warmer and maybe has a little better bass response. Just not as loud as Ortofon, went with the MP110. It sounds nice and warm but I am listening in a small room so volume was not an issue.
Posted by pheroy
Raleigh, NC
Member since Oct 2006
740 posts
Posted on 5/27/24 at 12:21 am to
The 2M Blue is on sale for $189, $50 off the MSRP of $239. It's usually considered one of the cartridges to beat in the $200-250 range so that's a good deal currently. It's been on that sale price for at least 2-3 months I think as a friend picked up one in Feb, It's pretty hard to beat under $200 unless you get lucky on a deal for something.

AT themselves also have some strong contenders in the same range, but you don't need to limit yourself to that brand. Others with good reps include Sumiko, Goldring and Nagaoka.
Posted by TFTC
Chicago, Il
Member since May 2010
23206 posts
Posted on 5/28/24 at 7:20 pm to
quote:

Ortofon 2m Blue


That's what I have and I like it... but I'm far from an audiophile and a lot of the subtleties and nuances between different cartridges are lost on me..
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