Anybody Know About Phono Cartridges?

[adk]

My turntable no longer seems to have a needle. My genius friend seems to have torn it off while trying to find a song. I need a new phono cartridge and this is a topic I know literally nothing about. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money to play dirty old records that I find at garage sales, but will I notice a difference between the $30 Audio-Technica and the $60 Grado?

 

[Victor ch]

My turntable no longer seems to have a needle. My genius friend seems to have torn it off while trying to find a song. I need a new phono cartridge and this is a topic I know literally nothing about. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money to play dirty old records that I find at garage sales, but will I notice a difference between the $30 Audio-Technica and the $60 Grado?

Grado cartridges are legendary, the audio tech one is probably very good, but if Grado cartridges are like they're headphones they are must buys.

Victor

 

[iJohnHenry]

The "needle" is a stylus, and quite a few of them are still available, without purchasing an entire new cartridge.

Get the number off the cartridge and Google for further information.

 

[rpaloalto]

I would say no. Not for sound reproduction anyway.

I think the only difference in phono cartridges these days would be one of durability. Say if your in to mixing or scratching.

The market for a phono cartridge is so small and specialized these days, they can charge what ever they want.

 

[adk]

The "needle" is a stylus, and quite a few of them are still available, without purchasing an entire new cartridge.

Get the number off the cartridge and Google for further information.

I'm aware of that, but with the traumatic fashion in which the needle was broken off, I'd rather get a new cartridge in case of more internal damage in the cartridge.

 

[hexonxonx]

If you live near a Radio Shack, they still carry them. That's where I used to get cartridges for my Tecnics turntables (I still own them).