Reddit mentions of Audio-Technica AT95E Phonograph Cartridge for 1/2" Mount Turntables

Great. Pittsburgh is the perfect kind of city for a project like this, tons of great stuff available for very reasonable.

Turntables:

any of these will do nicely. Be sure to factor in that you probably need a new cartridge and stylus any time you buy a used turntable unless you get really lucky and find something with the cartridge and stylus in great shape. That is gonna be $40 bucks off your budget right there. I'd recommend buying this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1496256576&sr=8-7&keywords=shure+phono+cartridge

Its a great starter unit and doesn't hurt the wallet too much.

For turntables any one of these three will work. Spend some time googling the model numbers to help you decide which features you like best on these. Then make offers, you can definitely get them cheaper than listed.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/6141497611.html

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/6150097106.html

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/6087588926.html

Even the highest priced one of these could be talked down to at least $60 bucks, so with the turntable and cartridge lets say you are up to $100. That leaves up $50 to go receiver shopping because you already have speakers you are happy with. Plenty of money to get something cool.

Stay away from vintage silver face 70s units, they are all the rage right now and you will have to pay too much for them. All the value right now is in great black face units from the 80s. If you stick to the right brands (Pioneer, Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Onkyo) you will get good power and Phono stage that sounds great.

I'd suggest any of the following which can be talked down to even lower than what is listed:

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/6127430027.html

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/6146337029.html
(this is teac, not one of the brands i mentioned above, but still reputable)

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/6152675295.html (this is a JVC, but will also get the job done for you)

If none of those work out I might give this a guy a call, looks like he has stacks of receivers sitting around he is looking to sell. Bring your cellphone so you can research what he has online when looking and insist on testing anything before you guy.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/6105405354.html


There you go. You will put together a nice little starter system, with some sound that will absolutely kick the ass of anything you would ever buy new for $150.

Good Luck!!

Look into getting an AT95E cartridge. I'm not sure how good the stock cart sounds, but my LAB-440 has had it since I got it and it's great. It's $42 on Amazon but you may need the headshell too (not 100% sure), which they sell as a combo for just under $80.

as far as i know, DJ styli aren't inherently horrible. the main problem with DJing is the tendency to use too much tracking force to compensate for manhandling the records. i don't think any of your records have actually been "wrecked" by the most likely higher-end cart the guy gave you. what cart did they give you, anyway?

but if you really want a new cart, this one, this guy, or this beauty are all pretty nice from what i've heard.

Check your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, pawn shops, Craigslist, and even eBay for vintage phono receivers. As for the cartridge, it is probably wise to replace it since its condition is unknown. Could you take some close up pics of the cart so we can see what it is?

If the cartridge ends up being garbage, I highly recommend the Audio Technica AT95e, its value simply cannot be surpassed. It competes with cartridges that cost more than twice as much.

250 is a great budget, you can definitely put together something that will sound great for that much if you are willing to buy used.

For turntables consider these options:


https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ele/d/technics-sl-b2-turntable/6213698567.html

Nice table, 100 is a little steep on price, I'd bet you can get him down to at least 80 maybe lower

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ele/d/pioneer-pl10/6213431820.html


Another option that could work. Could probably also talk this guy down to 50-60


Keep in mind anytime you buy a used table you will need to buy a new cartridge, I'd suggest this one:


https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-At95e-Phonograph-Cartridge/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1502077025&sr=8-3&keywords=audio+technica+cartridge



It's cheap, sounds pretty good, and gives you plenty of room to grow in the future. So between the table and the new cartridge let's say we have spent 125, that leaves another 125 for a receiver and speakers, which is plenty.

For receivers and speakers there are a few options that will work.

The best one might be this one

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ele/d/klipsch-denon-stereo-receiver/6220389588.html.


The receiver for sale is a denon dra685, this is one of my all time favorite receivers. Has a built in phono stage so you won't need a phono preamp, and it sounds awesome. I actually use one of them in my upstairs setup and it sounds great. 100wpc for power, this thing can get loud!! The speakers included are a decent pair as well. Still the price is high that he is asking. I wouldn't pay more than $75 for everything, but this would be my first choice, especially the receiver, you won't be sorry.

Beyond that pickings are kind of slim for receivers at the moment, although this one would also work, not totally sure how good it would be though.

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ele/d/klipsch-denon-stereo-receiver/6220389588.html

Whatever you do don't spend more than 50 on a receiver, and make sure it has a phono input in the back so you don't need to buy a phono preamp.

With 75 bucks left for speakers here are a few options.


https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ele/d/jbl-northridge-n28-main/6235534287.html. These would be good.

Depending on your negotiation skills you might be able to get this guy down to a range where it works, if so you would be very happy with these.

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ele/d/jbl-northridge-n28-main/6235534287.html


Good Luck! This is a great hobby, tons of fun, I love seeing people get into it.

there's the Groove tool a standard cardridge and there's also the AT95E

Technics headshell SFPCC31001K

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003DY5Q4K/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1463961503&sr=8-1&keywords=technics+headshell&condition=new

AT95E

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI

This Audio Technica is well respected, and $40. Or for $50 you can get this Shure.

I still think you'll need a phono preamp, even with the powered studio monitors. You can get one for $20.

Hope this helps!

Get this one. The Audio-Technica is supposedly a GREAT choice for your budget.

Here's the original headshell: http://amzn.com/B0048XFL18

Here's the same thing, a bit cheaper, in black: http://amzn.com/B019X1YNOU

The LP120 comes stock with an AT95E cart these days: http://amzn.com/B004NRVUMI

I recently upgraded mine to an AT440MLb (pricey but worth it! Check the 'other sellers' options to save ~$50): http://amzn.com/B00OQUJ1QO

It's probably a good turntable. I have the SLD3 which is the model before this. It sounds decent and is pretty well built. Plus it's full automatic so you press start and it moves the needle to the record then moves back when it's done. It's a good started. I moved up to a Pioneer because it sounds better but the Technics should be enough for now.

Here's the cartridge www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004NRVUMI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1449166023&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=at95e

Here's the headshell www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003DY5Q4K/ref=sr_ph_1?qid=1449166048&sr=sr-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=Headshell

I just bought this one

> The seller says he has recently cleaned and lubricated the table. Does this seem like an all right buy?

The Technics SL-D1 is good table. Who knows what the buyer actually did to it, so I would ask for him/her to show you what was done. Have him/her demo it to make sure it's in working order. $90 might be a little steep since you have to pick up a new headshell and cartridge, but it might be just how much stuff goes for in your area. You could always offer $75 or 80 and see what happens.

> How much should I expect a replacement headshell, cartridge, and stylus to cost, and where would I begin to look for one?

Here are two technics headshells on Amazon: Technics Black Headshell for $23 and a Technics Silver Headshell for $27. You don't have to stick to the technics brand, headshells are standardized so a Ortofon or Stanton one would also work, just make sure you take off the weights on the headshells (if they have them), those are for DJs.

For a new cartridge, everything depends on budget. If you want to stick to a fairly cheap one but that will get the job done, the Audio Technica AT95E for $47 is one of the better cheaper options.

> I would also need a preamp.

Decent cheap preamp would be the ART DJ PREII for $41. There are cheaper ones but they are super shitty, stay away from the cheap pyle ones.

Total: $90 (TT) + $27 (silver headshell, so it matches!) + $47 (cartridge) + $41 (preamp) = $205. Close to your $200 budget. You could get the black headshell to save a few bucks and maybe talk down the seller of the turntable as well. Good luck.

eBay is your friend when it comes to some cartridges, but my recommendations in this price range are the Ortofon OM-10 and possibly the greatest budget cartridge of all time, the Audio Technica AT95e.

Why not spend the $50-$100 its going to take to put a headshell and decent budget cartridge on the Gemini? That's cheaper than a night out, and you'll get a lot of hours of enjoyment out if it (setting the turntable up, tinkering/learning, and playing records). Even if you upgrade later, it's better than letting the Gemini collect dust or throwing it in the dumpster and raising the amount of perfectly serviceable and fun e-waste rotting in our landfills.

Edit: You will need to fix the speed adjustment slider and buttons on at least one of those though. That's very important for a record player.

Audiophiles are very picky and tend to invest a lot in their equipment (especially if they're buying brand new high end manual turntables, which is what this subreddit has a fetish for). Yeah the Gemini and the Sony look like shit if you sit them next to a brand new Rega, but why should you care?

Your Sony is cheap to buy, very simple and cheaply made, therefore to an audiophile it must be bad. It is also nearly impossible to tinker with (which is probably what is causing your dissatisfaction). That being said, it plays records and plays them pretty well. Your new turntable(s) won't give you much improvement in audio quality, but it will give you a ton of room to have fun with the hobby.

The Gemini is what is referred to as a Technics SL-1200 clone or Super OEM, and your assessment of it is mostly correct. It looks almost like an SL-1200, and it functions almost like one, but it has NONE of the refinement. Nice price though. It's actually pretty comparable to an Audio Technica AT LP-120, which costs a lot more than $15. Like I said, the Gemini probably won't give you much in terms of an audio improvement over the Sony. It will require a phono preamp if you don't have one yet (the Sony has a built-in preamp, the Gemini does not).

Changing headshells is a huge part of the fun of vinyl, and definitely something you want to get into if you're wanting to get technical with the hobby. The AT95e is one of the best budget cartridges and the Ortofon OM10 is the other. Since you specifically said you want to tinker, I would not buy the preassembled cartridge. I would buy a seperate headshell and an alignment protractor and do the installation myself. It's slightly cheaper than spending the $60 for the ready to install kit, and you'll learn more that way. If you're intimidated, there are A LOT of youtube guides on how to do this.

The Ortofon 2M Red and Shure M97xe are slightly classier budget cartridges, but they won't offer a big performance boost over the good budget option (the Ortofon Red sure is pretty looking though...). You'll need to spend >$200 on a cartridge before you start to see a significant upgrade over the budget options.

edit:
Quick links -

Budget headshell - https://www.amazon.com/ADJ-Products-TT-HEADSHELL-Turntable-Cartridge/dp/B0002E51V2

Alignment protractor - https://www.amazon.com/Turntable-Phonograph-Cartridge-Alignment-Protractor/dp/B079ZBLJ4M

AT95e - https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-At95e-Phonograph-Cartridge/dp/B004NRVUMI/

Ortofon OM10 - https://www.amazon.com/Ortofon-Super-OM10-Phono-Cartridge/dp/B000CCEQM4/

Ortofon 2M Red - https://www.amazon.com/Ortofon-2M-Red-Phono-Cartridge/dp/B000WMCEKK/

Shure M97xe - https://www.amazon.com/Shure-M97xE-Performance-Magnetic-Cartridge/dp/B007ZC2EYQ

AT LP-120 - https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-LP120-USB-Direct-Drive-Professional-Turntable/dp/B002S1CJ2Q/

Your cartridge is an Audio Technica 95E. That's a fifty dollar cartridge that sounds like a one hundred dollar cartridge. They favor treble, so use your tone controls as needed if you've got them.

You should probably refresh the stylus if you don't know whether or not it has more than 1000 hours on it. A new stylus is $40, but that's money well spent. Or you can just replace the whole thing for the same money. Either way, worn out styluses not only add distortion, they're hell on records.

Congratulations on your new turntable. She's a beauty!

http://www.amazon.com/Ortofon-Omega-Single-Pack-Cartridge/dp/B001GVJ9XG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1422297199&sr=8-4&keywords=phono+cartridge

...or...

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422297199&sr=8-1&keywords=phono+cartridge

A cheap cart in that price range may be one of the lower end Audio Technica carts that come standard on most entry level turntables.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI

Aside from the cartridge you may want to get a Antistatic brush to clean off your records before playing them, this will help with static and dust build up and keep your cartridge somewhat clean. Some cheap microfiber clothes and a bottle of distilled water would be beneficial as a quick cheap cleaning method for your records, Mix a solution of 91% Isopropyl alcohol 1 part to 5 parts distilled water, then a simple wipe down of them to get the most visible gunk off of them. But for the cart I would recommend saving up for a while and getting something in the <£100 range. Not familiar with the Revolver Rebel so not sure what kind of cart is used on it.

I would avoid a P-mount cartridge^(I am aware it is not a P-mount, advice still applies)in a standard half inch adapter such that you linked to. They can be difficult to use because the adapter takes up a lot of room --- it may offset the height at which your tonearm operates

Stick to half-inch mount cartridges. Or standard mount.

Here's a decent budget cart http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458849598&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+technica+cartridges

I also like the Shure M35x and AT5625AL

EDIT --- We don't need a whole thread devoted to telling me that's not a P-mount the OP linked to... Try to stay on topic and keep your concerns focused on the OP's content and not mine.

I have the same turntable. I got an AT95E Audio Technica cartridge/needle for mine (currently on sale for $38 on Amazon) which is a pretty good setup. The insides are put together in a way which makes it hard to access the potentiometers unless you want to take the whole board out/take the whole thing apart. I sprayed some deoxit in through the pitch adjust dial area and in the general vicinity of that area on the inside. You'll see it's very difficult to see anything on the board since it's upside down from the bottom. This fixed my pitch control issue. Also, feel free to oil the turntable with sewing machine/light machine oil. Overall, it's a good turntable. Best of luck and enjoy!

Edit: I should have just made this a reply to your comment. Not sure, but I do think you should replace that needle. The headshell is probably compatible with the AT cartridge. I don't know too much though. The new cartridge will wire on to the headshell just make sure the wires connect to the right pins. Here's a link to the deal. I'm on mobile else I'd hyperlink it: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1458960634&sr=1-2

The cantilever (shaft) is bent so the stylus is ruined. That's a Sony cartridge and isn't very good anyway so just get a whole new cartridge. The Sony headshell should be fine but you can replace it with a Technics if you want for $20 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DY5Q4K/. Under $50 budget cartridges that are good for the money:

$20 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006HO3L/

$35 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WYROYE0/

$40 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NRVUMI/

Lastly, you can get a copy of the owners manual and service manual here if you create an account http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-d2.shtml.

I can't really tell from the picture, but do you have an input on the stereo that says phono?

Anyways as for turntable I suggest going on craigslist and looking for a used technics turntable. It can even be something like a Technics D-1. For needle the cheapest I would go is an Audio Technica AT95E

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI

This is a picture of a cheap, but acceptable turntable

http://img.canuckaudiomart.com/uploads/large/251549-technics_sld1_direct_drive_turntable_new_pictures.jpg

Whatever record player you buy, make sure it has a weight in the back so you can set tracking pressure. Try to find a local store in your area, so you don't accidentally screw it up the first time you try.

Cartridges come with a stylus.

One of the most widely praised that's on the cheaper end is the Audio Technica AT95e for $40. You may consider the Shure M97xE and Ortofon 2M Red which are both $100, though.

What's your budget? I asked a similar question last week about a Pioneer table I picked up. I got a lot of recommendations to check out Audio Technica cartridges. Check these out as appropriate for your budget:

AT95E
AT120ET
AT440MLE

I'm waiting until next month to go for the AT440MLE personally. I also plan on getting the AT Headshell which should work for you too.

Audio Technica AT95E. Since you used £ I'd guess that you're UK based. If so, you can get one for £24.95 on amazon uk.

edit: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Technica-AT95E-Moving-Magnet-Cartridge/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416306890&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+technica+at95e

That AT CN5625AL is a very cheap and low quality conical cartridge. If you're going to replace the cartridge and want to stick to a budget at least bump up the the AT 95E for $40.

Thanks, I am really looking for concordes though (i.e. integrated headshell carts), plus at £56.29 apiece that is going way out of my budget... £23.48 apiece for the Audio Technica would be much more within my price range, and they're not going to be getting heavy use at all. I would need to buy headshells, so that is a factor.

I will remember those Shure ones though, you never know what second hand stuff you will find.

If the AT95E is compatible, I'd consider that as an option. It's a r/vinyl favorite.

Seems like upgrading the cartridge and getting a needle with it would be cheaper? Or am I misunderstanding how this works?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NRVUMI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Hi everyone, I'm from Ontario, Canada, and I'm brand new to turntables. I've purchased all of the following:

• Technics SL-B2 Turntable
  
  
• Audio- Technica AT95E Cartridge
  
  
• ART DJPRE Phono Preamp
  
  
• Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers
  
  All I need now is a power amp, right? The place I went to only had one within my budget of ~$150 CAD, that being a Sony TA-N511 for $80. I couldn't find much information about it online.
  
  Is that power amp okay, or should I return the DJPRE and get a receiver instead? How do all of my other components look?
  

Aw, crap. I was typing too fast. Yes, I did mean the LP120. Sorry about that. Should I switch out the carriage too? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NRVUMI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER and I was thinking about this too http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0048XFL18/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I like my AT95e, I don't think it can be beat for the price.

Hmmm...

The preamp should do two things: bring up the volume a lot and correct the frequency response to match the RIAA curve. When a vinyl record is made, the high frequencies are boosted and the low frequencies are cut back to match the energy contained in typical music. The preamp equalization boosts the lows and reduces the highs to match the curve used in the recording.

Most turntables should bring up the level to "consumer line level" which is about -10 dBv. This is about the same output level as most CD players or TV analog audio outputs would be.

Do you know what kind of cartridge is installed in your turntable? Normally preamps are for magnetic cartridges like this.

Most likely, yes. The AT95E is a good budget cartridge at $40 (http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373321817&sr=8-1&keywords=at95e), but if you're willing to spend closer to $100 you can get some significantly improved cartridges.

So if I was to get THIS for my Sanyo table it should work fine?

Thanks! Considering I got the turntable for free I don't really mind investing in some gear, what cartridge would you recommend?

Edit: After some quick research it looks like the AT95E is compatible and in my price range. Should I order the headstock+cartridge combo or would I be fine with just a new cartridge?

I assume that these 2 will be fine?

Cartridge

Stylus

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-technica-AT-92ECD-Phono-Cartridge/dp/B00006HO3L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287664425&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=twister_B013G447E6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I think either should work

Dude, that's a headshell which you already should have at the end of your tonearm. You need a cartridge:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452703923&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+technica+95

Are you sure you didn't mean MC cartridge? MM and MC seem to be the two main types, and the Denon 103S is a moving coil.

I believe I'm gonna opt for this one, since it has great customer response and is relatively cheap, ($35)

My other option is to buy an American made copy of what I already had for a little for about $100 on ebay, here.

Thanks for the time and advice! I've learned a lot about the science through this experience.

Do you know of differences between the AT95EBL and the AT95E.

also, just replicate the way the pins are connected to the headshell now?

I'd suggest the AT95E

How do I know what stylus is compatible with my cartridge? Should I just get a new cartridge, or do those have to be compatible too?

I broke the stylus on my new (to me) Pioneer PL-400. I cant find the replacement on amazon. It's a PC-150. After searching reddit I found turntableneedles.com and found this:

http://www.turntableneedles.com/PN-12typeNeedleforPioneerPC-12Cartridge

I'd rather buy from Amazon if possible. Could I just get this?

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421936248&sr=8-1&keywords=turntable+cartridge

Here is some data I found on vinylengine regarding the original:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/pioneer/pc-150.shtml

So I'm looking to upgrade my turntable...I currently have a Kenwood KP-3021 with an AT95E cartridge. My amp is a Technics SU-G91 that I run two Polk tsi400 tower speakers into. Is there a turntable ($500 or less) that would give me an increase in sound quality with my current set up?

Personally I'd probably suggest something around the $50 range because anything more than that you should just invest in a better turntable. Maybe just buy a replacement stylus for it. That would probably be much cheaper. But I will say I don't have experience with this particular turntable. If you wanted to buy new, I'd recommend the [Audio Technica AT95E] (http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI). I had one and it was a pretty solid cartridge for the price.

I tried to change out the cartridges on my Harman Kardon T30C, but the output pins on the cartridge are too large for the headshell leads. What step do I take from here? It originally had a Grado MF 2 cartridge. The new cartridge is an Audio Technica AT 95E. The manual for the T30C says not to use any other headshell than the one provided so changing out the headshell isn't an option I suppose.

Here's a pic of the cartridges to see the difference in size:
http://imgur.com/a/EDFeB

Do I try to change the leads? Or purchase a different cartridge? Would these leads work?

Not sure where in Newfoundland but I found this on Kijiji for $50. might be able to get him down to $30-40 you never know. It's a P-mount. No built in pre-amp so she would need a receiver with a phono stage or a preamp (PP400 is on sale). I had this exact same turntable when I first started out. Throw a AT95E cartridge on there and you're golden (might be able to find them a bit cheaper on eBay).

Of course I would suggest asking second opinions on budgetphile and the weekly questions thread. Also make sure you can listen before you buy when buying used (if you decide to go that route).

I would still go with the RT81 over this option though. Black Friday is also coming up and you might be able to snag a good deal somewhere.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1414212380&sr=1-1

That's what I was thinking as well, although the one pictured looks considerably more "square" without that beveled edge.

Although it's definitely an Audio Technica, that's for sure

That cart is a "$40 value": https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI

But if the table is in great shape, and works, and you like it, I'd say $100 is a fair price for sure.

I'd keep looking for one of the many Technics decks out there that use a standard universal cartridge mount instead like the SL-Q202 or the million direct-drive variants thereof.

Technics 'tables tend to live forever if not abused, and the direct drive variants eliminate the need to replace belts.

This is a much more solid deal but you'd do well to replace the cartridge with something that is easier on vinyl like the AT-95e

Any standard mount cartridge will do the trick. The one it comes with is very entry level. I believe it's the one that comes with the LP60. There are some pretty decent cartridges out there that are way better than the stock one and it won't break the bank. Like the AT95E or the Ortofon 0M5E. Since the tt does have a counterbalance, the stock cartridge might not be that bad, but I would really consider upgrading to something a little better.

Howdy y'all... first time posting in one of these question threads but let's see how it goes:

What's the difference between these two cartridges?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OSWGLM/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NRVUMI/

(also, if you have any recommendations for a budget - sub-$50 - cartridge replacement for a Technics SL-D3 I'd be interested to hear 'em. Thanks in advance!

)

Ah, good. Listen to the manual. 0.8g minimum tracking weight sounds a lot more reasonable, and will allow you to put a nice wide variety of cartridges on it.

Here's a nice how-to on balancing a tonearm that seems relevant to what needs done to your table. The manual should have something in it instructing you how to put the counterweight back on, then it's a matter of picking a cartridge, installing it (wicked easy), balancing it, and playing a record. An Audio-Technica AT95E should work well for cheap.

Still wouldn't hurt to clean it up with some Deoxit, but one thing you can do now is check and see if it turns at the proper RPM - you can either install an RPM meter app on your phone or download a turntable strobe you can print out to check if the table is spinning consistently at the right speeds (this allows you to test both 33 1/3 and 45 RPM).

I’m new to vinyl, and bought a used lp120 turntable. I need to get a cartridge, and I was thinking of this one . Would this be good enough, or are there better options (on a budget)

this one right?
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473779702&sr=8-1&keywords=AT95E

I will look into that, is this what you would recommend? also just curious, but why do you suggest replacing it?

I don't think you got hosed.

You can get a new cartridge, just google what fits. Popular and under $100 new cartridges are [Shure M97xE] (http://www.amazon.com/Shure-M97xE-High-Performance-Magnetic-Cartridge/dp/B00006I5SB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409945556&sr=8-1&keywords=shure+mx97e) along with audio technica
You will need to adjust the anti-skating if you put a new cartridge on there, it's easy and the new cart will tell you what to set it too. The TL:dr on anti-skating is it keeps the needle in the very center of the groove.

For this you would have to get an external pre-amp if you're going to go with the powered monitors. I personally am in the Turntable>Receiver>Passive Speakers setup camp. I think it's just more versatile. You can plug other things like a CD player, TV, or iPhone into the receiver and use your speakers for all your home listening. With the receiver you can also eventually add a Sub to your setup. A vintage receiver and and a decent pair of passive bookshelf speakers wouldn't run you much more than a pre-amp and those Mackie's. The cart is most likely the base AT model. It could definitely be upgraded. Since this is you're first setup and you're not going to be getting the highest quality gear upfront, I wouldn't go spending too much money on a fancy cart. I had the AT95E on my first setup and I think it's a great entry level cart. Oh and the little light is called a strobe. It's used to check if your motor is spinning at the correct speed. When you look at the dots on the edge of the platter in the strobe they should appear to stand still. If they look like they're moving you're motor's speed is off.

Sorry I thought I mentionned that.

It's an AT 95E and it's brand new.

Thank for your help :)

Something like this?

I would change out the whole cart. This is the most common cart used by turntable enthusiasts that are on a budget. You will need to print out a protractor to set it up and set the counter weight to 2.5:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI?ie=UTF8&keywords=at95e&qid=1465331973&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

So would something like this work for it? I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure what a standard mount cartridge is

http://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1408488391&sr=1-2&keywords=turntable+cartridge

Seconding what nevermind said about contacting needledoctor. It's only slightly more to replace the whole cartridge with a modern option, like these, all 1/2" standard carts:

AT95E

Shure M97xE

AT92E

This will help you get it all lined up easily

And a small screwdriver set, needle-nose pliers, and you're good to go. The two screws on the top of the headshell let you remove the cartridge assembly and adjust its position when you put the new cart on.

Is this the same cartridge? AT-VM95e vs AT-95e (lpgear vs Amazon)

Since I have Amazon prime I have "free" shipping and returns which lpgear.com doesn't

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT95E-Magnet-Phonograph-Cartridge/dp/B004NRVUMI/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=Audio-Technica+VM49e+cartridge&qid=1564437674&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Yeah, you've got everything, sounds like your needle must be missing.

I don't recognize that particular cartridge, but provided the turntable isn't something too obscure or old, you should be able to find a replacement stylus. Just google around for "TURNTABLE NAME & MODEL Replacement Stylus".

If not, you can replace the entire cartridge with something like an AT95E: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-At95e-Phonograph-Cartridge/dp/B004NRVUMI

Your headshell is a 1/2" standard mount so the majority of modern cartridges will fit it.

If this was /r/vinyl they would tell you minimum [This one] (https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-AT95E/dp/B004NRVUMI). I forget where but someone did a test on cheap cartridges whether or not they're a good value. The ones for $3 on ebay seem to do the job if you want to listen to records.

edit: [Found the video] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nsPGILzrRs)