Cartridges
Cartridges are an often neglected link in a DJ setup. They are the first contact with your records and the first part of the system to have an impact on the sound.Ortofon
When starting out I tried various Stanton and Ortofon cartridges and for a long while I was using the Ortofon OM Pro,
since they worked the best for me then, considering sound and durability.
It has a crisp sound and can also take some abuse, as oposed to the Ortofon Night Club Series
that have a finer stylus tip, thus making them quite fragile. The Night Clubs sound a little better,
but considering the extra cost I didn't really think they were worth the upgrade.Stanton
I have a pair of Stanton 500s. They really are sturdy built, but I seldom use them any longer as they have a bit too honky sound for my taste. They're good to have as a backup or when I want to brush up on my scratching skills though...
For a bit more hifi sounding Stanton cartridge I use the Stanton 680 series, which give a much smoother
relaxed sound than the 500s, which makes the 680s more suited for the type of House music I play.
I have both the 680EL and 680HP. The EL has a more detailed, open sound and a wider stereo image.
The HP has more bass and a little more edgy, brighter high frequency response. Compared to the HP or the
Ortofons, the 680EL can sometimes even sound a bit dull in the high frequency region.Grado
A friend of mine used to rave about the Grado DJ Cartridges and after trying them I must say these are fantastic
DJ-ing needles. They come in two different versions, the DJ100 and the DJ200. Both of them sound a lot better than
other DJ cartridges in their respective price range, with a smooth frequency response and stereo image like no other
DJ cartridge. The downside is they are rather delicate and require the DJ to be gentle when cueing up records.
Made in the USA, they're pretty costly here in Sweden, since the Swedish agent only bring them in on special order.
The simple solution to a good deal was to order a pair from an online store in the US.
Audio Technica
Being extremely delighted with the sound of the Grado DJ cartridges, I was just as disappointed in the fact they are not very good for back cueing. After being recommended the Audio Technica ATP-2XN, I purchased a set and tried it out.
They turned out to have almost the same tonal quality as the Grados, but not with as great stereo image.
Handling of the ATs is much better than the Grados, with no skipping when back cueing. Soundwise they beat
both Ortofon and Stanton and they seem to be the best compromise regarding sound quality and handling.
This makes it my prefered choice in cartridges and the one I use mostly.Manufacturer links:
Audio Technica,
Grado,
Ortofon,
Stanton