Turntable Cartridges

Turntable cartridges, also known as phono cartridges, are precision electro-mechanical components mounted on a turntable tonearm that convert the grooves of a vinyl record into an electrical audio signal. As the stylus traces the record surface, the cartridge generates a very low-level phono signal that represents the recorded music. In a hi-fi system, the cartridge is a critical part of the analogue playback chain and must be correctly matched to the tonearm and downstream components.

Phono Cartridges for Vinyl Playback Systems

Turntable cartridges are designed to work with specific tonearm characteristics and phono preamp requirements. The two most common cartridge types are Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC), each with different output levels, loading needs and system compatibility. Selecting the appropriate cartridge depends on the tonearm design, tracking force range and the phono stage used in the system. Turntable cartridges are designed to be used with compatible turntables and tonearms, where correct mounting and alignment are essential.

In a vinyl playback setup, the cartridge sits at the very start of the signal path, feeding its output to a phono preamp where the signal is amplified and equalised before being sent to an amplifier. Correct cartridge matching ensures stable tracking, accurate signal transfer and reliable long-term performance from both records and equipment. The low-level signal produced by a cartridge must be processed by a phono preamp before it can be amplified and played through a hi-fi system.

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