Choosing the right cartridge The ultimate performance potential of any record playing system is defined by the capabilities of its phono cartridge. Tonal balance, response range, clarity on musical peaks, stereo separation and imaging, along with freedom from noise and distortion are all affected at the outset. The selection of this first component is critical to the full enjoyment of the rest of your system. Your choice of cartridge can also strongly affect the life of your records. With vinyl records becoming more and more difficult to replace, it’s an important point to keep in mind when selecting a cartridge or upgrading your system. Since Audio‑Technica has long been recognized as a world leader in phonograph cartridge design and production, we offer a wide range of models designed to match turntable/tonearm requirements, performance levels and budget considerations. This brochure is intended to help make your decision easier by giving you as much information as possible. It will also give you specific “numbers” for all of our cartridges, with additional detailed information on our Audiophile Series. But no matter which model you select, we’re confident you’ll find your Audio‑Technica cartridge to be outstanding value in every respect.
These “numbers” are an attempt to describe how your cartridge will perform, and how well it will meet your needs. Frequency response is a measure of the range of sounds that the cartridge will reproduce uniformly. This “flatness” of response ensures that no frequencies are given over- or under- emphasis. And uniform response is a hallmark of Audio‑Technica Vector Aligned cartridges, with even the least expensive units providing smooth reproduction within their stated ranges. Channel separation is another key specification. It is the measure of how well one channel “ignores” the other stereo channel, so that you don’t hear signals from the right channel in your left-side speaker. It’s measured in dB, and the higher the number, the higher the separation. Separation is especially important at the higher frequencies, a region where Audio‑Technica cartridges are particularly outstanding. Channel balance is a measure of both production quality and good basic design. Both sides of a stereo cartridge should have equal loudness when equally recorded levels are present. Output level is important in matching your cartridge to the electronics. Too low a level can result in noise, too high a level can over-drive a preamp into distortion. However, the output levels of all A-T Dual Magnet cartridges will work well with virtually any magnetic phono input. There are a number of other measurements of phono cartridge performance, but in the final analysis, the most important characteristics to you will probably be how well the cartridge performs audibly, how it interfaces with your other system components, and how carefully it preserves your record library for future use. ls tracking force important? Yes, but not to the exclusion of other characteristics. Each cartridge (regardless of its manufacturer) operates best in a particular range of tonearm tracking forces. It is important that this range is within the capabilities of your turntable if optimum performance is to be achieved. Keep in mind also that record wear goes up as pressure on the record surface increases. Tracking too light can cause as much (or more) damage as tracking too heavily.
Choosing your cartridge format Audio‑Technica cartridges can be: – P-mount (plug-in) – Half-inch mount (1/2”)
• P-mount cartridges have four terminals at the back that simply plug in to the end of the tonearm. The cartridge is then secured to the tonearm with a single screw. • Half-inch mount cartridges also have four terminals at the back, but they have larger pins that connect to four individual wires at the end of the tonearm. The cartridge is secured to the tonearm’s headshell with two screws, spaced 1/2” apart.
The specifications (pages 48 to 51)
The most important specifications include frequency response, channel separation, channel balance and output level.
6 - Audio-Technica Phono Cartridges Guide 2025
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