The Technics SL-1200 Series is one of the most iconic turntables out there that has seen a lot of success over the last 50 years.
The build quality of the series is simply unmatched at its price level with a brilliant balance between engineering and design, allowing it to look and feel exactly as good as it sounds!
With that being said, the quality of the sound is always as good as the weakest link in the chain, so you have to make sure that you couple your turntable with an equally good cartridge, and today, we’ll help you with that!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know in order to pick the best cartridge for Technics 1200. Let’s dive right in!
How We Review Turntable Cartridges
Although it’s fair to say that the sound quality is quite subjective, the build quality rarely is. For that reason, while choosing turntable cartridges for the Technics 1200, we’ve made sure to keep a few pointers in mind.
For starters, we’ve scoured the market looking for some of the best options when it comes to both sound and build quality.
Although we highly recommend a turntable that can bring the best out of the Technics 1200, we’ve made sure to include various models in different tiers to suit everyone’s budget.
As a result, the list includes products that can work well for anyone from casual listeners and those on strict budgets all the way up to serious audiophiles who care about nothing but the quality of sound no matter how much it costs!
Top 5 Cartridges That You Can Use with the Technics 1200
Now that you know more about our methodology while choosing products for this guide, let’s have a quick look at some of the best options that we find best at various budget levels:
1. Best Overall: Audio Technica VM750SH Turntable Cartridge
Pros
- Excellent value and performance for its price
- Durable construction that lasts for a long time without compromising quality
- Breaks in very quickly
Cons
- A little difficult to keep clean
Kicking off the list with one of the best options to consider when it comes to the Technics SL-1200 turntable.
The Audio Technica VM750SH is an ideal choice here because it strikes a perfect balance between quality and cost-effectiveness.
This one comes with a nude Shibata diamond stylus, which provides a remarkable level of groove tracking while being surprisingly sturdy. This means that you can enjoy the tiniest of details while playing your vinyl records.
Another premium feature that this cartridge offers is the die-cast tapered aluminum cantilever, which is remarkably more durable than standard aluminum and improves the longevity and performance of the cartridge.
The VM750SH provides a smooth, neutral, and more enjoyable sound that works well with a broad spectrum of genres and metallic housing fits the aluminum body of the Technics 1200 Series perfectly!
The solid build allows for improved resonance resistance and minimizes the inner groove distortion while using the cartridge.
You can also upgrade this model to the Audio Technica VM760SLC, which features a nude special line stylus, but this can be overkill in terms of price to performance ratio.
2. Runner-Up: Ortofon 2M Bronze Moving Magnet Cartridge
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing design
- High quality materials and components
- Easily upgradeable to the elite tier 2M Black cartridge
Cons
- Premium price tag
If you don’t mind spending a little more to enjoy premium quality top to bottom, you should consider the brilliant 2M Series from the Danish giant Ortofon.
When it comes to advanced and highly customizable turntables like the Technics 1200, you should couple it with a high end 2M Series model, such as the 2M Bronze.
At first glance, the only difference between the 2M Bronze and the popular 2M Blue cartridge is the color. However, when it comes to performance, the two are simply on a completely different level!
For starters, the Ortofon 2M Bronze features a state of the art Nude Fine Line diamond stylus that provides an unmatched level of tracking all the while minimizing the inner groove distortion.
This top tier cartridge allows you to enjoy high quality audio resolution with punchy bass and loud highs without being screechy or annoying.
The extremely thin-cut diamond stylus allows for a higher level of trackability, so you’ll be able to hear new elements of music that you may not hear while using a lower grade stylus!
The compact design doesn’t only look good, but the engine that attaches to the headshell allows you to swap this stylus with an Ortofon 2M Black replacement stylus for even better sound quality and durability!
3. Best Budget Choice: Audio Technica AT-VM95ML Turntable Cartridge
Pros
- Remarkably affordable while providing a lot of value
- Available as an optional bundle with a compatible headshell
- Extremely durable and offers up to 1,000 hours of playtime
Cons
- Can be a little difficult to align
If you’re relatively new to the turntable scene and you want a decent cartridge that doesn’t cost you a lot of money while providing you with incredible audio quality, you should consider the Audio Technica AT-VM95ML.
Although this cartridge isn’t the cheapest one out there, it does offer the most value for its price. In fact, this cartridge comes with an exquisite 2.2 x 0.12 mil stylus with a nude microlinear structure that is far superior to any elliptical or conical stylus on the market.
In fact, for some users, its sound quality is almost on par with the styli fitted with the 2M Bronze and the At-VM750SH!
However, if you’re trying to save as much money as possible and you don’t mind the lost potential, you can go for the Ortofon 2M Red.
Although the Audio Technica is relatively hard to install properly, it’s offered as a full set along with a compatible Audio Technica AT-HS6BK headshell, which allows you to install it almost immediately without worrying about the hassle of aligning or bolting.
4. Nagaoka MP-150 Audio Cartridge
Pros
- Excellent sound quality for a relatively affordable price
- Easy to align and install without hassle
- Improved cantilever and stylus quality for durability and higher accuracy
Cons
- The external resonance can be a bit annoying for the trained ear
The Nagaoka MP-150 is another brilliant choice that you might want to consider if you want a durable and reliable moving magnet cartridge that is fairly affordable and easy to use.
This one mcomes with an elliptical 0.4 × 0.7 mil diamond stylus. What sets this one apart from lower tier options like the Nagaoka MP-110 is that this one is nude while the latter is bonded.
The nude diamond is lighter in weight, which improves the trackability of the cartridge and contributes to the reduction of the inner groove distortion.
However, you might notice a slight distortion due to the vibration of the housing, which is a general drawback of the entire Nagaoka MP Series.
This model has a channel separation rating of more than 24 dB at 1 kHz along with a frequency range that extends from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
This might be less than the AT-VM95ML but it covers the entire human audible range, so you might not even notice the difference.
Users also read: Why Do Vinyl Records Sound High-Pitched
This one also features a durable and reliable cantilever that is made from hardened aluminum with a tapered shape for better accuracy while translating the groove of a record into an audible signal.
The MP-150 is a perfect choice for anyone who also prioritizes ease of installation all the while providing bright, crisp, and remarkably smooth audio.
5. Sumiko Rainier Phono Cartridge
Pros
- Very easy to align and install
- Durable construction with a resonance resisting housing
- Compatible with 2 different styli (Moonstone and Olympia)
Cons
- Lacks the powerful bass that other options on the list would offer
The Sumiko Rainier is a great choice for anyone who is on the hunt for a cartridge that can handle years of continuous use while maintaining clear audio quality. Moreover, it also doubles as a budget friendly alternative because it’s quite affordable.
In fact, despite its price, the Sumiko Rainier is often compared to many popular cartridges, such as the Ortofon 2M Red.
The Sumiko Rainier features a bonded elliptical diamond stylus tip, which isn’t too bad or too good.
However, it gets the job done and performs relatively well for the cartridge’s price. The same also applies to the engine that comes with the cartridge, which is rated at 5.0 mV.
Despite that, the Rainier comes with a surprisingly good frequency range that is even on par with some high end options, extending from as little as 12 Hz all the way up to 25,000 Hz.
Another great advantage of opting for the Sumiko Rainier as a beginner is that you can upgrade this model to higher end options, such as the Sumiko Olympia or the Sumiko Moonstone.
Additionally, the housing of the cartridge is quite durable and helps in preventing inner groove distortion and external resonance to a fair extent.
What to Keep in Mind While Picking a Cartridge for Technics 1200
The abundance of options that are compatible with the Technics SL-1200 Series makes it quite tricky to choose the right one for your needs.
In this section, we’ll walk you through some of the essential features that you need to consider while choosing:
Stylus Shape
The Technics 1200 is an iconic turntable that comes with a lot of capabilities, so it’s logical to only pair it with the best cartridges out there.
One of the most critical aspects of a cartridge is the stylus, which is the needle tip that comes in contact with the records.
The stylus comes in various shapes that have a huge impact on its performance. The most popular shapes of styli are:
- Conical
- Elliptical
- Microlinear (Microline)
- Shibata
- Special Line Contact
Except for the conical, these shapes provide decent contact with the record, which allows the cartridge to pick up the finest details of the record.
Elliptical is decent enough for a beginner but you can really hear the difference if you opt for an upgrade. If you’re aiming for the best, you should go with Shibata, Microline, or Special Line Contact.
Bonded vs Nude Diamond
When it comes to the construction of the stylus diamond, it can be cut entirely from a single diamond (nude) or bonded to a metal shank to keep it steady (bonded).
Ideally, going for a nude diamond gives you the maximum level of sensitivity because it’s lighter in weight, which allows the stylus to be more sensitive and accurate while reacting to the grooves of the record.
On the other hand, bonded diamonds are usually cheaper but with less accuracy. Although both options are suitable for a Technics 1200, you might miss out on some elements if you opt for the bonded one.
Cantilever
The cantilever is a thin metal tube that carries the vibrations of the stylus to the magnet to be translated into an audio signal.
Lightweight materials with high electric conductivity like aluminum, boron, and copper are often used for this part.
Although boron options are usually the best, going for aluminum will save you a lot of money all the while showing little difference in audio quality, so you don’t have to worry much about that.
Specifications
A cartridge will often feature several specifications. One of the most important ones when it comes to premium turntables like Technics 1200 is channel separation and frequency range.
The channel separation describes the cartridge’s ability to deliver the audio signal of the right and left sides separately, achieving a premium surround sound quality.
The frequency range, on the other hand, measures the range of Hertz (Hz) that the cartridge can pick up. A good range here is the audible range, which is between 20 to 20,000 Hz.
Compatibility and Upgradability
While choosing a cartridge for your Technics 1200 turntable, you might want to consider the long term benefit of buying an upgradeable option.
Ideally, most manufacturers will design their cartridges with a similar base engine and build so that you can upgrade the stylus alone, saving you a lot of money and hassle.
If you’re planning to upgrade your setup in the future, consider going for a brand with plenty of upgrade options per model, such as Sumiko, Ortofon, or Audio Technica.
What Is the Best Turntable Cartridge for the Technics 1200?
Now that you know more about the turntable cartridges that you can use with the Technics 1200, here’s a brief roundup of our top picks.
Since we highly recommend that you match your high end turntable with a high performance cartridge, you should definitely consider the Audio Technica VM750SH Turntable Cartridge.
In addition to boasting some of the best specifications that you may find in a turntable cartridge, it also has an outstanding nude Shibata diamond stylus that guarantees an unmatched listening experience all the while coming at a very cost effective price!
Must read: Dual 1219 vs. Dual 1229: In-Depth Comparison
A close second here is the Ortofon 2M Bronze Moving Magnet Cartridge, which offers premium components, a sleek design, along with upgradability to the 2M Black.
Lastly, if you want to save a lot of money without compromising on the quality of your cartridge, you should consider the AT-VM95ML from Audio Technica, which features a nude microlinear diamond stylus that lasts for up to 1,000 hours of use!
FAQs
Is The Technics 1200 A Good Turntable?
The Technics SL-1200 includes some of the most durable turntables out there. In fact, a new model can easily last you a lifetime with very little maintenance.
The base of the turntable is heavy and designed to dampen all internal noises and the same applies to its tonearm, which is very easy to adjust and optimize to your liking.
Despite being a little on the pricey side, the features and specs that this one offers easily surpass any similarly priced turntable, so it’s fair to say that this turntable is well worth the investment!
Does The Technics 1200 Come With A Cartridge?
Although it is fairly common for low tier turntables to come with cartridges, high end options like Technics 1200 usually come without one, although this depends on where you buy it from.
The reason for this is that customizability is one of the best things about turntables, so it’s usually left for the users to decide what cartridge to use with the unit.
How Much Is A Good Phono Cartridge For Technics 1200?
When it comes to choosing a photo cartridge, you can find various options at a wide range of prices.
In fact, there are some options that come at less than $100 while there are others that would set you back as much as $800 or even more.
When it comes to a high end model with a lot of features and advanced specifications like the Technics 1200, it’s usually best to couple it with a model that is anywhere between $150 to $450 in order to make the most out of your investment.