Archive for December, 2011

The Audio Technica AT440MLA cartridge is an audiophile budget cartridge that packs a huge punch for value. ‘Audiophile’ and ‘budget’ very rarely belong in the same sentence. Cartridge manufacturers over the last decade or so appear to have made an effort to make turntable accessorising a far more affordable venture. Such a welcome change too – no longer are we needing to trawl for second hand cartridges to fulfil our audiophile needs. Shure, Denon, Audio Technica and Ortofon all have some lovely cheapies that suit anyone who thinks paying $1000 for a cartridge is overkill. The 440MLA comes as an […] Read More →

I’ll say it straight up: the Shure M97xE is a powerhouse of a midrange cartridge. Shure have been pumping out great cartridges for years, with their V15 range worthy of special mention. The Shure M97xE is one of the most frequently recommended cartridges by members of the audiophile community for any mid-range turntable. Considering that mid-range encompasses the vast majority of turntables, chances are you have considered buying a Shure M97xE. If you haven’t, you should. The Shure M97xE Offers Faithful Reproduction One of the M97xE’s main competitors is the Audio Technica 440 ML. In comparison to this cartridge, the […] Read More →

The Garrard 401 is an extremely good choice for a vintage turntable. Unlike its cousin the 301, the 401 is less sought after, and as a result it is cheaper. The 401s are less sought after due to a small difference in sound quality. The 301 has better sound, despite its slightly inferior design. The 401s were not made as well as the 301, and consequently their sound is not quite as good. The Garrard 401 is not exactly cheap, however, and you can expect to pay at least 500 USD, with good condition 401s fetching over $1000 on Ebay. […] Read More →