What is a cartridge? Put simply a cartridge or more to the point the stylus is placed on the vinyl and it transmits the music through the Turntables arm, into the mixer, and out through your speakers.
So which 1 do you need, are you a scratch DJ, or a Night-club DJ or Bedroom DJ? The needs for each vary greatly to here's out top tips for choosing a cartridge.
We stock the Ortofon Concorde range for a reason, and that reason is very simple. Each and every one of their products has a clearly defined feature for a different user. So if your a scratch DJ look toward the Scratch Pink Cartridge. It has been specifically designed stand up to the pressure of vigorous movement and the body the cartridge although looks the same on the outside, has been weighted at different points internally. These small adjustments allow for very different performance compared to say the DJ S Blue Cartridge which is a natural all rounder and can be used for both mixing and scratching. The DJ S Blue would suit a DJ who incorporates scratching within his normal sets, where as the Scratch Pink would be more commonly found is a turntablist setup where little to no mixing is done and scratching is the order of the day.
The Pro & Pro S Cartridge again are good all rounders for the everyday mixer. The Pro is higher spec'd than the Pro S and has a higher volume output and increased durability. If you are a bedroom DJ looking for something with better sound quality but don;t need the top of range enhancements found on the DJ S Blue or Scratch, the the Pro & Pro S are for you.
The Night Club Mk II received one of its greatest endorsements in 2007 by being awarded 'Best Cartridge' at the DJ Magazine Tech Awards. For the following two years the cartridge has reclaimed its coveted title with aplomb, solidifying itself at the zenith of the cartridge market.
Used by professional DJs at the top of their game, like DJ Friction, the new Nightclub offers superb high-end sound, broad frequency response, and a high output, thanks to its advanced elliptical stylus. Ally this with its fantastic good-looks, and the Nightclub Mk II becomes the weapon of choice in any discotheque or club.
Again we also cater for the budget DJ. Not everybody wants or needs superstar performance which is why we carry Numark Groovetools and Budget Cartridges in-stock. These are both fine for everyday mixing and a small amount of scratching.
As always get to know your gear. The Ortofon products come with a manual for each to setup the weight correctly, which will not only improve performance and tracking ability but preserve the life of both your stylus and your cartridge.
For budget Cartridge setup please watch the video below courtesy of DJTutor. Big thank you Jonathon for this video, a quick and easy way to setup your cartridge no matter what turntables you own.