Cartridge Pairings

The cartridge is the heart of your analog system, getting the match right is everything. Proper tonearm compatibility, size, weight, and compliance, along with matching to your phonostage gain and loading capabilities, is critical to performance. We carry the finest cartridges from Lyra, Soundsmith, Grado, and more, so the best match is a phone call away. 

Let's de-mystify all of it. Our analog experts bring real-world experience working for companies like VPI and Sumiko, and even contributing to cartridge design.

We have many cartridge options for this turntable.  Here are a few we recommend: 

Ortofon 2M Bronze

A good placeholder as you build up your analog system. A timeless Ortofon moving magnet, with a balanced and dynamic overall sound. The stylus is interchangeable with the 2M Black for a quick upgrade. The nude-mount fine-line stylus tracks accurately and reproduces great top-end extension.

High output 5 mV, 47 kOhm load. Needs about 37-45 dB of gain. Works with just about any phonostage

Ortofon 2M Black

A step up from the 2M Bronze, its Shibata diamond gives you the best contact with the groove walls, increasing detail and accuracy across the board. This is a very resolving cartridge, which reproduces even the most subtle high-frequency groove information. The Shibata is a type of line-contact stylus that tracks beautifully, giving you tons of high-end detail.

High output 5 mV, 47 kOhm load. Needs about 37-45 dB of gain. Works with just about any phonostage.

Hana SL

A fantastic low-output moving-coil cartridge, it uses a Shibata diamond on an aluminum cantilever. The SL MK II generator, as found in the Umami Blue and ML, incorporates an Alnico magnet and a cross-coil, using high-purity 30-micron copper wire with an 8Ω impedance. 

The 0.4 mV output requires 57-65 dB of gain and 80-100 Ohm loading.

Hana M Low

One of the most linear, extended, and dynamic cartridges we sell. The M Series is hand-assembled with a nude Microline stylus design that mimics the original vinyl-cutting stylus, enabling far better tracking and retrieval. The windings are made from the highest quality copper wire all encased in a Delrin shell. 

The 0.4 mV output requires 57-65 dB of gain and 80-100 Ohm loading.

Hana Umami Blue 

With over 30 five-star reviews from Upscale Audio customers, the Umami Blue is the perfect example of Japanese craftsmanship, with performance that rivals cartridges costing much more.  The detail retrieved from the nude mount microline and boron cantilever is something to behold. 

The 0.4 mV output requires 57-65 dB of gain and 80-100 Ohm loading.