![]() Audio-Technica AT95E Dual Magnet 1/2″ Mount Phonograph Cartridge – Best Budget Turntable Cartridge ![]() When hunting for this kind of item, buyers should think about the top turntable cartridges on the market. Purchasing the right cartridge is essential to be able to generate a top-quality sound. One critical element of the turntable is the cartridge. Regardless of the progress in audio technology, many music enthusiasts still prefer premium quality sound generated by turntable record systems. With that said, if you’re comfortable replacing the cartridge (and it couldn’t be easier with this turntable), then you’ll be rewarded with a record player that punches way above its weight.Many audiophiles prefer to listen to music through turntable HIFI systems. There’s a certain synergy between cartridge and turntable that gets more from the AT 3600 than we’ve typically heard, but it’s by no means a class-leading sound. The sound is detailed and has a decent bass response, although there is certainly room to improve on the pre-installed AT 3600 cartridge. There is also a switch for bypassing the phono preamplifier, although we’ve yet to hear many built-in phono stages that perform this well. This is a truly plug-n-play option, with a switch for changing speeds and a detachable headshell for quick cartridge swaps. This is helped in no small part by the brilliant Thorens TP 71 tonearm which is also used on their more expensive models. With a great, built-in phono stage, the Thorens TD 201 Turntable is ready to get every last detail out of your vinyl collection. In particular, the highs are extremely impressive with a smooth and refined nature to them. And oh boy, does the music shine! The pre-equipped Ortofon 2m Red cartridge produces an incredibly dynamic, wonderfully open sound. The Debut Carbon’s ability to play problematic pieces is also aided by the high-quality carbon fibre tonearm which allows the music to shine by keeping resonance to a bare minimum. The only drawback of the excellent DC power supply is the need to manually switch between 33 and 45rpm. Even on problematic music (certain piano pieces), we witnessed no signs at all of pitch variation. This turntable has one of the more sophisticated power supplies in the market, ensuring that the speed remains stable. And the fact that the initial model was released over twenty years ago, and yet is still growing in popularity is testament to the wonderful job that Pro-Ject have done here. And if you stick to any of our ten choices below, you’ll be sure to get the best bang for your buck possible.īeginning with one of the more popular turntables at this budget, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon represents exceptional value for money. So yes, the extra money is definitely worth it. The same is true for unlistenable records suffering from groove damage, which we’ve often seen brought back to life when using a more sophisticated stylus. We’ve seen records that were pressed slightly off centre go from a pitchy mess to a wonderful listen by simply upgrading the turntable. You may also find records that were particularly hard to track play nicer now. And depending on which turntable you choose, you’ll notice a better bass response, smoother highs and a truer-to-life quality in the mids that just isn’t possible on cheaper options. But when you put these all together there is a tangible, direct improvement on sound quality. Taken on their own, each upgrade may seem somewhat trivial. There are improvements right across the board. ![]() The motors are better at keeping time, reducing wow and flutter (pitch variation). Tonearms and cartridges are a little more sophisticated, and arrive equipped with styli that do a much better job of tracking your record. The turntables in this list utilise stronger, sturdier materials in their construction. And splashing out the extra cash now could quite possibly save you money in the long run. You see, at this budget the compromises found on cheaper alternatives are kept to a minimum. So is splashing out the extra cash worth it? And that’s especially true for a record player or turntable, given that there are dozens of excellent, cheaper alternatives.
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