An inexpensive turntable or replacement cartridge makes it easy to get lost looking through the hundreds of cheap phono cartridges available. However, if your current TURNTABLE cartridge is not functioning correctly or you have bought the Newest turntable, the cartridge that arrives with that turntable is not working correctly. If you don’t value the sound of that pre-installed cartridge, then these alternatives are a treat at this price point.

In this product reviewing blog, we examined the best turntable cartridge under $600 to $700, which was a perfect upgrade with many mid-range turntables. Mr. Frank Schröder, CEO of Groove-Acquisition GmbH of Hanover, is one of the most famous persons in the field of turntables and tonearms. He says that upgrading your cartridge will automatically increase sound quality. The turntable cartridge is an essential component of any record player as one needs it to convert the vibrations on the groove of an analog record into electrical signals.

Read: How to clean record needle

Our Recommendations For Best Phono Cartridge Under $600 To $700

Goldring E3 Cartridge Best Hi-Fi Cartridge Under $600 - $700 Goldring E3 Cartridge Read More See On Amazon
NAGAOKA MM (MP) Cartridge MP-110 Best MP Turntable Cartridge NAGAOKA MM (MP) Cartridge MP-110 Read More See On Amazon
Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge With Diamond Tip Best MM Cartridge For Turntable Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge With Diamond Tip Read More See On Amazon
Ortofon 2M Red MM Phono Cartridge Best All-purpose Cartridge For Turntable Ortofon 2M Red MM Phono Cartridge Read More See On Amazon
AT-F7 - Moving Coil Cartridge | Audio-Technica Best Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge AT-F7 - Moving Coil Cartridge | Audio-Technica Read More See On Amazon

Best Phono Cartridge Under $600 To $700 Reviews

Goldring E3 Cartridge (Image credit: Amazon)

Goldring E3 Cartridge

Best Hi-Fi Cartridge Under $600 - $700

SPECIFICATIONS

Color: Violet | Stylus profile: Elliptical | Stylus Tip: 0.3 × 0.7 mil | Cartridge weight: 6.9 g | Mounting: 12.7 mm | Frequency range: 20 Hz -20 kHz |  Channel balance: 1.5 dB at 1 kHz | Tracking angle: 20° | Load Resistance: 47 kΩ | Internal resistance: 410 Ω

Pros

+ Top-quality Aluminum cantilever

+ Real Goldring cartridge

+ A proportional and precise instrumentalist

+ Grace and clearness

+ Definitive dynamics

+ Easy to Installation

Cons

- Cantilever is unacceptably weak

In 1906, the Goldring Company was founded to produce magnetic recording cartridges that could perform better than those currently on the market. Therefore, this marked their start in producing high-quality phono cartridges for sound reproduction. That’s why we come to you with such confidence – we know this company is one of the oldest in its business and well known because of its market lead at that time!

The Goldring E3 comes with an aluminum cantilever with an elliptical tip of 0.4 x 0.7mil (profiled bonded elliptical stylus), and its tip has a 0.5mil spherical design. In addition, the dual-magnet MM engine design allows you to better your stereo reproduction. With this upgrade, E3 can be similar to the AT95E series, an industry standard.

The Goldring E3 cartridge looks appealing because of its violet color, which is prominent in the body and design. That specific design was used for many cartridges, like E3, E5, and 2M Blue models.

On the Goldring E3 cartridge, you’ll find captive nuts that make it very easy to attach mounting Allen key bolts to the front. You’ll also find a straight edge that will help you align the cartridge in place quickly.

According to Turntable experts, mounting and alignment take less time if used with the Rega Planar 2 turntable, but there is a caution for those using thick headshells. Some of you may need longer screws. The E3 Weighs a Total of 6.9 g and is not a heavily weighted cartridge, and it securely tracks at around 2.0 grams which is decent.

NAGAOKA MM (MP) Cartridge MP-110 (Image credit: Amazon)

NAGAOKA MM (MP) Cartridge MP-110

Best MP Turntable Cartridge

SPECIFICATIONS

Frequency range: 20 kHz| Channel balance: 1.5 dB | Separation: Greater than 23 dB | Impedance: 47 kOhm |  Tracking force:  2.0 grams | Cantilever: Aluminum cantilever | Needle: superfine polished diamond needle | Weight: 6.5 grams of weight | Output voltage: 5mV output voltage

Pros

+ Light, breezy sound

+ Superb detailing and insight

+ Easy to change

+ Enjoy the sound for hours

+ Rounded and dry sound

Cons

- Edgy treble

- Lacks some dynamics

The cartridge Nagaoka MP-110 provides you with the quick, good-quality sound you need to enjoy without bottlenecks or distractions and reveals a sweet midrange. However, there is no bass weight, so supporting its light-weighted breezy character can be challenging.

With the MP-110 cartridge, some changes need to be made to perform better - mainly concerning the stylus’s edge and surface. It doesn’t compare as much with more expensive rivals, if it compares at all. The Nagaoka MP100 is a budget-friendly and supremely cheerful cartridge, and for the price, it is competitive with Ortofon and comparable to other rivals in the same class. You are also getting warm and good quality sounds and an easy replacement, all at an affordable price point.

The Nagaoka MP110 is an exceptionally budget-friendly moving coil cartridge that conjures a cheerful vintage sound. Although it’s priced lower than other carts, the Nagaoka can compete with the Ortofon series - and even outperform some of them! The three most significant appeals of the MP 110 are its warm, rich sound quality and ease of replacement.

The Nagaoka MP110 is an excellent cartridge that comes with the possibility of putting it together with a headshell. That way, you are setting an attractive option for your tonearm. And as we have already mentioned, classical cartridges can be replaced very quickly by the headshell line-up, which has also been mentioned in that cartridges.

The Nagaoka MP110 cartridge is warm enough to give the music a nice, mellow feeling. It has excellent and polite bass performance, but there’s a small bump in the middle of the frequency range at 3-5 kHz that gives a bit of brightness to the sound. Overall, it’s well suited for enjoying background music or watching television without being too grainy or harsh.

Read: Best Phono Cartridge Under $500

Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge With Diamond Tip (Image credit: Amazon)

Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge With Diamond Tip

Best MM Cartridge For Turntable

SPECIFICATIONS

Tracking force: 1.8g | Tracking angle: 20 degrees | Weight: 7.2g | Replacement stylus: Ortofon 2M Blue | Design: Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge | Stylus type: Elliptical | Output voltage: 5.5mV | Frequency response: 20 ~ 20Hz

Pros

+ Honourable dynamics

+ Provides Suitable timing

+ Ease of installation

+ Universal fit for most turntables

+ Upgrade to Ortofon 2M Red

+ Stylus is replaceable

+ Features Nude Elliptical diamond

Cons

- Lacks some insight

The Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge is for a turntable with professional DJs. With its Nude Elliptical stylus, it produces warm and natural sound quality. As a result, this turntable has become a favorite among DJs, music producers, and fans worldwide. The Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge has a standard output level of 5.5mV and dynamic downforce at 1.8g.

These figures make it relatively flexible as far as turntables, and phono stages are concerned; generally speaking, the capability to work with various setups means you’ll be able to use this cartridge quite effectively in almost any situation.

The 2M Blue is a cartridge that has been around for many years, but it’s a cartridge that has never been in the spotlight. The 2M Blue is not a very new cartridge. The new Ortofon 2m blue replacement is a great way to get the most out of your existing Ortofon. The new design has been specifically designed for the top-of-the-range Blue Edition of Ortofon, so you can easily fit it into your existing setup.

Read: Best Audiophile Turntable Under $2000

Ortofon 2M Red MM Phono Cartridge (Image credit: Amazon)

Ortofon 2M Red MM Phono Cartridge

Best All-purpose Cartridge For Turntable

SPECIFICATIONS

Stylus type: Elliptical | Frequency response: 20-20.000 Hz + 3 / - 1 dB | Stylus tip radius: r/R 8/18 µm | Tracking force: 1.8 g | Load resistance: 47 k Ohm | Output voltage: 1000 Hz | Tracking force range: 1.6-2.0 g | Type: Moving Iron (MI) | Stylus: Bonded Elliptical | Compliance: Medium

Pros

+ Amazing resolution

+ Demonstrative midrange

+ Tons of insight

+ Delivers open, dynamic sound

+ Features an Elliptical diamond

+ Best all-purpose cartridge

Cons

- A little touch of warmth

The Brand new Ortofon 2m red cartridge bass. I was already a big fan of Ortofon and the quality and performance of their cartridges, but the Red is a very different beast altogether. The sonic character is immediately discernible and punchy, with a wonderfully textured sound. In addition, the Ortofon 2m red cartridge bass is a delight to play. This design was created in the late 19s and was Ortofon’s first-ever 78 rpm player. It has proven to be perfect for very deep basses and strong trebles.

I’m a massive fan of Ortofon, and I’ll be honest with you, I own the Ortofon 2m red cartridge. It’s a little heavier than most other cartridges on the market, but it sounds great. The 2M Red is a color-coded pin terminal that is smart, sensitive, and has a maximum frequency of 20Hz to 20000Hz.

It provides the best performance without lagging up to 1,000 hours, provides visual and audible feedback, and surpasses the design parameters of any other model. Ortofon 2M RED is a high-fidelity cartridge that offers excellent sound reproduction and can reproduce high-quality sound.

AT-F7 - Moving Coil Cartridge | Audio-Technica (Image credit: Amazon)

AT-F7 - Moving Coil Cartridge | Audio-Technica

Best Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge

SPECIFICATIONS

Frequency Response: 15-50,000 Hz | Stylus Construction: Nude Square Shank | | Type: Dual Moving Coil | Stylus Shape: Elliptical | Cantilever: Aluminum | Terminal Pins: Brass | Vertical Tracking Force: 1.8 – 2.2 g | Output Voltage: Voltage: 0.35 mV | Mounting Feature: Half-inch mount | Body Material: Aluminum | Weight: 5g

Pros

+ 0. 07 mm stainless suspension wire

+ Neodymium magnet

+ Elliptical stylus for exceptional clarity

+ AT-F7 Provides immersed midrange

+ Fine dynamic contrast

+ Cartridge Provides an incredible richness of detail

Cons

- Doesn't time as well

The Audio-Technica AT-F7 is ideal for those who want more dynamic sound, allowing them to experience the finer details of vinyl records and CDs. The AT-F7 is a moving coil cartridge, with some disadvantages in using a moving magnet MM cartridge. The cartridge provides exceptional clarity and transparency of tone, top-notch vocals, improved frequency response, and a general acoustic feel to the music, while the stereo imaging is precise.

The AT-F7 cartridge has a 0.07 mm stainless suspension wire used for the higher quality moving coil cartridges, as it functions as a fulcrum point for audio signal transfer. The fulcrum position stabilizes due to the suspension wire, enabling auditory lateralization that will provide superior expressions of the high-frequency range (HFR).

If a problem is noted in the cartridge, one needs to change the entire cartridge and make sure that the “Pin Protection” is removed. Audio-Technica’s AT-F7 is one of their more affordable, and yet it provides the consumer with excellent tracking. This build is more robust, much quieter, and offers dynamic audio abilities far beyond its asking price.

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In A Nutshell

Not to worry because today, we will help update your turntable cartridge. Generally, whether you’re a newbie or an experienced person in sound systems, it can be risky to buy the correct cartridge if you don’t know what to look for. On the other hand, the last thing you want is to end up looking like a dummy in the DJ world with that brand-new cartridge you just bought. That’s why we’d recommend reading this list of top considerations before buying a turntable cartridge from experts in the field who will help educate consumers on how to distinguish between premium and junk! If your cartridge is worn out and the pins are usually visible, you’ll need to replace the whole cartridge.

Nowadays, vinyl records are back in style and need to be a part of people’s collections because there is simply nothing better than listening to music by those best turntables. Fortunately, several companies manufacture turntables with built-in preamps since they are so popular again, and it’s easier than ever to get your hands on some great vinyl that sounds good if you know where to look. But, when your cartridge is worn out, always change it with the best one and get great quality sound so as we have above reviewed best phono cartridges for you so you can get them.

William
William is technical editor of Wooster Audio, an audio enthusiast passionate about cutting-edge technologies. He has been working with us for three years, meticulously reviewing and evaluating wireless (speakers & soundbars), hi-fi, and home cinema equipment, and has covered 1000+ audio products. His background is based in Audio engineering and he has an ardent passion for building home theater systems and audio systems and loves audio mixing, editing and sound designing. This allows William to share this knowledge on Wooster audio site. He provides the most comprehensive audio information available by tapping into his expertise and keen insights. He can guide you to audio excellence on Wooster Audio with his discerning ear and commitment to quality. Contact William for any question (william@woosteraudio.com)