Top 10 Best DJ Cartridges
for June 2023

The Gemini Sound's HDCN-15 vinyl record player headshell and cartridge set is well-built, and features a heavy-duty rubber washer that fits perfectly on the tone arm. The stylus is sharp, and the needle moves smoothly across the surface of the record. The cartridge has a metal needle tip that doesn't scratch the record, and is easy to clean. The headshell is lightweight, and works with the Gemini Sound's HD-15 turntable, which comes with a belt drive, a USB port, and three analog input jacks (for turntable, CD player, and radio). The HDCN-15 headshell is compatible with most turntables, including turntables made by Rega, Music Hall, Pro-Ject, Audio-Technica, and Numark, and works with most turntables without tone arms, such as turntables made by Crosley, Stanton, and Denon. The HDCN-15 cartridge works with most turntables, and is designed to fit most turntables that have 1.25-inch mounting holes. The cartridge comes with a screwdriver and instructions.

Numark's CC-1 DJ cartridge is a superior upgrade for turntable enthusiasts. The CC-1 has a powerful, articulate, and punchy sound that emphasizes bass and mids, while retaining treble detail. The cartridge is extremely smooth, with no grit or harshness, and tracks consistently. The CC-1's tracking force is high enough to track hard, scratchy vinyl, but not so high that it makes for uncomfortable listening. Its diamond stylus tip is durable and resistant to wear, and its low-mass, low-noise oscillator provides plenty of power for deep, punchy bass. The CC-1 is refined enough for scratch DJs, but its sound is also ideal for mixes, as evidenced by its clean, warm, and balanced sound. The CC-1's high-quality construction, tight tolerances, and high-quality components mean it will provide many years of faithful service. The only drawback is that the cartridge's fixed-headshell design limits its ability to track moving, low-pitched vinyl; however, the cartridges' price, performance, and versatility make it a perfect choice for any DJ.

The sound is warm and rich, and it's an excellent match for the Audio-Technica AT3600L turntable. The stylus has strong tracking capability, which makes it easy to follow grooves. It reproduces the music accurately and naturally, without too much distortion. The cartridge's low-noise design also results in clean, detailed sound. But if you're looking for low noise, the Audio-Technica AT3600L may not be for you. It's louder than our budget pick, and while that's good for a party, it could be too quiet for some listeners. The Audio-Technica AT3600L is also quite bright, which is fine for listening to music, but could be problematic for watching movies. Overall, though, the Audio-Technica AT3600L is an excellent budget turntable cartridge, and it's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a warm, rich sound on a budget.

The Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ cartridge is a premium entry-level cartridge designed for scratch and backcueing. It has a solid feel and is accurate enough for scratch and backcueing, although it doesn't have the aggressive attack of our previous top pick, the Stanton SC Stanton SC cartridge. It's not quite as precise, either, and it's prone to skipping if you accidentally cross scratch. The smoothness and detail of its sound on vinyl is unmatched, though, and it has a high enough output that DJs can hook up multiple turntables to a single output. The cartridge's pre-mounted stylus makes it fast and easy to install, and the Ortofon's metal body makes it sturdy enough for heavy use. This is the best entry-level cartridge we tested, but it's also the most expensive, so it might not be the best fit for a first-time vinyl buyer.

The OM Pro S DJ cartridge from Ortofon is a highly regarded entry-level DJ cartridge, and it's currently a slightly less expensive alternative to the OM Plus S. The OM Pro S is the company's entry-level DJ cartridge, but it's nearly identical to the OM Plus S, with a rugged cantilever and the same performance. The OM Pro S has slightly lower output than the OM Plus S, but we found that this cartridge fared well with both vinyl and CDs. The OM Pro S is slightly quieter than the OM Plus S, and it's slightly heavier, too. The OM Pro S is a good choice for an entry-level DJ turntable, because it handles both vinyl and CDs well, and it's a solid performer. This cartridge is a good choice for an entry-level DJ turntable, because it handles both vinyl and CDs well, and it's a solid performer.

The Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge is a well-made, sturdy cartridge that reproduces excellent accuracy, sound, and groove handling. Unfortunately, though, the Concorde MK2's performance isn't quite as good on vinyl records as it is on digital files. The Concorde MK2's virtual cartridge tracking force, or VTF, is 45 grams, which is below its ideal value of 50 grams. Virtual VTF ensures that the needle is aligned with the center of the record groove, so cartridge tracking force should be as low as possible. The Concorde MK2's VTF is low enough that it tracks records as well as our previous pick, the Shure V25, but not as good as our best pick, the Novation NS10. (At 45 grams, the Def Tech DT-720's VTF is 13 grams higher than the Concorde MK2's.) The Concorde MK2's cartridge tracking force is high enough, however, that it won't scratch records. The Concorde MK2's groove handling is also excellent. The cartridge's VTF is high enough that it tracks the edge of grooves on records with great accuracy. In addition, the Concorde MK2's VTF is high enough that, despite having low tracking force, the cartridge won't damage records.

The DS4 cartridge from Stanton is targeted at DJs who scratch and mix. It delivers an extremely clean, detailed sound with high sensitivity (up to 100 dB), so DJs can hear every detail of the mix. It also has excellent tracking ability, which is ideal for scratching. The Stanton DS4 also features a diamond stylus tip, which lasts longer than regular stylus tips. The cartridge is easy to set up, and it installs easily into Stanton's DS3 turntable and most other turntables. The DS4 is from Stanton's premium line, so it includes the company's premium design and components, including gold-plated tonearm connections. The cartridge also is machined from a solid block of aluminum, so it's durable and will last for years. The only drawback is that Stanton's cartridge is a bit more expensive than the cartridges in our other picks. If you're looking for the best-sounding DJ cartridge, the DS4 is a great choice.

Audio-Technica's AT-XP5 is a very inexpensive, feature-packed turntable cartridge that responds well to touch and tracking force. It offers near-borderless tracking and good channel separation, and has good overall clarity and detail. This cartridge's high output level (5.5mv) makes it better suited to high-impedance phono stages, and it's equipped with an elliptical stylus tip that responds well to touch, offering better accuracy and tracking performance than a typical round stylus. The AT-XP5's low resonance, low distortion, and good channel separation make it a good match for most high-impedance phono stages. This cartridge's tracking force range is 2.0 grams to 4.0 grams, so it's best suited for cartridges with between 1.8 grams of tracking force and 3.2 grams of tracking force. This cartridge's 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus tip is highly rigid, and it delivers very good tracking performance. The AT-XP5's carbon fiber reinforced abs cantilever and nylon wire suspension ensure precise tracking. This cartridge's 3.0 gram tracking force standard is significantly higher than the majority of other turntable cartridges, and it's well suited for cartridges with 2.0 grams of tracking force or higher. The AT-XP5's 5.5 mv high level output makes it well-suited for high-sensitivity phono stages, and its low resonance makes it well-suited for moving magnet phono stages.

The Gemini Sound CN-15 stylus is a sharp-looking stylus that's easy to use. It has a diamond polish, which provides for a strong and long-lived needle. The needle is sharp enough to deliver good tracking without scratching the record, and it's flexible enough to bend slightly without causing damage. This stylus is tapered, so it fits snugly into the groove, allowing the needle to sit slightly below the surface. This allows it to move freely without getting stuck, and also allows the needle to skip back and forth slightly. The CN-15 stylus doesn't produce the same high fidelity and detail as the higher-end models we tested, but it's excellent for the price, and it's a solid choice for entry-level DJ turntables.