Turntable Cartridge Upgrade Guide UK (When & What to Buy)

Not sure which setup is right for you?

Your turntable came with a cartridge. It works fine. Should you upgrade? Maybe, but probably not yet. Cartridge upgrades can transform sound quality, but only when the rest of your system can reveal the improvement. Here's how to know if you're ready.

When to Upgrade

Don't upgrade immediately. Get used to your turntable first. Learn what it sounds like. Develop opinions about what you'd like improved. Then consider whether a cartridge change addresses those wants.

Good reasons to upgrade:

- Your turntable cost over £250 and came with a basic cartridge - You've upgraded speakers and still want more - Your current stylus is worn and you're replacing anyway - You want a different sound character (warmer, brighter, more detailed)

Poor reasons to upgrade:

- You just bought the turntable and forums said to upgrade - You haven't upgraded speakers yet - You're chasing "audiophile" status rather than improvement

Compatibility Check

Not all turntables accept cartridge upgrades. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X has a fixed cartridge. You can replace the stylus but not the entire cartridge.

Turntables with removable headshells (AT-LP120X) or standard mounting (Rega, Pro-Ject) accept aftermarket cartridges. Check your turntable's specifications before shopping.

Budget Upgrades: Under £100

Ortofon OM 10 (around £45): entry-level upgrade with more detail than stock cartridges. Easy installation and forgiving of setup imperfections.

Audio-Technica VM95E (around £50): clean, detailed sound. Part of a series with upgradable styluses, so you can improve later by swapping just the stylus.

Nagaoka MP-110 (around £90): warm, musical character beloved by vinyl enthusiasts. Excellent for rock and jazz. A popular choice for upgrading from stock cartridges.

Mid-Range Upgrades: £100-200

Ortofon 2M Red (around £90): the classic upgrade recommendation. Neutral sound, good tracking, wide compatibility. Often bundled with turntables at higher price points.

Ortofon 2M Blue (around £180): significant step up from the Red. More detail, better tracking. The stylus fits the Red body, so Red owners can upgrade to Blue without replacing everything.

Audio-Technica VM95ML (around £150): microlinear stylus extracts more detail than elliptical styluses. Part of the VM95 series, so you can start cheaper and upgrade styluses later.

The Fitting Process

Turntables with removable headshells make swapping easy. Unscrew the old cartridge from the headshell, screw in the new one, reattach colour-coded wires (red, green, blue, white), mount the headshell, and realign using the protractor.

Fixed-headshell turntables require more care. Remove the old cartridge, mount the new one, and align using the protractor without the convenience of removing the headshell.

Alignment matters. Take your time. Use the protractor included with your turntable or download a printable one. Proper alignment ensures the stylus sits correctly in the groove across the entire record.

After mounting, reset tracking force and anti-skate for the new cartridge's specifications.

Is It Worth It?

The honest answer: it depends on your system.

Upgrading from a stock cartridge to a Nagaoka MP-110 on a £250 turntable with £200 speakers? You'll hear the difference.

Same upgrade on a £120 turntable with £80 speakers? The improvement exists but might be subtle. The speakers are now the limiting factor.

Cartridge upgrades make most sense when your turntable and speakers are capable enough to reveal the improvement. As a rough guide, spend roughly equal amounts on cartridge and speakers. A £150 cartridge deserves £150+ speakers.

Stylus vs Cartridge Replacement

Sometimes you only need a new stylus. Styluses wear out; cartridge bodies last much longer.

Replacement styluses cost less than new cartridges. An Ortofon 2M Red replacement stylus costs around £70, less than a new cartridge. If you're happy with your cartridge's character, just replace the stylus.

Alternatively, upgrade by buying a better stylus for your cartridge body. The 2M Blue stylus fits the 2M Red body. Instant upgrade for less than a complete new cartridge.

Recommended Path

Start with your stock cartridge. Upgrade speakers if needed. When the stylus wears out, decide: replace like-for-like, or upgrade? That's the natural time to consider a cartridge improvement.

Prices approximate at time of writing. Our quiz considers your whole system when recommending upgrades.

Find Your Perfect Setup

Answer a few quick questions and get personalised recommendations.

Ready to find your perfect setup?

Our quiz matches you with the right turntable, speakers, and accessories.

No email required