13 Best DJ Turntable Cartridges
List Updated November 2023
Bestselling DJ Turntable Cartridges in 2023
Shure M44-7 Standard DJ Turntable Cartridge
- Engineered for scratch DJ's and turntablists, the M44-7 is designed not to skip under even the most demanding circumstances
- Unique wide-diameter Type S cantilever with a tracking force of 1.5 to 3.0 grams
- Skip Resistance: ultra high.
- With a 9.5 mV output, the M44-7 produces powerful, resonant sound.
Numark CC-1 | Premium DJ Turntable Cartridge (Headshell + Stylus)
- Frequency response: 20 to 22,000Hz
- Channel balance: within 1.5dB
- Tracking force: 3-6g
Gemini HDCN-15 Turntable Headshell and Cartridge (Silver)
- sturdy silver body w/ tracking arm
- / Rubber washer for snug fit to tone arm /
- Elliptical stylus for strong tracking / Stylus cover for extended life span
Ortofon CC DJS Single
- Improved tracking with accurate sound reproduction
- Low wear stylus design with excellent groove handling
- Includes a Single Cartridge with pre installed stylus
- .
Turntable Player Needles Replacement Turntable Record Player Needles Turntable Cartridge Universal Replacement Stylus Needles for Phonograph,1 Pcs
Ortofon OM Pro S Premounted Cartridge with Headshell
- Ortofon Scratch Pro DJ Cartridge
- Premounted on Ortofon SH-4 Black Headshell
Odyssey KCC4PR2BL Turntable Cartridge
- All Black Coated Hardware Exterior
- Four Suspension Cartridge Holders
- Includes Spare Needles Compartment
Ortofon Concorde Pro S Twin Pack - 2 x DJ Cartridges each fitted with stylus
- Ortofon Cc Pro S Twin Concorde Pro S (Cartridge Twin Pack)
Shure MCC DJ Cartridge Case
- Crush-Proof
- Water-Tight Structure
- Legendary Shure durability
Ortofon Concorde Pro S Single Pack - 1 x DJ Cartridge fitted with stylus
Ortofon Concorde DJ S Twin Pack - 2 x DJ Cartridges each fitted with stylus
- 2 DJ S Concorde turntable cartridges
- The Ortofon DJ S Concorde turntable cartridge is the blue working horse for scratch and back cueing, mounted with spherical diamond
- It has an extraordinary rigidity because of a specially developed reinforced cantilever
- The Concorde Turntable Cartridge achieves an output of 6
- 0 mV
Shure SC35C All-Purpose DJ Phono Cartridge
- With a tracking force range of 4 to 5 grams, the SC35C provides for significant skip resistance.
- Sharing the Shure versatile Type I cantilever design with the M35S and M35X, the SC35C offers high-definition sound reproduction at all audible frequencies.
- Skip Resistance: very high, Output: high, Record Wear: low, Sound Emphasis: clarity throughout the frequency range
- Standard - Scratch/Mix
- Legendary Shure durability
- Tracking force range of 4 to 5 grams assures significant skip resistance
- Versatile Type I cantilever design facilitates high-definition sound reproduction at all audible frequencies
- Standard 1/2 inch tone arm mount
- Moving magnet type cartridge
- 1kHz typical output voltage; 5.0 mV RMS at 5 cm/sec peak velocity
Shure Whitelabel DJ Record Needle
- Integrates the head shell and cartridge into one piece
- Innovative features for today's DJs and turntables
- The new standard for club DJs
- Cartridges perform more accurately
- Requires less tracking force to stay in the record groove
- Less destruction to record groove
- Skip Resistance: high
- Output: high
- Record Wear: very low
- Sound Emphasis: solid drop bass with detailed mids and highs
Learn How to Mix on Turntables
When most people think of a great DJ- a DJ they really admire- they think of a DJ with excellent mixing skills. Learn how to be one of them!
So let's get down to the nitty-gritty of what it is going to take for you to Learn How to Mix.
First thing you need to do is get out to the record store (you know, the place where you dropped all of this months and last months paychecks) and buy two of the same record. Ideally, this record is going to be something where you can really make out the beat and it isn't too complex. Don't try to be Paul Van Dyk yet and buy yourself some complicated beats. We are just going to try and get the hang of this.
Now you get home and get all of your DJ stuff set up. At this point, I'm expecting that you've spent a few hours, days, or weeks playing around with this and trying to make it sound great but had little luck. Yes, I know you aren't reading this without trying it first. Who can resist playing with their brand new decks, mixer, cross-fader, and amp?
Well since you couldn't master it on your own, try to follow these instructions and do it step-by-step with my. I will admit that a video lesson if this is much easier to learn from. That's why I tell me students to buy a series of videos ASAP if they really want to learn how to be a great DJ. I mean, you can learn this stuff by yourself over time, but do you really want to do your first gig in the nursing home?
Anyways, put both records (it's the same record, remember?) on the decks. Set the cross-fader to the middle position so you can hear both records equally. Start one of the decks a-spinning.
Now isn't this exciting? If you can stick with me here for about five more minutes, you are going to learn to mix like a pro dj.
Now take a listen to your record and find a good bass beat. Got it? Slowly spin the record in reverse with your finger until you get to the start of the beat. Easy as pie!
Now pause that deck and start the other one. Pretty much what we are going to do is get the other deck going and try to drop your stopped deck on top of the moving deck in time so the (imaginary) audience doesn't spill their drink and sneer at you up in the DJ booth.
So as you get near the beat, start your other deck and hold that record in place... and as the beat nears, DROP THE DECK. If all goes well, the beats should sinc up.
Now if this worked the first time, then you are a natural. For most people it just doesn't happen the first time. It takes practice. But that's what this game is all about. Like everything, practice makes perfect. And also, not to beat a dead horse, but if you can get someone to teach you hands-on how to do this you are going to be in a lot better shape. You can see some free sample videos or my favorite DJ Video course here.
Now all you have to do is keep practicing, and work up to some more difficult records. I know you'll be tempted to try and do all sorts of wild stuff off the bat, but you've got to get the basics down first. We all had to learn to kiss before we moved on to the bigger stuff, so take your time.
