Note: This Audio Technica AT3600(aka the AT91 or CN5625AL) cartridge is the best selling cartridge on the planet. Now, we have exclusively improved the final product to you by installing a high quality .3x.7 elliptical diamond needle. This makes the final product extremely close to the long since discontinued SIGNET MODEL 100 by Audio Technica. The significant jump in the quality of this 211-DE-guard .3x.7 elliptical needle vs. the entry-level 211-D6 conical tip is that it rewards you with a much greater groovewall contact area. This will lift greater fidelity from the grooves, into your computer or digital device (or ears) so that a much greater amount of musical info is available for further digital processing. This will provide you with a mid level setup at a great price. Remember though we are recommending this product for entry-level digital transfer, this cartridge is also a fine all-around choice for just directly enjoying records. Additionally, you can upgrade the needle later down the line with a 211-DHE Hyperelliptical or the flagship top of the "211" line, the 211-Dshibata, see below.
Presuming all you need is a cartridge, for the vast majority of average turntables, this is the recommended setup for transferring your LP's to digital without breaking the bank.
Audio Technica, a quality brand name has made this available as solid entry level replacement. It will get that old turntable up n running quickly. The same cartridge has been sold with and as original equipment across dozens of brands for decades now. Rest assured if a search has brought you here this is the entry level solution for 1/2" mount turntables regardless of the brand. The corresponding needle that it comes with is our stock # 211-D6, one of our top 3 products.
Because this cartridge can be mounted on a headshell with two vertically mounted screws, side by side, 1/2" apart, it is known as a 1/2" mount cartridge. Other mounting characteristics are that it has 4 exposed wires in the back and is almost never found on a linear tracking turntable.
Notes:
The headshell is the hardware attached to the end of the tonearm that is usually distinguished by the 'handle' that sticks out to the right for lifting the tonearm over to the record from the rest position. If your turntable is linear tracking it means the whole tonearm slides several inches from side to side as opposed to the standard type usually designated 'straight' or 'S shaped' which pivots on a stationary 'hub' assembly at the right rear corner of the turntable. A linear tracking turntable will generally have buttons you must operate to move the tonearm and will almost always be found with a (T4P) Pmount cartridge. (Go back up one category and click on Pmount).
Myth:
Often people think they must have a brand of cartridge that matches their turntable brand. This is totally unecessary and often impossible to achieve these days. In fact, the vast majority of turntable manufacturers, had a third party cartridge manufacturer make the cartridgeon their behalf. Also, cartridge wiring connections usually go straight to your amplifier, receiver or computer thus allowing the turntable to make no directelectrical changes to the cartridge output signal.
Specifications: Audio Technica AT3600 1/2" Mount Cartridge w/needle
Stylus: .3 x0.7 mil Elliptical Bonded Diamond tip
Cantilever: Alloy round tube
Tracking Force: 1.25 - 2.5 grams
Output Level: 4.2mV @ 5cm/sec. @ 1Khz
Frequency Range: 20 - 20Khz
Load Impedance: 47K ohm
Channel Balance: 1.5 dB
Channel Seperation: 20dB @ 1Khz & 15dB @ 10Khz
