After reading this article, you will find the best cartridge for audio Technica at-lp120. The At-lp120 turntable can quickly come in the $300 range but using $300 above expensive cartridges with this low-expensive turntable is not the right combination. So, the Technikaya expert team has listed low-expensive cartridges that are providing outstanding performance, and you can easily buy in the $160 to $299 range.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge
Acceptable tracker for Audio Technica At-lp120
Detailed and precise
Fit with multiple turntables
Denon DL-110 Cartridge
Great bass range control
When need to swing, then it swings
Ample tracking ability
The Best Cartridge For Audio Technica AT-LP120 Turntable
For Audio Technica at-lp120 turntable, these above-listed cartridges are a brilliant choice, and in performance, these cartridges will provide you Smooth, Silky Sound, Separation, and Depth. These are perfect mid-range cartridges for At-lp120 and provide great Tracking force, Mount, and Impedance.
Best Cartridge For Audio Technica At-lp120 Turntable Summary
| Award | Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best cartridge upgrade for audio technica at-lp120 |
|
Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge | See On Amazon |
| Best turntable cartridge under $100 |
|
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge | See On Amazon |
| Best cartridge under $300 |
|
Denon DL-110 Cartridge | See On Amazon |
| Best microline cartridge |
|
Audio-Technica VM540ML Cartridge | See On Amazon |
| Best cartridge for turntable |
|
Grado Prestige Gold Cartridge | See On Amazon |
| Best High Peformance Crtridge For Technica At-lp120 |
|
Shure M97xE Cartridge | See On Amazon |
Best Cartridge For Audio Technica At-lp120 Turntable At a Glance:
- Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge
- Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
- Denon DL-110 Cartridge
- Audio-Technica VM540ML Cartridge
- Grado Prestige Gold Cartridge
- Shure M97xE Cartridge
Best Cartridge For Audio Technica At-lp120 Turntable Reviews
Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge
Best cartridge upgrade for audio technica at-lp120
SPECIFICATIONS
Output Level 5.5 mV | Tracking Force 1.6 – 2.0 grams | Stylus Shape Nude Elliptical Diamond | Recommended Load Impedance 47k ohms | Channel Separation 25 dB | Mount Standard / Half Inch | Replacement Stylus Ortofon Stylus 2M Blue | Frequency Range 20-25,000 Hz
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Acceptable tracker for Audio Technica At-lp120
✓ Detailed and precise
✓ Fit with multiple turntables
✓ Ease of Use
✓ Advancements in Sound
✓ It sounds more open
✓ It's well-built
✓ Pre-threaded mounts
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Regarded as quite
✗ Slight record wear
✗ For warm sound choice, the 2m blue is not perfect
The first is Ortofon 2M Blue, and this cartridge features Nude Elliptical diamond, gives you brilliant sonic accuracy and comes with split pole pins, and has an output of 5.5 mV. On the tonearm, the 2M Blue cartridge can universally fit with most turntables.
Why It Stands Out To Us
This 2M Blue cartridge is more resolutive and dynamic and is able to give you sonic quality sound. We recommend you the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge to use with your AT-LP120 turntable and enjoy the sonic quality sound of your vinyl records. So 2M Blue is the best cartridge for audio Technica at-lp120.
Recent Buyers Report Of Ortofon 2M Blue
For this 2M Blue cartridge, We found 326 global ratings and 87 percent five-star rating, which is a good sign for a 2M Blue cartridge, and after using it with an at-lp120 turntable, most people are satisfied because the cartridge sounds like crisp highs.
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Best turntable cartridge under $100
SPECIFICATIONS
Output voltage 5.5 mV (Millivolt) | Type Moving Magnet Cartridge | Frequency 20 Hz to 20000Hz | Stylus Type Elliptical | Tracking Force 1.8 g (18 mN) | Load resistance 47kΩ | Load capacitance 150-300pF | Cartridge weight 7.2 gram without screws | Stylus/Diamond Elliptical | Interchangeable 2M BLUE
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Easy to setup
✓ Fits with most turntables
✓ Sounds good
✓ Budget Phono cartridge
✓ Sounds crisp and clean
✓ Color-coded pin terminals
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Dust sensitive cartridge
The Next review of Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge, and this one is a moving magnet cartridge that is able to provide you excellent quality sound. You will find threaded holes on the cartridge top front, and it also has color-coded pin terminals. The Ortofon 2M Red cartridge’s stylus features a tipped Elliptical diamond, and its body quality is brilliant and can face unwanted resonances because its body is manufactured from Hopelex.
Why It Stands Out To Us
Due to the cartridge’s reasonable price and quality, you can use Ortofon 2M Red with your Audio Technica at-lp120 turntable, and it will fit perfectly and gives a light touch of warmth. You can also replace Ortofon 2M Red with Stylus 2M Blue.
Recent Buyers Report Of Ortofon 2M Red
For Ortofon 2M Red, we found 1,055 global ratings and got positive reviews. The installation of a 2m red cartridge is super easy, and you will get dynamic quality sound. So, you can use 2m red with your turntable, and overall it is the best cartridge for audio Technica at-lp120.
Denon DL-110 Cartridge
Best cartridge under $300
SPECIFICATIONS
Output Level 1.6 mV | Channel Separation 25 dB | Recommended Load Impedance 47k ohms | Stylus Shape Elliptical diamond 0.1 x 0.2mm | Mount Standard / Half Inch | Output Level 1.6 mV | Frequency Range 20-45,000Hz | Tracking Force 1.5-2.1g
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Great bass range control
✓ When need to swing, then it swings
✓ Ample tracking ability
✓ Aluminum cantilever
✓ Works brilliantly with Moving coil preamp
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Low signal output level
The next one is the Denon DL-110 cartridge, and it is well known as a moving coil stereo cartridge. The DL-110 cartridge comes with a Cantilever, which is made of aluminum the stylus featuring a unique elliptical diamond. The cartridge tracking force up to 1.5-2.1g and has a frequency of 20-45,000Hz.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Due to performance and quality, the DL-110 is the best cartridge for audio Technica at-lp120.
What Recent Buyers Report Of Denon DL-110
We found 115 global ratings of the Denon DL-110 cartridge and have read good positive reviews. People are showing love to DL-110 due to its low price, sound quality, and cartridge installation. Using the Denon DL-110 cartridge with audio Technica at-lp120 turntable is a perfect choice.
Audio-Technica VM540ML Cartridge
Best microline cartridge
SPECIFICATIONS
Output Level 4.0 mV |Channel Separation 28 dB | Recommended Load Impedance 47k ohms | Stylus Shape MicroLine® 2.2 x 0.12 mil | Mount Standard / Half Inch | Output Level 4.0 mV | Brand Audio-Technica | Color Red | Model Name VM540ML |Cantilever Type Aluminum Cantilever
REASONS TO BUY
✓ A-T’s Dual Magnet Design
✓ Trusted by Professionals
✓ Best MicroLine Stylus
✓ Perfectly trace the record groove
✓ Nuanced audio reproduction
✓ Stylus’s multilevel shape
✓ Para-toroidal coils for brilliant efficiency
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Heavy plastic base
The next one is the VM540ML cartridge review, and if we compare the VM540ML cartridge with Denon DL-110 at a price point, then the VM540ML cartridge is lower in price than DL-110, which is a little expensive. It is equipped with dual magnets and is the same as all VM cartridges. The cartridge Dual magnet technology means in stereo record groove which helps in matching positions of channels left to right. Unlike the above-listed cartridges, the VM540ML cartridge features MicroLine Stylus, which gives you the highest frequency response. It comes with an aluminum cantilever for best cartridge performance, and its Paratoroidal coils work for good efficiency. Overall the VM540ML is the best cartridge for audio Technica at-lp120.
Recent Buyers Report Of Technica VM540ML
We find 288 global ratings and no objection to this VM540ML cartridge, and it is fully trusted by professionals. By comparison with DL-110, the VM540ML is a budget cartridge for the Technica at-lp120 turntable.
Grado Prestige Gold Cartridge
Best cartridge for turntable
SPECIFICATIONS
Output Level 5.0 mV | Channel Separation 35 dB | Recommended Load Impedance 47k ohms | Recommended Tracking Force 1.5 grams | Color Black2 | Stylus Shape Elliptical diamond | Mount Standard / Half Inch | Inductance 45mH | Resistance 475 | Compliance CUs 20 | Stylus Replacement U
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Lots of charm and soul
✓ Cartridge made in NYC
✓ High frequency response
✓ Surface noise is dead quite
✓ Stylus digs deep into the track
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Prone to inner groove distortion
✗ For tonearms the cartridge is sensitive
✗ For low-mass tonearms
✗ Unshielded
The next one is the Grado Prestige Gold cartridge. The tonal balance given by this cartridge is excellent, and inside the cartridge, four copper wire coils are of high purity. The Grado Prestige Gold is the best cartridge for audio Technica at-lp120 turntable, and you can get it in three different colors Black-2, Black-3, and Gold-3 design variant. The Grado cartridge has an excellent outer housing dampening technique and a twin magnet system for great clear sound.
Recent Buyers Report Of Grado Prestige Gold
For the Grado Prestige cartridge, we found 230 global ratings, and most people giving a positive review to it. With the At-lp120 turntable, the Grado cartridge will work perfectly and will give you brilliant quality sound. The cartridge by Grado is best for jazz records.
Shure M97xE Cartridge
Best High Peformance Crtridge For Technica At-lp120
SPECIFICATIONS
Stylus Mass Very Low | Diamond Stylus Tip Elliptical | Cantilever II low-mass, aluminum alloy | Record Wear Very Low | Sound Accuracy Very High | Key Features Dynamic Stabilizer Brush
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Polished elliptical diamond tip
✓ High-frequency range
✓ Viscous-damped dynamic stabilizer
✓ Die-cast aluminum mounting block
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Much less archiving
✗ Volume drop-in issue on the left channel
The next one is the Shure M97xE cartridge, and it comes in the list of the best magnetic phono cartridges. The Shure cartridge is giving high-quality sound and can easily be used for at-lp120 turntables, and it can also be used with standard DJ turntables. The Shure M97xE stylus mass is very low, but its accuracy is very high. For a vibration-free experience, the M97xE has a brilliant die-cast aluminum mounting block.
Recent Buyers Report Of Shure M97xE
The cartridge Shure M97xE has 1,127 global ratings on amazon, and a total of seventy-eight percent of people have rated five stars to this cartridges.
Turntable Audio Technica At-lp120 Review
The At-lp120 comes in a Silver body design with an elegant silver look finish. The At-lp120 turntable has a medium body size and comes with a pre-installed dust cover made of good quality plastic material. The At-lp120 dust cover will protect the turntable from muddy dust, and you do not have to purchase a new one like some turntables that do not come with a transparent dust cover. The At-lp120 has pre-installed four stand feet, which makes perfect balance on unstable surfaces. The turntable platter quality is a die-cast aluminum platter, giving you less and minimizing vibration of the pre-installed slip mat. The tonearm of At-lp120 features a lockable rest and has S-shaped with hydraulically damped lift control. The main benefit of the At-lp120 turntable is its switchable phono preamplifier, which is build-in on this turntable with RCA and USB output cables, will help you for the convenient connection with Computers, Powered Speakers, and your audio system. In addition, the At-lp120 turntable has brilliant playback controls like speed indicators and variable pitch control. These playback features will help you better handle your turntable, and you can enjoy the best vinyl record music.
Which Cartridge Did You Get With Audio-Technica At-lp120?
The turntable At-lp120 comes with AT95E Cartridge, which is the best dual magnet phono cartridge and will give you better quality sound. The AT95E cartridge is 1/2 inch standard mounted and can simply be replaceable with any cartridge you want.
Specifications
Frequency Response : 20-20,000 Hz
Channel Separation : >20 dB at 1 kHz
Tracking Force Range : 1.5-2.5 grams 2.0 grams (20 mN)
Load Impedance : 47,000 ohms
Channel Balance : 2.0 dB
Stylus Type : Mil elliptical diamond stylus
Cantilever : Alloy tube
Mount : Half-Inch
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Audio Technica LP120 come with a preamp?
The answer is Yes; it comes with an onboard built-in phono preamp, which can also switch to outboard preamp when you want.
What is the best cartridge for Audio-Technica at-lp120 under $300?
For the $300 range, you can go with Denon DL-110, Audio-Technica VM540ML, and Ortofon 2m red cartridges. These mid-range cartridges come with a brilliant aluminum Cantilever and have a great frequency range.
Difference between Ortofon Blue And Red?
The main difference between Ortofon 2M Blue And Ortofon 2M Red is stylus type, and if we talk about 2M blue, then it comes with a nude elliptical diamond stylus, and the other 2M red has an only elliptical diamond stylus. The second difference is a prince, and 2M red is budget-friendly, and 2m blue is the mid-range cartridge.
Do I get Dust cover with Audio Technica At-lp120?
With Audio Technica At-lp120 Turntable, you will get a brilliant plastic quality dust cover for dust protection. If your At-lp120 is broken, then you can also buy-it extra from the market.
