Audio-Technica Cartridges
Precision Cartridge Engineering for Better Vinyl Playback
Audio-Technica phono cartridges are designed for everyone from first-time vinyl listeners to serious analogue enthusiasts. With a long history in cartridge design, Audio-Technica offers a broad choice of moving magnet and moving coil cartridges for turntables, tonearms and phono stages at every level of system performance.
Whether you are replacing an entry-level cartridge, refining an existing turntable or building a high-end vinyl replay system, the right cartridge can reveal more detail, tonal colour, stereo imaging and musical energy from your records.
Understanding cartridge technology
The Cartridge Is Where Vinyl Becomes Music
A phono cartridge is an electromechanical transducer: the stylus traces the record groove, transferring that movement through the cantilever and into an electrical signal for your phono stage and amplifier. The choice between moving magnet and moving coil design has a significant influence on matching, output and final sound quality.
Moving Magnet Design
Moving magnet cartridges use a magnet attached to the cantilever. Audio-Technica uses a dual-magnet arrangement in relevant MM designs to read left and right groove information.
Moving Coil Design
Moving coil cartridges move a coil rather than a magnet. Their lower moving mass can support faster response and more detailed reproduction when correctly matched.
Stylus Profile Matters
Stylus shapes affect how the cartridge traces the groove. Different profiles balance tracking accuracy, detail retrieval, groove contact and record compatibility.
Correct System Matching
Cartridge choice should consider tonearm mass, phono-stage gain, loading, stylus profile, tracking force and the type of records you play most often.
Moving magnet and moving coil
Choose the Right Cartridge Platform for Your Turntable
Moving magnet cartridges offer a flexible and widely compatible route into better vinyl playback, while moving coil designs are intended for systems with suitable MC phono-stage gain or step-up capability. Both are available across a wide range of Audio-Technica cartridge families.
Moving magnet cartridges
Audio-Technica Moving Magnet Cartridges
Audio-Technica moving magnet cartridges provide a versatile route to detailed, dynamic and enjoyable vinyl playback. They are typically easy to match with standard MM phono stages and many ranges support replaceable stylus upgrades, making them an excellent choice for first upgrades and developing analogue systems.
- Dual moving magnet technology across relevant Audio-Technica MM cartridge designs.
- Suitable for standard moving magnet phono inputs.
- Replaceable stylus options available across selected product families.
- Wide choice of stylus profiles from elliptical to advanced MicroLine designs.
- Excellent for entry-level through to high-performance turntables.
Accessible MM upgrade platform
AT-VM95 Series Moving Magnet Cartridges
The Audio-Technica AT-VM95 series is a popular moving magnet platform for listeners wanting a dependable cartridge with a clear route to stylus upgrades. It is ideal for improving an entry-level turntable or creating a more capable vinyl replay system without immediately moving to moving coil.
- Versatile moving magnet cartridge platform for many modern turntables.
- Compatible with a range of replacement stylus options.
- Suitable for everyday listening and more serious vinyl collections.
- Strong upgrade route as your turntable and phono stage improve.
- Excellent choice for first cartridge upgrades.
Moving coil cartridge performance
Audio-Technica Moving Coil Cartridges
Audio-Technica moving coil cartridges are designed for systems where the turntable, tonearm and phono stage are capable of revealing higher levels of resolution and transient precision. With lower moving mass than a moving magnet design, they can respond quickly to the changes recorded in the groove.
- Low moving-mass coil structure designed for fast, detailed groove response.
- Requires an MC phono stage or step-up transformer for correct gain matching.
- Available with advanced stylus profiles including Shibata and line-contact designs.
- Designed for serious analogue systems with appropriate tonearm and phono-stage matching.
- Ideal for listeners seeking more detail, scale and refinement.
Reference moving coil cartridge design
Audio-Technica ART Series
The Audio-Technica ART series represents the company’s highest-level moving coil cartridge engineering. Designed for highly capable turntable systems, ART cartridges are intended to reveal exceptional texture, timing, image depth and musical realism when matched with the correct tonearm and phono stage.
- Reference-level moving coil cartridge engineering.
- Designed for high-end analogue systems with carefully matched phono stages.
- Exceptional focus, detail and dynamic expression.
- Suitable for listeners building a serious vinyl replay system.
- Requires expert system matching and setup for best results.
Cartridge compatibility depends on the tonearm, headshell, effective mass, phono-stage gain, cartridge loading and preferred tracking force. We can help specify the correct Audio-Technica cartridge and arrange professional fitting and setup where required.
Audio-Technica cartridge series
A Cartridge Range for Every Type of Vinyl Listener
Audio-Technica offers cartridge families for first upgrades, everyday audiophile use, specialist mono replay, DJ and high-output applications, as well as advanced moving coil designs for more ambitious analogue systems.
VMx Series
A modern moving magnet series designed for detailed vinyl replay, with cartridge and stylus options suited to a wide range of turntable systems.
Ask About VMx SeriesVM Series
Audio-Technica VM cartridges offer a broad range of stylus profiles and system-matching options for listeners who want a more refined moving magnet upgrade.
Ask About VM SeriesART Series
The ART series is designed for serious high-end analogue systems, with moving coil designs intended to reveal maximum musical insight and realism.
Ask About ART SeriesOC9x Series
The OC9x range provides advanced moving coil performance with options for listeners seeking greater detail, tracking precision and analogue refinement.
Ask About OC9x SeriesAT33 Series
The AT33 series is designed for high-performance moving coil playback, bringing precision, scale and musical expression to compatible turntable systems.
Ask About AT33 SeriesAT33x Series
The AT33x family builds on Audio-Technica’s moving coil heritage with advanced designs for listeners looking for greater analogue control and detail.
Ask About AT33x SeriesAT-VM95 Series
A flexible, accessible moving magnet cartridge family with a useful stylus-upgrade path for new and developing vinyl systems.
Ask About AT-VM95 SeriesXP Series
The XP series is designed for robust, high-output playback applications where reliable tracking and energetic sound are important.
Ask About XP SeriesMONO3 Series
Specialist mono cartridge options designed for mono records and listeners who want a more appropriate route into dedicated single-channel vinyl replay.
Ask About MONO3 SeriesP-Mount Series
P-Mount cartridges are designed for compatible turntables using the convenient T4P-style mounting system, offering straightforward replacement and fitting.
Ask About P-Mount SeriesStylus profile and vinyl replay
Choose the Stylus Shape That Suits Your Records
The stylus is the point of contact between your cartridge and the record groove. Its shape influences how accurately the groove is traced, how much detail is retrieved and how the cartridge behaves with both new and older records.
- Conical styli are a practical option for straightforward playback, mono records and older 78 RPM material.
- Elliptical styli offer increased groove-wall contact and a higher level of detail than conical designs.
- MicroLine stylus profiles are designed for highly accurate high-frequency tracking and even wear.
- Shibata styli provide increased contact area and strong high-frequency retrieval.
- Line-contact styli are intended for maximum precision in high-performance analogue systems.
“The right cartridge is not simply an upgrade. It is the component that allows your turntable to recover more of the music stored in every record groove.”
At Brian & Trevor, we can help match an Audio-Technica cartridge to your turntable, tonearm, phono stage and vinyl collection, ensuring the right balance of tracking, output, detail and musical character.
Choose with confidence
Which Audio-Technica Cartridge Should You Start With?
The ideal cartridge depends on your turntable, phono stage, budget and the type of sound and vinyl replay experience you are aiming to achieve.
For First Cartridge Upgrades
Choose an AT-VM95 or VM moving magnet cartridge for a clear, flexible upgrade route with compatibility for standard MM phono stages.
Discuss MM UpgradesFor High-End Vinyl Systems
Choose an OC9x, AT33 or ART moving coil cartridge when your system has an appropriate MC phono stage and you want more advanced analogue replay.
Discuss MC CartridgesFor Specialist Replay
Choose MONO3, XP or P-Mount cartridges for mono records, high-output applications, DJ systems or compatible compact turntables.
Discuss Specialist CartridgesBring more from your vinyl collection
Find the Cartridge That Lets Your Records Come Alive
Audio-Technica offers a cartridge route for every level of vinyl listener, from simple moving magnet upgrades to highly capable moving coil designs. The right cartridge can help your existing turntable deliver more detail, rhythm, atmosphere and musical realism.
Ask for Cartridge Advice
Discuss moving magnet, moving coil and specialist Audio-Technica cartridge options for your turntable.
Speak to a Hi-Fi SpecialistArrange Professional Fitting
Get help matching, fitting and setting up a cartridge with the correct alignment and tracking force.
Book an AppointmentImprove Your Vinyl Replay
Explore turntables, phono stages, tonearms and accessories for a more capable analogue system.
Plan Your Analogue Upgrade