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Beginner’s Guide to Hi–Fi Created to hopefully aid anyone venturing into this stressful, beautiful hobby. I will update this with more information whenever I have time to waste. Anyone is welcome to chime in. Basic Hi-Fi Chain: SOURCE -> AMPLIFICATION -> SPEAKERS (click to jump to section) The source component reads the recorded information and translates it into the signal that will be later perceived as sound. Amplification takes that signal and amplifies it (no, really?) in order to make it strong enough to move the drivers of the speaker. A speaker is a collective of drivers that are moved by the signal, producing air pressure in front of them which to us, mortal beings, means hearing sound. When putting together a hi-fi setup, always keep in mind: The end result will only be as good as the weakest link. Buying an expensive turntable and a good phono preamp is useless if you're using cheap computer speakers. By no means should you decide to just get a shitty turntable then. Instead, think carefully how to ration your budget across all important components. Jump to setting up & use: SOURCE, AMPLIFICATION, SPEAKERS LIST OF RECCOMENDED EQUIPMENT FOR DIFFERENT BUDGETS

Looking for advice for the fine folks of the forum. I am looking to upgrade the Sumiko Pearl on my Pro-Ject Carbon turntable. It's always been fine for me, but that's probably because I've never really compared it to anything else. My office vinyl listening setup is fairly modest. As follows: - Musical Fidelity V90-LPS Phono Stage (MM/MC) - Musical Fidelity V90-HPA Headphone Amp / DAC - Micca PB42x Powered Bookshelf Speakers - Philips Fidelio X2/27 Open-Ear headphones Predominantly, I listen to rock music (60's thru 2018) with some jazz, hip hop, techno, acoustic, classical, etc mixed in. Rock well over half the time though. With that particular turntable and other items in the setup, I'm curious what people might suggest for a cartridge upgrade. I've seen a few usual suspects continue to pop up specific to listening to rock music (Ortofon Blue / Bronze, Denon DL-110 among others) but wondering if there's a cartridge that can take advantage of that modest-budget setup above the best (keeping in mind that the budget for the catridge itself would probably also need to stay modest... ideally $400 or under would be the sweet spot so that probably rules out a few suggestions). Thanks!

I have a Technics SL-Q3, belonged to my grandmother since the 80s and when I was a kid I used to listen to records on it all the time. Now it's mine and while it sounds good I do think that it needs either a cartridge or stylus replacement. As far as I know it hasn't been replaced since the late 80s or something like that. It has a Shure M44-7 cart, but the problem is I see a lot of people in forums saying if I'm not gonna use it as a DJ turntable I shouldn't buy another one. And since I'll only use it to listen to records, no DJing, I thought I'd ask. Which cartridge and needle should I replace it with?

I was recently given a Ortofon 2M Red from a friend who just upgraded his to a blue. I want to replace the cartridge on my AT-LP120 and was curious if there were any good how to articles or videos to help with this. I searched the forum a little bit to see if I could find anything. If you could direct me to one it would be greatly appreciated.

Hey, guys. Looking to sell this grado gold cart. Turns out i like my Blue/8mz combo more than the gold. it's yours for $50 shipped in the US. i can post pictures, upon request. i hope i'm listing this in the right place. this is my first time selling anything on VC. I have sold a bunch of records on the vinylcollectors subreddit, though. for whatever that's worth. edit: should mention that it does not come with a stylus. thanks for looking!

So I've recently upgraded my amp and speakers, but still have a vintage turntable with an aging Ortofon cartridge (probably 6-7 years old, and an embarrassingly high amount of hours), and I'm pretty sure the lack of clarity I'm hearing stems from the cartridge more than anything. I'm probably still a couple of months away from purchasing a new turntable - partly based on finance, looking for good used deals, and even just still not exactly sure what I want. I'm still not totally understanding everything about cartridges (when I got mine last, someone at the store installed it). So I have a couple of quick questions, if y'all don't mind. 1. Do most cartridges work on any turntable? Are they easy enough to install (I have a JVC QL-F4 Direct Drive)? 2. At what point would a used cartridge not be worth it if I were to buy used? 3. If, in 3-4 months I buy a $500-$600 TT, is it worth buying a cartridge now for around $100-150 that could be used as an eventual replacement for whatever comes with the new turntable? Or will I likely want to go for a higher price than that? 4. Possibly the dumbest question of all: I know what the stylus is, but what is the difference between replacing the whole cartridge and replacing just the stylus? Sorry if these are sort of dumb or possibly a bit redundant (there's definitely a bit of information on this forum or elsewhere, but I'm always happy to have feedback and opinions from you folks).

FOR SALE- Audio Technica AT150MLX cartridge/stylus: I just switched to the Ortofon 2M Bronze PnP kit, so I'm selling my old cart/stylus. I'd estimate there's about 30 or so hours of use on it. I left it mounted on the head shell I was using since I don't need that with the PnP kit and the packaging allows a head shell inside.Buyer would need to mount/align it to their tonearm of course. In excellent shape and sold AS IS. They go for $330-$350 new so I'm thinking $180 including shipping is a fair (firm) price. Wanted to offer it to this community prior to listing it on elsewhere. I'll wait a week from today before listing it on eBay. Shipping to US only please. Please feel free to ask any questions I didn't think to answer in the OP. More pics/other angles posted by request.

FOR SALE- Audio Technica AT150MLX cartridge/stylus: I just switched to the Ortofon 2M Bronze PnP kit, so I'm selling my old cart/stylus. I'd estimate there's about 30 or so hours of use on it. I left it mounted on the head shell I was using since I don't need that with the PnP kit and the packaging allows a head shell inside.Buyer would need to mount/align it to their tonearm of course. In excellent shape and sold AS IS. They go for $330-$350 new so I'm thinking $180 including shipping is a fair (firm) price. Wanted to offer it to this community prior to listing it on elsewhere. I'll wait a week from today before listing it on eBay. Shipping to US only please. Please feel free to ask any questions I didn't think to answer in the OP.

I know the photos are bad angles, that's why I need help

I recently replace the needle on my cartridge, and I've been noticing that the cartridge has been or has gotten extremely close to dragging along my records. I have a Shure M44G cartridge and I have the N44G needle that pairs with it. I know those aren't super high quality products, but I didn't have this problem before I replaced my needle, and I've been noticing some light surface noise-like sounds on brand new records with this needle. I keep the tracking force around .75 grams, which is the recommended tracking force. Any ideas?

Cartridge for a Project perspective Turntable Hello, I have a project perspective turntable which cost £750 back in 2001 and would like to upgrade the cartridge which is a goldring 1012gx. What sort of price range would complement a turntable of this quality? In hifi world uk magazine they did a group test of cartridges in the range of £150 to £235 and are described as affordable cartridges. The Nagoaka MP-150 at £229 came out the best with the orotofon 2m blue £170 as a secondary choice. Are these cartridges the sort of range i should be looking at or am I under estimating the quality of my TT? thanks for your time Martin ________

Hey everybody, I have a Tchnics SL-L1 that was given to me by my uncle and was formerly my dad's before that. So I was talking to him at Christmas, and my uncle and dad both confirmed they hadn't changed the cartridge since it was brand new. So I have read the beginner's guide, and I wanted some recommendations on a new cartridge. I have looked into: Audio-Technica AT95E Audio-Technica AT92E Grado BLACK1 Prestige Now, I want to spend < $60/70. I have heard of issues with the Grado BLACK1 on another forum. Is there another cartridge around this price range I should be looking at? Thanks in advance, any help would be greatly appreciated! My setup (if it matters): Technics SL-L1 Sony STR-7045 Polk T15

so i recently bought a technics B1 off of ebay for 75 shipped. got here and low and behold its got this cartridge on it...from what ive looked up it seems like its pretty nice. anyone care to weigh in/know a better table for it?