The Grado Prestige Blue is proof that one does not have to spend large amounts of money for good sound from a phono cartridge." - $ensible Sound / James T. Frane

The Blue2 uses a three piece OTL cantilever that has a Grado specific diamond mounted on a brass bushing.

What's the difference between Blue2 and Red2? 
Approximately 15% of the Blue2 production run meet higher specifications. These are hand selected from the batch and designated as Red2.

Grado’s OTL, or optimized transmission line, technology provides an ideal transfer of signal from the surface of the LP to the generator of the system. This technology rejects unwanted resonances and lowers distortion preserving the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of the music. This also helps keep noise generated by the motor system in the cartridge to a minimum.

Grado’s OTL stylus/cantilever design makes records sound quieter, improves the height, width, and depth of the soundstage, and present more detail than previously obtainable.

The Blue2 is hand assembled by Grado's team in Brooklyn, with some builders having over 25 years of experience. This updated series of cartridges offers excellent tonal balance, dynamics, and realism, for a most rewarding reproduction of vocals and instruments. The coil winding techniques using ultra high purity copper wire, which were honed during the development of the Lineage Series, have let the electrical circuits achieve unison between the four coils in each phono cartridge. This allows for a precise balance between channels and accurate stereo imaging.

As in all Grado phono cartridges the Blue2 is powered by a twin magnet system that optimizes the balance between stereo channels. All internal magnetic circuit parts are held to extremely high tolerances creating the desired stereo imaging. Grado’s patented Flux-Bridger design allows the Blue2 to have one of the lowest effective moving mass generating systems while creating an excellent balance throughout the full frequency range.

Frequency Response: 10-55
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 30
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F=Factory: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

There was once a catch phrase, “No one ever got fired by hiring IBM” which was an analogy for playing it safe, and getting known performance and support.  It does not exactly transfer to the vinyl world, but somehow it came to mind when reviewing this cartridge. It is a safe bet, a cartridge of known quality that performs well in any system, with a single caveat. It is hard to imagine anyone being dissatisfied with it.The Grado Silver1 is fast, detailed, has excellent clarity and resolution with a touch of characteristic Grado warmth, and is altogether musically satisfying - Soundadvice

The Prestige series of cartridges are designed for high output and excellent stability under severe use. A considerable tip mass reduction results in a frequency response to 50 kHz and beyond and tracking forces from 1-2 grams. Acclaimed by experts as virtually the finest pickups in the world at their price.
Prestige models available in both 1/2" mount and P-mount. All styli in the Prestige series are user replaceable.

The Silver2 uses a four piece OTL cantilever with a Grado specific elliptical diamond stylus mounted on a brass bushing. A machined turned generator is used to achieve a lower distortion and greater transparency. 

What's the difference between Gold2 and Silver2?
Approximately 5% of the Silver2 production runs meet higher test specifications. The cartridges that exhibit these specs are hand-selected to become a Gold2.
Grado’s OTL, or optimized transmission line, technology provides an ideal transfer of signal from the surface of the LP to the generator of the system.

This technology rejects unwanted resonances and lowers distortion preserving the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of the music. This also helps keep noise generated by the motor system in the cartridge to a minimum.

Grado’s OTL stylus/cantilever design makes records sound quieter, improves the height, width, and depth of the soundstage, and present more detail than previously obtainable.

The Silver2 are all hand assembled by our team in Brooklyn, with some builders having over 25 years of experience. With the recent development of the highly received Lineage Series of cartridges, we were able to have a trickle down of technology and bring some new techniques to the Silver2.

This updated series of cartridges offers excellent tonal balance, dynamics, and realism, for a most rewarding reproduction of vocals and instruments. Our coil winding techniques, using ultra high purity copper wire which were honed during the development of the Lineage Series, have let the electrical circuits achieve unison between the four coils in each phono cartridge. This allows for a precise balance between channels and accurate stereo imaging.
As in all Grado phono cartridges the Silver2 is powered by a twin magnet system that optimizes the balance between stereo channels. All internal magnetic circuit parts are held to extremely high tolerances creating the desired stereo imaging. Grado’s patented Flux-Bridger design allows the Silver2 to have one of the lowest effective moving mass generating systems while creating an excellent balance throughout the full frequency range.

The development of the Epoch in the Lineage Series gave us an in-depth experience with using an outer housing as a damping device. This led to the creation of a process which de-stresses the chassis and dissipates unwanted energy & resonant frequencies, allowing the desired signal to travel freely.

Frequency Response: 10-60
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 35
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F=Factory: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

The Prestige series of cartridges are designed for high output and excellent stability under severe use. A considerable tip mass reduction results in a frequency response to 50 kHz and beyond and tracking forces from 1-2 grams. Acclaimed by experts as virtually the finest pickups in the world at their price.

Prestige models available in both 1/2" mount and P-mount. All styli in the Prestige series are user replaceable.

Prestige 2 Both the Silver2 and Gold2 use a four piece OTL cantilever with a Grado specific elliptical diamond stylus mounted on a brass bushing. With the Silver2 and Gold2, a machined turned generator is used to achieve a lower distortion and greater transparency. The Gold2 are hand selected from Silver2 production runs which meet higher test specifications. Approximately 5% of the run usually exhibits these specs and become a Gold2. 

Grado’s OTL, or optimized transmission line, technology provides an ideal transfer of signal from the surface of the LP to the generator of the system.

This technology rejects unwanted resonances and lowers distortion preserving the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of the music. This also helps keep noise generated by the motor system in the cartridge to a minimum.

Grado’s OTL stylus/cantilever design makes records sound quieter, improves the height, width, and depth of the soundstage, and present more detail than previously obtainable.

The Silver2 & Gold2 are all hand assembled by our team in Brooklyn, with some builders having over 25 years of experience. With the recent development of the highly received Lineage Series of cartridges, we were able to have a trickle down of technology and bring a new technique to the Silver2 & Gold2. This updated series of cartridges offers excellent tonal balance, dynamics, and realism, for a most rewarding reproduction of vocals and instruments. Our coil winding techniques, using ultra high purity copper wire which were honed during the development of the Lineage Series, have let the electrical circuits achieve unison between the four coils in each phono cartridge. This allows for a precise balance between channels and accurate stereo imaging.
As in all Grado phono cartridges the Silver2 & Gold2 are powered by a twin magnet system that optimizes the balance between stereo channels. All

internal magnetic circuit parts are held to extremely high tolerances creating the desired stereo imaging. Grado’s patented Flux-Bridger design allows the Silver2 & Gold2 to have one of the lowest effective moving mass generating systems while creating an excellent balance throughout the full frequency range.

The development of the Epoch in the Lineage Series gave us an in-depth experience with using an outer housing as a damping device. This led to the creation of a process which de-stresses the chassis and dissipates unwanted energy & resonant frequencies, allowing the desired signal to travel freely.

Frequency Response: 10-60
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 35
Input Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F=Factory: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

 The Quintet Bronze is a remarkable cartridge I can certainly recommend searching out the Quintet Bronze and giving it a careful evaluation, as you may find its distinctive charms are capable of satisfying your long term analog desires - Positive Feedback

Absolutely clean, wonderful intense timbres Sound 90/100 Audio Magazine

Smooth well-mannered and rhythmically tight A few great characteristics of the Quintet Bronze. HIFI World

At its asking price, the Ortofon Quintet Bronze is reasonably priced, and it's certainly capable of expressing a wide frequency range performance with a large soundstage, natural textures, and spot-on tonality. While the Bronze was in my system I wanted for nothing more the Ortofon Quintet Bronze cartridge may be the full bodied compliment you've been looking for.Positive Feedback

The Quintet Bronze moves into the higher league of the Quintets.

The slim profile of its Nude Fine Line diamond stylus will track even the highest frequency information, making it a must for discerning listeners. Additionally its larger footprint ensures reduced distortion and record wear. 

The sound will be very evenhanded with respect to all aspects. Classical music will be reproduced with power and open space around each of the instruments.

All types of music will be conveyed with the highest accuracy, precision and dynamics.

It’s a slam-dunk for any thoughtful starter system." -The Absolute Sound

Quintet Red is obviously on the low end of the price scale for moving-coil cartridges, but it doesn't sound like a cheapskate." The Absolute Sound

Enter the Exclusive world of Ortofon’s famous moving coil sound!

The Quintet Red is a perfect introduction to the world of Ortofon moving coils.

It features an Elliptical diamond which is cut and polished to Ortofon’s standards.

This entry-level MC cartridge has very high price-to-performance ratio and is a perfect all-rounder for the newcomers to the world of Moving Coil cartridges.

The Quintet Red features an Elliptical diamond which is cut and polished to Ortofon’s high standards. This entry-level MC cartridge has very high performance standard and is a perfect all-rounder for the newcomers to the world of Moving Coil cartridges. MC Quintet Red delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth.

The MC Quintet Series is congruent with Ortofon’s unrelenting commitment to providing the most precise and accurate reproduction possible without colouration.

• A special ABS (Acrylonitrile/Butadiene/Styrene) thermoplastic material is used for manufacturing of the body. This light-weight, impact resistant material is very suitable for injection-moulding and provides a very durable scratch resistant surface.
• Neodymium magnets are implemented to achieve an optimal output.
• Low internal impedance makes the cartridge less sensitive to load and therefore ensures compatibility with the widest range of preamps and transformers.

Nothing demonstrates Ortofon's long-standing resilience more than its commitment to the refinement of analogue sound quality and its continued development of new cartridge models. Since 1948 Ortofon have introduced about 100 different moving coil models, with their latest being the Quintet Series. Ortofon believe the cartridges in this new series are more than worthy successors to the long line of models that have made Ortofon the global leader in the manufacturing and supplying of phono cartridges.
######  Generous Trade in for your Old Ortofon ######

Grado Prestige Black 3 Moving Magnet Cartridge MM ( P-Mount T4P )

Result: a  giant killer! The Grado Labs Prestige Black2 Phono Cartridge breaks the sound barrier with very high performance in its low, low price range. Killer improvements borrowed from the development for the Epoch super cartridge reveal their benefits, even in a budget  design. The Black has no competitor I can think of. It even tracks the toughest LPs. The Black2 gives you see-through clarity that only $300+ cartridges could achieve just a few years ago. I can hardly wait to see what's next! Meanwhile, if you need a great cartridge that just exudes musical truth and costs like a steak dinner at Ruth's Chris, buy the Grado Labs Prestige Black2 Phono Cartridge. Highly recommended. Positive Feedback

The Prestige series of cartridges are designed for high output and excellent stability under severe use. A considerable tip mass reduction results in a frequency response to 50 kHz and beyond and tracking forces from 1-2 grams. Acclaimed by experts as virtually the finest pickups in the world at their price.
Prestige models available in both 1/2" mount and P-mount. All styli in the Prestige series are user replaceable..

Both the Black3 and Green3 use a three piece OTL cantilever that has a Grado specific diamond mounted on a brass bushing. The Green3 are hand selected from Black3 production runs which meet higher test specifications. Approximately 15% of the run usually exhibits these specs and become a Green3.

Grado’s OTL, or optimized transmission line, technology provides an ideal transfer of signal from the surface of the LP to the generator of the system. This technology rejects unwanted resonances and lowers distortion preserving the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of the music. This also helps keep noise generated by the motor system in the cartridge to a minimum.

Grado’s OTL stylus/cantilever design makes records sound quieter, improves the height, width, and depth of the soundstage, and present more detail than previously obtainable.

The Black3 & Green3 are all hand assembled by our team in Brooklyn, with some builders having over 25 years of experience. With the recent development of the highly received Lineage Series of cartridges, we were able to have a trickle down of technology and bring a new technique to the Black3 & Green3. This updated series of cartridges offers excellent tonal balance, dynamics, and realism, for a most rewarding reproduction of vocals and instruments. Our coil winding techniques, using ultra high purity copper wire which were honed during the development of the Lineage Series, have let the electrical circuits achieve unison between the four coils in each phono cartridge. This allows for a precise balance between channels and accurate stereo imaging.
As in all Grado phono cartridges the Black3 & Green3 are powered by a twin magnet system that optimizes the balance between stereo channels. All internal magnetic circuit parts are held to extremely high tolerances creating the desired stereo imaging. Grado’s patented Flux-Bridger design allows the Black3 & Green3 to have one of the lowest effective moving mass generating systems while creating an excellent balance throughout the full frequency range.

The development of the Epoch in the Lineage Series gave us an in-depth experience with using an outer housing as a damping device. This led to the creation of a process which de-stresses the chassis and dissipates unwanted energy & resonant frequencies, allowing the desired signal to travel freely.

Frequency Response: 10hz-50khz

Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 30
Imput Load: 47K
Output at 1KHz 5CM/sec.: 5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5
Stylus Type: E
Inductance: 45mH
Resistance: 475
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement F=Factory: U
Mounting: S/P
Weight: 5.5

P-mount cartridges (T4P) are designed to be interchangeable. A "T4P" insignia is usually present on the turntable to indicate a P-mount tonearm. So, for all practical purposes any brand below will fit and work in a T4P tonearm

Affordable moving-magnet cartridge with user-replaceable elliptical diamond stylus. BJR found that "the transients and bloom of the string quartet were reproduced with no trace of coloration or smear." Superb transient articulation and dynamics. "Competes with cartridges at double its price - Stereophile 2015 Recommended Components

Spare Fingerlift for Ortofon SPU GM/A models, nickel
2 x assembly screws included in the package

Ortofon SPU Cartridge Shown NOT Included

"The AT95SA is among the "best buys" in reasonably priced MM cartridges, if not the best buy..."

AT95 with Line Contact Shibata Stylus Moving Magnet Cartridge MM

I thought the 95SA was strikingly superior sounding to the 95E.The sonic differences between the AT95E and SA are nothing short of enormous. The SA’s high frequency performance is vastly improved, with silky, smooth transients, better extension (unless you confuse “crunch” with genuine extension) and “gobs” more resolution.The improvements don’t stop there: the midrange is far more supple as is the upper bass. This results in far superior bass: no more cardboardy string plucks. Voices take on greater weight and warmth and instrumental timbres are remarkably improved. Ms. Taylor’s voice now sounds rich, warm and three-dimensional. The saxophone now has a “reedy” quality missing from the AT95E rendering. A major transformation for the better. Though it costs 3X as much as the AT95E, the AT95SA is probably 10X better. It’s difficult to quantify that way but I’m doing it anyway. Listening to this track had I not known what I was listening to I’d have a difficult time believing it was recorded using a $179 cartridge, an under $1000 phono preamp and a $1500 turntable. It sounds that well-resolved, rhythmically superb, tonally sophisticated and just plain right! The AT AT95SA is among the “best buys” in reasonably priced MM cartridges, if not the best buy, but only if you carefully set SRA. Michael Fremer Analogue Planet

AT95 Renowned as the best buy in cartridges  AT95SA phono cartridge delivers pinnacle performance offering discerning listeners musical bounty impeccably graced from the record grooves by its highly polished Shibata diamond stylus.

This shibata tipped needle  will transform your records , a high end playback solution capable of exceptionally faithful, clear and true sound reproduction Audiophile Phonograph 

Shibata styli take the elliptical design further for greater contact with the record. When properly aligned, offer fantastic high-frequency performance, longer tip life, improved tracking, and low record wear. They are, however, harder to manufacture than elliptical styli, and therefore expensive.S hibata diamond stylus are the same diamond as used on Epensive MM/MC Cartridges. Its slim, highly polished profile allows an exceedingly wide contact area to the groove walls and ensures notably detailed reproduction throughout the spectrum, including even the most high frequency groove information.

The AT95E was original equipment on many turntables throughout the decades, this cartridge and it's predecessors including the AT3400 have provided a superb value in the middle class range

● Stellar sound, considered 10x better than the AT95E 
● Shibata diamond for transparency and tonal rightness 
● Diamond tip r/R radii: 6/75 µm (.0002 x .0029 inch) 
●

 AT95SA and its Shibata stylus gets you more high frequency detail and resolution, without any attendant artificial brightness or edge. High frequencies sound silky and sweet, yet still cast clarifying light on the frequencies below, sharpening timbral acuity and bringing out more detail and nuance of performance. The basic rhythmic skills of the AT95E are not compromised, are, in fact, improved, as the AT95SA sounds even quicker on its feet and is more capable of rendering subtleties of performance technique. The increase in bandwidth and resolution clarifies orchestral instrumental timbre significantly, thus making Classical LP’s as communicative as Rock and Roll albums."
"The AT95SA becomes my reference for inexpensive cartridges."

The stylus is one of the most fragile and exposed elements of a phono cartridge, so keeping it safe and clean from dust and other external hazards is essential.

Stylus Guard Only -  AT91  Cartridge or Stylus   NOT Included