How to Choose

1. Headshell Guide

By Material

• Aluminum – Well-balanced and versatile; the most common and beginner-friendly choice.

• Magnesium – Lightweight yet rigid, delivering smooth and dynamic playback.

• Titanium – Extremely rigid, offering crystal-clear sound and high resolution.

• Carbon Fiber – Ultra-lightweight with speed and detail; ideal for modern precision setups.

• Wood – Warm, organic, and natural tone; often favored for jazz and acoustic music.

By Weight

• Lightweight (up to 10 g) – Suited for light tonearms and high-compliance MM/MC cartridges.

• Medium (11–15 g) – A versatile option compatible with most tonearms.

• Heavyweight (16 g and above) – Ideal for heavy tonearms and low-compliance MC cartridges.

💡 Tip: Matching the headshell weight to your tonearm and cartridge compliance is key to achieving the best resonance and tracking.

2. Cartridge Guide

Cartridge Types

• MM (Moving Magnet) – Affordable, user-friendly, and allows stylus replacement.

• MC (Moving Coil) – Superior fidelity and detail, offering a wider soundstage. Popular among audiophiles but requires careful setup.

Stylus Shapes

• Conical – Simple, durable, and produces a warm, forgiving sound.

• Elliptical – Offers better detail and tracking ability than conical types.

• Shibata / Line Contact – High precision, excellent frequency extension, and minimal distortion—ideal for demanding listeners.

• MicroRidge (MR) – State-of-the-art stylus with the most precise groove contact; delivers outstanding tracking, ultra-low distortion, and extended record life.

Cantilever Materials

The cantilever directly affects the speed, resolution, and tonal character of playback:

• Aluminum – Common, lightweight, and balanced.

• Boron – Very stiff, light, and highly regarded for speed and clarity.

• Sapphire – Rigid and bright, offering precision and transparency.

• Ruby – Similar to sapphire but slightly warmer in tone.

• Diamond – Ultimate rigidity and speed; extremely rare and expensive.

• Beryllium (historical) – Ultra-light and stiff, legendary in some vintage models (rare today due to safety restrictions).

Music Preferences

• Jazz / Classical – MC cartridges with boron or sapphire cantilevers provide depth and micro-detail.

• Rock / Pop – Aluminum or titanium headshells with an elliptical or Shibata stylus bring energy and clarity.

• All-Round Listening – A balanced aluminum headshell paired with an MM cartridge works for most systems.

3. Final Tips

• Always check tonearm compatibility before purchasing.

• Choose based on your favorite music genres—there is no one-size-fits-all.

• Don’t hesitate to experiment with vintage combinations; the joy of analog audio lies in discovery.

4. Explore Our Collections

👉 MC Cartridges Collection
👉 MM Cartridges Collection
👉 Tonearms Collection
👉 Headshell Collection