The half-inch mount CN5625AL cartridge is an outstanding entry-level cartridge.
Includes screw kit for mounting.
Audio Technica, a quality brand name has made this available as solid entry level replacement. It will get that old turntable up n running quickly. The same cartridge has been sold with and as original equipment across dozens of brands for decades now. Rest assured if a search has brought you here, this is thee most reliable entry level solution for 1/2" mount turntables regardless of the brand. This cartridge is made in Japan, most "beginner" cartridges are now made in China.
Because this cartridge is mounted on the headshell with two vertically mounted screws, side by side, 1/2" apart, it is known as a 1/2" mount cartridge. Other mounting characteristics are that it has 4 exposed wires in the back and is almost never found on a linear tracking turntable.
Notes:
The headshell is the hardware attached to the end of the tonearm that is usually distinguished by the 'handle' that sticks out to the right for lifting the tonearm over to the record from the rest position. If your turntable is linear tracking it means the whole tonearm slides several inches from side to side as opposed to the standard type usually designated 'straight' or 'S shaped' which pivots on a stationary 'hub' assembly at the right rear corner of the turntable. A linear tracking turntable will generally have buttons you must operate to move the tonearm and will almost always be found with a (T4P) P-mount cartridge.
Myth:
Often people think they must have a brand of cartridge that matches their turntable brand. This is totally unnecessary and often impossible to achieve these days. In fact, the vast majority of turntable manufacturers, had a third party cartridge manufacturer make the cartridge on their behalf. Also, cartridge wiring connections usually go straight to your amplifier, receiver or computer thus allowing the turntable to make no direct-electrical changes to the cartridge output signal.
