Turntablism
Cartridge
A cartridge converts the stylus’s movement in the groove into an electrical signal. It mounts to the tonearm, holds the replaceable stylus, and its design decides how securely a record tracks under handling.
In practice
Buy a DJ cartridge, not a hi-fi one. It is built to stay in the groove while somebody is holding the record.
Set the overhang so the stylus sits at the correct distance from the spindle — most cartridges ship with an alignment guide, and getting this wrong produces distortion that worsens toward the label. Match the tracking force to what the manufacturer specifies rather than to what stops it skipping, because the second approach ends with a heavy force wearing records. Keep a spare stylus rather than a spare cartridge: the stylus is the part that wears and it is a fraction of the price.
Overhang
The alignment that matters
Concentric
The mount that resists knocks
Spare stylus
Not a spare cartridge
Where these come from: Cartridge alignment and selection practice for DJ use — established procedure, not catalog figures. For what we can measure, see the part that actually wears.
Why it matters
DJ cartridges are built for a different job from hi-fi ones. They take higher tracking forces, put out a stronger signal, and are shaped so the stylus stays in the groove when the record is being pushed, pulled and stopped — which a delicate hi-fi cartridge simply will not survive.
The mounting style matters more than most specifications. Concentric cartridges that screw straight into the tonearm sit lower and are harder to knock, which is why they dominate scratching; headshell-mounted ones swap between decks in seconds, which is why they dominate everything else.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a cartridge and a stylus?+
The cartridge is the body that generates the signal and mounts to the arm; the stylus is the replaceable tip that sits in the groove. The stylus wears out; the cartridge normally does not.
Can I use a hi-fi cartridge for DJing?+
Badly. Hi-fi cartridges are designed for light tracking forces and undisturbed playback, so they skip under handling and can be damaged by it.
Do I need a headshell?+
Only for cartridges designed to mount in one. Concentric DJ cartridges bolt straight to the arm, sit lower and are considerably harder to knock out of position.
Related terms
Stylus
The stylus is the small shaped tip that rides the record groove, mounted on a cantilever inside the cartridge. It is a wear part: the tip erodes with use and eventually starts damaging records rather than reading them.
Tonearm
The tonearm carries the cartridge across the record, holding the stylus in the groove at a controlled angle and force. Its counterweight sets that force and its anti-skate opposes the pull toward the centre.
Tracking force
Tracking force is how hard the stylus presses into the groove, measured in grams and set by the counterweight. Too little and the stylus leaves the groove; too much and it wears both the tip and the record.
Phono input
A phono input accepts the tiny signal a turntable cartridge produces and applies RIAA equalisation to it, boosting the level by around 40 dB and restoring the bass that was deliberately cut when the record was pressed.
Explore: Beginner mixing guide · Stylus · Phono input · All DJ terms