Cartridge for Technics SL-1200MK2

Maybe we should start using AI bots to generate the responses to the AI-generated response posts.  Then we wouldn't need people at all.  Isn't the point of this forum to get responses based on forum user's experience?

Appropriate price to me, is to stay somewhat in proportion to the price of the turntable. Perhaps I shouldn't think that way, but it doesn't seem to make much sense to put a $1K+ cart on a $500 table.

 As far as what I'm looking for, I'm not sure I can answer that. I'm in that blissful ignorant stage where I like what I have and don't really want to get on that merry-go -round of chasing the next best thing. That said, it's very difficult to resist the urge of bigger and better, At the end of the day, I try to do my best with a self imposed budget and keeping the better half happy. My other mitigations are that I'm shortly turning 78 and my hearing is not the best. I long for the days when I took my aptitude tests in Navy bootcamp and scored a near perfect on sonar.

Technics EPC cartridges would be a solid fit as they were designed to work with the Technics tables. I bought one NOS a few years back for an SL-Q3 table and am quite satisfied. I forget which model is here. The were many iterations of the EPC. 

@llg98ljk I can vouch for Hana EL. They also make a high output version model EH. If you aren’t confident your phono stage is capable of properly handling low output MC, then EH is a great option. It is noticeably better than Goldring E3. Assuming your downstream components can resolve this upgrade. 

lewm

14,006 posts

11-04-2025 at 10:40pm 

I found that tutti-frutti sounds best.
 

I only have juicy fruit and spearmint. I’ll compare the two and post my findings but I expect a slightly cooler presentation with the spearmint and a bit sweeter more vibrant sound with juicy fruit. We’ll know soon!