Cartridge for Technics SL-1200MK2

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!

audphile 1, Thank you for your time and effort providing me with a wealth of information. The Hana looks very intriguing although I may not be able to use it without some additional step up. It is around the top of what I'd like to spend but I'm a cheapskate even though I have the means.

My current rig is an Emotiva BasX PT2 pre amp and either the Emotiva A2 or Yamaha M80 amp. Speakers are KEF R3 Meta with a pair of HSU subs. Digital source is Bluesound Node 2i. 

Anyway, lots of food for thought. Thanks again to all.

The Preamp specs that I can find say 55db gain on MC with 100 Ohm impedance. Not knowing any more than I do, that may not be a good match? a