How To Choose DJ Needles and Cartridges

This page is about choosing the right DJ needles (styli) and cartridges for your turntables.

So you're just about ready to buy your first set of DJ turntables, a digital mixer, and crisp sounding headphones. All that's left is to make a decision as to which needles you should get. I say needles for a reason and I'll tell you why later.

Description of DJ Stylus and Cartridges

There is actually three parts that make up the extension from the end of the tone arm to the vinyl. There is the head shell, then the cartridge and then the needle or styli.

Selecting your needles and cartridges is not a difficult as you may think because there are only two types of stylus. There are spherical stylus and elliptical stylus.

The diamond stylus spherical are best for scratching and club/dance because they have the highest skip resistance and generally a higher output based on their application. The reason is that they stay in the groove of the record better than elliptical DJ needles.

Elliptical DJ needles are built for home and Hi-Fi systems where playback is its sole purpose. No back cueing or scratching or in a place where it can get bumped. Usually elliptical needles have a lower tracking force which is easy on your vinyl and has a truer playback sound to the original recording.

Here are some definitions to some words you may encounter in your search for needles and cartridges.

mV (Decibel millivolts) - In this case you need to get the highest mV or millivolts possible because it produces a higher output for better sound. Take special attention to the resonant sound. Choose a DJ needle with low resonant sound a flat frequency response. This reduces ear fatigue.

Tracking Force - This is the force or pressure that is exerted on the vinyl itself when being played. The more force that is applied the faster your vinyl will wear out. Set the tracking force according to the manufacturers' guidelines that comes with your DJ needle.

Cantilever - This is simply a tube that is attached to a magnet on one end and the diamond stylus sits on the other end. When the groove of the record plays against the stylus the signal is sent through cantilever to the magnet. The thinner the cantilever the better the sound quality. From there the electrical signal is sent through wires to your amplifier then to the speakers and viola! Sound!

Applications for different DJ Needles

If you're are going to be scratching and battling then you need the Shure M44-7.

I have one myself and it sound incredible. You can read my review on the Shure M44-7H Scratch Cartridge with Headshell by click this link.

Now I know that a lot of the Stanton needles have become standards but since the days when I used the DAT2 the Shure M44-7 has quietly held its ground. If you do like Stanton DJ needles and I like them as well then you may want to consider the Groovemaster II or the Trackmaster II - SK MP4. Both have a higher tracking force for greater groove control.

Stanton Groovemaster II Pro DJ Cartridge Matched Pair

Stanton Trackmaster II - SK MP4

Now if you looking for superior sound quality then the Shure V15VxMR should do the trick. It is an elliptical diamond needle with a low tracking force, special wide needle design for the best sound ever. Because of the technology that went into this styli and cartridge it is very expensive and should not be used for scratching and thelike.

If you are interested in understanding how DJ needles work then click here.

I said I would tell you why I used the plural (DJ needles). Here's why. Aside from the fact that you have two turntables you need a practice pair. You should have a pair that is used strictly for Battles or Clubs and you should have a pair that you practice with. Yes, you need to practice.

If you want to succeed in this DJ craze you need to be better than everybody else and that takes practice. You should not beat up your only pair of DJ needles and then get to a show and have them fall apart on you in the middle of a set.

I'm telling you I've seen it happen. Be fore warned.You don't have to get them right away but at some point makethat investment.

A more inexpensive stylus that is designed for Hi-Fi playback is the Stanton L720EE DJ Cartridge. It only has about a 3.2mV output but a good DJ needle nonetheless.

Some more manufacturers of DJ needles or stylus are Pickering, Ortofon, Vestax, Gemini and Numark. Personally I do not use any of these brands especially Numark because I could never good sound quality out of the ones I've used.

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