What cartridge is the best for Serato?

[Skullduggery]

I was looking into the S-120s but damn they're expensive. Anyone got any advice?

[Patch]

Stanton or Shure.

Both are tried, tested and proven. I have both and don't really have a preference.

Both are great.

[Jeff Scott]

I use Shure Whitelables but I hardly ever (attempt) to scratch, Shure M44-7s seem to be the most widely recommended

[TCMuc]

I use Shure Whitelables but I hardly ever (attempt) to scratch, Shure M44-7s seem to be the most widely recommended

Shure Whitelabels are a little over the top if you're only playing with a DVS. They are great cartridges and sound really good, but since the sound quality is the main reason for the price differene between them and the M44-7s, and sound quality of the cartridge isn't an issue with DVS, using Whitelabels for timecode is really a waste of money.


The requirements for cartridges for use with DVS are:

1. High output (so the software gets a good, clear signal)
2. Low record wear (so your timecode records last longer)
3. Low skippin (if you scratch)


The cartride which offers the best combination of those three features is definitely the Shure M44-7, which happens also to be really cheap.

[Mojaxx]

I'll just drop this here...



M44-7s (or the MF7s) are really all you need for DVS.

Funny that you mention the S-120s; I just picked a pair on eBay, used but only for a couple of hours.

They are AMAZING. Super loud output, and the best tracking I've ever experienced.

But, they're so ludicrously expensive. I got my pair so cheap that I can almost treat them as disposable, but when they wear out I'll probably just be back to buying 44-7 or MF7 styli. I can't be spending a small fortune on styli.

[TCMuc]

I'll just drop this here...



M44-7s (or the MF7s) are really all you need for DVS.

Funny that you mention the S-120s; I just picked a pair on eBay, used but only for a couple of hours.

They are AMAZING. Super loud output, and the best tracking I've ever experienced.

But, they're so ludicrously expensive. I got my pair so cheap that I can almost treat them as disposable, but when they wear out I'll probably just be back to buying 44-7 or MF7 styli. I can't be spending a small fortune on styli.

Interesting...

I didn't even know about these new Ortofon carts. Just read a review on skratchworkx, and it seems like the only downside of these is the sound quality, especially of the MF7. Since this is a no-issue with DVS, they seem like a really good alternative.

[Mojaxx]

Check out the audio A-B test in the video description.

They actually sound pretty good IMO. Certainly as good as the 44-7 (which of course aren't the best to start with though).

[Skullduggery]

Ah you guys are legends and may have just saved me a load of cash. The 44-7s go for about 1/3 of the price of the Ortofons and I use them with Serato.

[Jeff Scott]

Yeah they probably are a bit overkill for timecode but I bought them a few year before I started using Serato so they'v had there fair share of vinyl spun with them. Stylus' are also only £25 and low record wear probably makes my timecode vinyl last longer, I'v never experienced cue burn on any TC vinyl with them.

[Eugguy]

m447s....all u need for a clean signal in serato.