# Headshell + Cartridge for Control Vinyl on SL12000 MK2

**URL:** <https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/headshell-cartridge-for-control-vinyl-on-sl12000-mk2/69529>\
**Category:** CDJ & Vinyl DJing\
**Tags:** turntables, technics, cartridges, headshells\
**Created:** [December 27, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/headshell-cartridge-for-control-vinyl-on-sl12000-mk2/69529 "2014-12-27T23:11:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aseckel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@aseckel](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/aseckel)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/headshell-cartridge-for-control-vinyl-on-sl12000-mk2/69529/1 "2014-12-27T23:11:45Z")

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**Headshell + Cartridge for Control Vinyl on SL12000 MK2**

I’m looking for some good recommendations for Cartridges & Headshells / Concordes for my new techs. I currently just have a single Stanton headshell and a Shure SC35C that I picked up from my local shop to test the decks. I mix control vinyl (don’t scratch) but I also use them to listen to a small record collection.

What would you guys recommend? What are the advantages of Concorde needles over Headshells?

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**Author:** ![the\_bastet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/the_bastet/32/56295_2.png) [@the\_bastet](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/the_bastet)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/headshell-cartridge-for-control-vinyl-on-sl12000-mk2/69529/2 "2014-12-27T23:17:15Z")

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I have always prefer headshell and cartridge over banana style needles. THey just track better and give room for more adjustment. You can never go wrong with shure.

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**Author:** ![mostapha](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/mostapha/32/14134_2.png) [@mostapha](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/mostapha)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/headshell-cartridge-for-control-vinyl-on-sl12000-mk2/69529/3 "2014-12-28T00:42:41Z")

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The advantage of concordes and the like is that they’re easier to set up. Headhsell+Carts can deal with weird setup issues that don’t actually come up for a DJ (e.g., using the wrong tonearm) and are cheaper.

I’m not convinced there’s a sound quality difference other than the differences inherent in them just being different cartridges.

And, yeah…can’t go wrong with shure. I’ve used m-447s for timecode and whitelabels for actual vinyl basically since I bought my first turntables. Now, I only own the m-447s and don’t really use them.

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**Author:** ![Andy71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Andy71](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Andy71)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 8:55am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/headshell-cartridge-for-control-vinyl-on-sl12000-mk2/69529/4 "2014-12-28T08:55:53Z")

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I went from Stanton’s to Concorde DJ’s and thought they were the dogs danglies, trouble with the Concorde or similar is that when/if they develop a fault as a sealed unit there isn’t a lot you can do to get it sorted.

When one of mine went wrong I decided to go to Shure 447’s and the output is fantastic, I can’t see me going back to the Concorde/Reloop variety.

I do however prefer the aesthetics of the Concorde flavour!