--- title: "turntable cartridge — Niche Verdict: Worth a look (61/100) | Amazon United States - Flapen" canonical_url: "https://flapen.com/amazon/research/us/musical-instruments/turntable-cartridge" last_updated: "2026-07-09T22:57:46.344Z" locale: en meta: description: "turntable cartridge shows a fragmented shelf (top 5 take 29% of clicks), but strong incumbent ratings (4.6★) keeps it on the watch list." "og:description": "turntable cartridge shows a fragmented shelf (top 5 take 29% of clicks), but strong incumbent ratings (4.6★) keeps it on the watch list." "og:title": "turntable cartridge — Niche Verdict: Worth a look (61/100) | Amazon United States - Flapen" --- Back to Flapen home # **turntable cartridge** **Worth a look****61/100 ** turntable cartridge shows a fragmented shelf (top 5 take 29% of clicks), but strong incumbent ratings (4.6★) keeps it on the watch list. **Market/yr** **$1.1M** **Growth (1y)** **+178.6%** **Products** **70** **Brands** **21** was 18 a year ago **Sellers** **219** **Price range** **$5.68–$605.53** **Returns** **3.3%** **Rating** **4.6★** **Worth a look** Scored 61/100 across market size, growth, competition, quality gap, and returns. Market sizeGrowthCompetitionQuality gapReturns Market size **36** ×0.30 Growth **74** ×0.30 Competition **86** ×0.20 Quality gap **30** ×0.10 Returns **74** ×0.10 ## **Demand** Weekly Amazon search volume, last 104 weeks — +178.6% year over year. 16K8KPrime Day '24Spike '24Holiday '24Prime Day '25Spike '25Black Friday '25Spike '26Jul '24Nov '24Mar '25Jul '25Nov '25Mar '26 ## **Seasonality** Monthly demand index across the year — 1.00 is average. JFMAMJJASOND Peak months: Nov, Dec · busiest ÷ quietest = 2.0× ## **Competition** - Audio-Technica49% - Ortofon30% - Stfedc4% - GRADO3% - Wujexuhe2% - Reloop2% - Other (15 brands)12% Clicks spread well past the top 5 (29% combined) — an open shelf where new products get seen. 21 brands and 219 sellers compete here. **Brands** **21 **▲rising was 18 a year ago **Sellers** **219** **Top 5 brand share** **87%** #ProductBrandPriceRatingReviewsClick shareTrend 1 ![Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31xzOBJmpJL.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JXD79Q1) Audio-Technica$66.834.6★3,8238%▲rising 2 ![Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Red](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31EsGolR-2L.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Red**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLYHFR9) Audio-Technica$170.504.7★8237%▲rising 3 ![Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/311CWfMxDwL.jpg) [**Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WMCEKK) Ortofon$100.034.7★2,7355%▼falling 4 ![Audio-Technica AT-VMN95E Elliptical Replacement Turntable Stylus for AT-VM95 Series Cartridges Compatible with AT-LP120X Series AT-LP3XBT AT-LPW40 AT-LPW50 AT-LP5X AT-LP8X Green](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31kZ5C98AwL.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VMN95E Elliptical Replacement Turntable Stylus for AT-VM95 Series Cartridges Compatible with AT-LP120X Series AT-LP3XBT AT-LPW40 AT-LPW50 AT-LP5X AT-LP8X Green**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JXDD3YK) Audio-Technica$50.074.7★3,8295%—flat 5 ![Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Microlinear Replacement Turntable Stylus Red](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/313uQCwpIKL.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Microlinear Replacement Turntable Stylus Red**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JL2NPH5) Audio-Technica$155.334.6★6535%▲rising 6 ![Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Red](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31KdHhfSKiL.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Red**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLY69J1) Audio-Technica$213.944.8★4794%▲rising 7 ![Ortofon 2M Blue Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31KwiReIGLL.jpg) [**Ortofon 2M Blue Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E0CK3K) Ortofon$191.224.7★1,0724%▼falling 8 ![AT-VMN95E Replacement Stylus Compatible with Audio-Technica VM95E & AT-LP120X-USB Turntables Compatible with VM95E / VM95EN / VM95ML / VM95SH Elliptical Diamond Turntable Needle](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41FBe-nfAaL.jpg) [**AT-VMN95E Replacement Stylus Compatible with Audio-Technica VM95E & AT-LP120X-USB Turntables Compatible with VM95E / VM95EN / VM95ML / VM95SH Elliptical Diamond Turntable Needle**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DMT8BF8S) Stfedc$30.904.4★1213%▲rising 9 ![Audio-Technica AT-VM95E/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Green](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/314Sw5Pfp7L.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VM95E/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Green**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLX1JZ7) Audio-Technica$103.484.7★1,4503%—flat 10 ![Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Replacement Stylus for AT-VM95ML](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21mObb2hbZL.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Replacement Stylus for AT-VM95ML**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1M21Q13) Audio-Technica$156.734.8★613%▲rising 11 ![Audio-Technica ATN3600LC Conical Replacement Stylus Needle for AT-LP60X AT-LP60XBT Sound Burger AT-SB727](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31nzej7D-vL.jpg) [**Audio-Technica ATN3600LC Conical Replacement Stylus Needle for AT-LP60X AT-LP60XBT Sound Burger AT-SB727**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGMXJMC1) Audio-Technica$35.614.8★5062%—flat 12 ![Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Blue](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41BEOCpIKyL.jpg) [**Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Blue**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JL2RTBX) Audio-Technica$52.364.6★2,4452%▼falling 13 ![Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted Pickup Mounted on SH-4 Black Headshell](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31AexCZYe9L.jpg) [**Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted Pickup Mounted on SH-4 Black Headshell**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1HBXYG6) Ortofon$244.504.6★4252%▼falling 14 ![Ortofon Concorde MK2 Mix Twin Cartridge](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31VmV4An0KL.jpg) [**Ortofon Concorde MK2 Mix Twin Cartridge**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0799NRNJM) Ortofon$208.974.7★3742%▼falling 15 ![Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31EZaRHclwL.jpg) [**Ortofon Concorde MK2 DJ Twin Cartridge**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0799P2SBJ) Ortofon$291.934.7★1452%—flat **~~Showing 15 of 70 — show all ~~** ## **Product shelf** All 70 tracked products in this niche. Top sellersNewestTrending [![Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31xzOBJmpJL.jpg)**Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Green** Audio-Technica**$66.83**4.6★3,823 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JXD79Q1) [![Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Red](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31EsGolR-2L.jpg)**Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML Dual Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge Red** Audio-Technica**$170.50**4.7★823 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLYHFR9) [![Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/311CWfMxDwL.jpg)**Ortofon 2M Red Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge** Ortofon**$100.03**4.7★2,735 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WMCEKK) [![Audio-Technica AT-VMN95E Elliptical Replacement Turntable Stylus for AT-VM95 Series Cartridges Compatible with AT-LP120X Series AT-LP3XBT AT-LPW40 AT-LPW50 AT-LP5X AT-LP8X Green](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31kZ5C98AwL.jpg)**Audio-Technica AT-VMN95E Elliptical Replacement Turntable Stylus for AT-VM95 Series Cartridges Compatible with AT-LP120X Series AT-LP3XBT AT-LPW40 AT-LPW50 AT-LP5X AT-LP8X Green** Audio-Technica**$50.07**4.7★3,829 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JXDD3YK) [![Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Microlinear Replacement Turntable Stylus Red](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/313uQCwpIKL.jpg)**Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Microlinear Replacement Turntable Stylus Red** Audio-Technica**$155.33**4.6★653 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JL2NPH5) [![Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Red](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31KdHhfSKiL.jpg)**Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML/H Turntable Headshell/Cartridge Combo Kit Red** Audio-Technica**$213.94**4.8★479 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLY69J1) [![Ortofon 2M Blue Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31KwiReIGLL.jpg)**Ortofon 2M Blue Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge** Ortofon**$191.22**4.7★1,072 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E0CK3K) [![AT-VMN95E Replacement Stylus Compatible with Audio-Technica VM95E & AT-LP120X-USB Turntables Compatible with VM95E / VM95EN / VM95ML / VM95SH Elliptical Diamond Turntable Needle](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41FBe-nfAaL.jpg)**AT-VMN95E Replacement Stylus Compatible with Audio-Technica VM95E & AT-LP120X-USB Turntables Compatible with VM95E / VM95EN / VM95ML / VM95SH Elliptical Diamond Turntable Needle** Stfedc**$30.90**4.4★121 reviews](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DMT8BF8S) ## **Reviews** What buyers praise and complain about, mined from review topics. ### **What buyers love ** **Audio Quality**29% *“Great upgrade on sound quality”* **Value For Money**15% *“Excellent for the money”* **Quality-Overall**10% *“This cartridge is the quality you expect from AT - great”* **Size-Overall**9% *“fit like a glove”* **Assembly/Installation**9% *“Easy to assemble”* **Advertised Vs Actual Product**6% *“As advertised”* **Compatibility-Overall**4% *“Great Compatibilty”* **Ease Of Use**3% *“Quick and easy”* **Bass**2% *“The Shibata stylus provides excellent bass”* **Recording Feature**2% *“Easy replacement record replacement needles”* ### **What buyers complain about ** **Quality-Overall**12% *“Quality Control”* **Audio Quality**11% *“I noticed the sound was bad”* **Compatibility-Overall**9% *“Not compatible”* **Value For Money**8% *“This was an expensive”* **Size-Overall**8% *“Does not fit what it claims to fit”* **Durability**7% *“The one I got in September broke after 6 months of use”* **Audio Volume**4% *“4/3/26.NOT A GOOD SOUND BELOW AVERAGE”* **Bass**4% *“not as noticeable improvement in the bass”* **Weight Heavy**3% *“Seems heavy for my tube arm though”* **Recording Feature**3% *“My needle broke on my record player”* #### **Top return reasons**- Size-Overall33% - Compatibility-Overall23% - Audio Quality10% - Functionality-Overall7% - Defective Material/Parts6% - Advertised Vs Actual Product5% - Product Condition3% - Value For Money2% - Noise Level1% - Recording Feature1%