Record Player Cartridges With No Replacement Needle
For these 35 cartridges, the maker does not sell a needle you can fit yourself. A cartridge is the small part at the end of the tonearm that holds the needle. Below, grouped by maker, is what each maker offers instead, and the record players each cartridge comes on.
Audio-Technica
| Cartridge | What Audio-Technica offers | Comes on |
|---|---|---|
| Audio-Technica AT-OC9XEN | Exchange. Audio-Technica runs a paid exchange programme for the worn cartridge. | Audio-Technica AT-LPA2 |
Denon
| Cartridge | What Denon offers | Comes on |
|---|---|---|
| Denon DL-103 | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Denon, so you replace the cartridge. | – |
| Denon DL-103R | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Denon, so you replace the cartridge. | – |
| Denon DL-110 | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Denon, so you replace the cartridge. | – |
| Denon DL-301 II | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Denon, so you replace the cartridge. | – |
Ortofon
| Cartridge | What Ortofon offers | Comes on |
|---|---|---|
| Ortofon Quintet Red | Exchange. Ortofon runs an exchange scheme: when you buy a new Ortofon cartridge of the same level or better through an authorised Ortofon dealer, Ortofon buys back your old cartridge for 25% of the current list price. | Pro-Ject The Classic, Pro-Ject X2 |
| Ortofon Cadenza Red | Exchange. Ortofon runs an exchange scheme: when you buy a new Ortofon cartridge of the same level or better through an authorised Ortofon dealer, Ortofon buys back your old cartridge for 25% of the current list price. | Pro-Ject RPM 10 Carbon |
| Ortofon Quintet Blue | Exchange. Ortofon runs an exchange scheme: when you buy a new Ortofon cartridge of the same level or better through an authorised Ortofon dealer, Ortofon buys back your old cartridge for 25% of the current list price. | Pro-Ject X8 |
| Ortofon Quintet Bronze | Exchange. Ortofon runs an exchange scheme: when you buy a new Ortofon cartridge of the same level or better through an authorised Ortofon dealer, Ortofon buys back your old cartridge for 25% of the current list price. | Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon |
Pro-Ject
| Cartridge | What Pro-Ject offers | Comes on |
|---|---|---|
| Pro-Ject Pick it PRO Balanced | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject Debut PRO, Pro-Ject Debut Reference 10, Pro-Ject X1, Pro-Ject XA |
| Pro-Ject Pick it S2 C | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject Debut PRO |
| Pro-Ject Pick it 2M White | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject T1 |
| Pro-Ject Pick it MC3 | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX |
| Pro-Ject Pick it MM E | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject E1 |
| Pro-Ject Pick it MM EVO | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject Debut EVO |
| Pro-Ject Pick it PRO | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject Debut PRO |
| Pro-Ject Pick it S2 MM | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject X1 |
| Pro-Ject Pick it 25A | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject Juke Box S2 |
| Pro-Ject Pick it 25A (silver-coil version) | New cartridge. Pro-Ject does not name a replacement needle for its Pick it cartridges, so you replace the cartridge or ask a Pro-Ject dealer. | Pro-Ject Elemental |
Rega
| Cartridge | What Rega offers | Comes on |
|---|---|---|
| Rega Elys 2 | New cartridge. Rega does not publish a replacement needle, so you replace the cartridge. | Rega P3-24, Rega Planar 3, Rega RP3 |
| Rega Nd5 | Dealer rebuild. Rega dealers swap the worn cartridge for a rebuilt one with a new cantilever, stylus and pivot, at a reduced price. | Rega Planar 3, Rega Planar 3 RS Edition, Rega Planar 6 |
| Rega Ania Pro | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Rega, so you replace the cartridge. | Rega Planar 6, Rega Planar 8 |
| Rega Aphelion 2 | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Rega, so you replace the cartridge. | Rega Naia, Rega Planar 10 |
| Rega Apheta | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Rega, so you replace the cartridge. | Rega RP8, Rega RP10 |
| Rega Apheta 3 | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Rega, so you replace the cartridge. | Rega Planar 8, Rega Planar 10 |
| Rega Nd3 | Dealer rebuild. Rega dealers swap the worn cartridge for a rebuilt one with a new cantilever, stylus and pivot, at a reduced price. | Rega Planar 2, Rega Planar 3 |
| Rega Nd7 | Dealer rebuild. Rega dealers swap the worn cartridge for a rebuilt one with a new cantilever, stylus and pivot, at a reduced price. | Rega Planar 6, Rega Planar 8 |
| Rega Nd9 | Dealer rebuild. Rega dealers swap the worn cartridge for a rebuilt one with a new cantilever, stylus and pivot, at a reduced price. | Rega Planar 6 RS Edition, Rega Planar 8 |
| Rega Ania | Re-tip. Rega offers a re-tip service for this cartridge. | Rega Planar 6 RS Edition |
| Rega Exact | New cartridge. Rega does not publish a replacement needle, so you replace the cartridge. | Rega RP6 |
| Rega Aphelion | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Rega, so you replace the cartridge. | – |
| Rega Apheta 2 | New cartridge. A moving coil cartridge with no replacement needle or exchange service published by Rega, so you replace the cartridge. | – |
| Rega Bias 2 | New cartridge. Rega does not publish a replacement needle, so you replace the cartridge. | – |
Sony
| Cartridge | What Sony offers | Comes on |
|---|---|---|
| Sony stock MM cartridge (unnamed) | New cartridge. Sony does not publish a replacement needle, so you replace the cartridge. | Sony PS-LX3BT, Sony PS-LX5BT, Sony PS-LX310BT |
Victrola
| Cartridge | What Victrola offers | Comes on |
|---|---|---|
| Victrola ceramic cartridge (unnamed) | New cartridge. Victrola does not publish a replacement needle, so you replace the cartridge. | Victrola Ellington Vintage Wood |
We take these details from the makers' own websites and check them carefully, but makers change parts and part numbers, and we may miss an update. Before you buy, check the part on the maker's official website. If you spot an error, please tell us.