Cartridges For Beginner/Budget Setup

chalky_ie

Over the last while, I have accumulated a budget/beginner vinyl DJ setup, consisting of 2 Pioneer PLX 500s and a Xone 23, with Adam Audio T5Vs(still a very nice setup for a beginner, of course). I was thinking about getting some new cartridges to beef it up a bit, I've been looking at the Ortofon Concorde MKII Mix pair, but they are pretty pricey.

I'm only mixing as a hobby in my living room, so not sure if they would be worth the outlay? Any advice/recommendations for something decent, given my needs and setup? Main issue with the stock Pioneer ones that I see at the moment is the aren't great for backcueing, and obviously aftermarket ones will sound better(but will I really notice it, given my setup?).

iamstop

I would say you want some decent needles if you're back cueing for sure. It's not just about sound quality, it's about the wear on the vinyl too. Shop according to budget but I'd an upgrade from stock would be worth it in the long run.

See this PSA on this Ninja Tune sleeve for clarity.

Good luck on your vinyl journey.