A cartridge is where everything begins — where the stylus meets the groove and music is retrieved from vinyl. Choosing the right cartridge for your tonearm and system is one of the most rewarding upgrades available, and one of the most technically demanding to get right. Andrew has been setting up cartridges for over 30 years. “Near is never good enough” — and we demonstrate exactly why with every installation..
Hi-fi cartridges Gateshead — Audio Republic stocks Rega, Ortofon, Dynavector, Audio Technica, Nagaoka and Hana cartridges, fitted and aligned by Andrew in-house. Cartridge choice makes a profound difference to how your turntable sounds. Andrew will match the right cartridge to your deck and tonearm. Call 0191 406 7070 Tuesday to Saturday.
Lyra cartridges are handbuilt in Japan by Jonathan Carr to an extraordinary standard of precision. Each cartridge body is machined from solid aluminium, and the coil winding and cantilever assembly are carried out under microscopes by a handful of skilled craftspeople.
We stock Lyra at Audio Republic. If you want to hear what your turntable and tonearm are truly capable of, a Lyra cartridge is a revelation.
“Jonathan Carr is the designer of all Lyra
cartridges — which are painstakingly
manufactured in Japan. Fit one to a properly
set-up turntable and tonearm and you will
hear things in your record collection you
didn’t know were there. A revelation. I have
used a Lyra Kleos for 2 years and I’m still
finding new levels of instrumentation and
meaning from my LPs. This cartridge, whilst
far from the most expensive that Lyra produce,
has the snappiest and most articulate sound
of any cartridge in or around its price point.”
— Andrew Oliver
Audio Technica has been making cartridges in Japan since 1962. Their range covers everything from entry-level moving magnets to reference moving coil designs, and their build quality at every price point is exceptional.
We stock a wide range of Audio Technica cartridges at Audio Republic.
“Building cartridges since 1962. Their range
covers everything from excellent budget moving
magnets to reference moving coils — and the
build quality at every price point is
exceptional.
One of the most reliable and
consistent manufacturers in the business.
These cartridges, from the most inexpensive
to the zenith of the range, combine
perfectionist manufacturing techniques with
their trademark crystal clear, saturated sound,
giving qualities demanded by audiophiles
worldwide.
I personally used an AT33SA for
several years and found it to be preferable
to a number of more expensive designs from
other companies. Such is the manufacturing
prowess of this company you will always end
up with a state-of-the-art product at a less
than state-of-the-art price.” — Andrew Oliver
Dynavector Systems has been building moving coil cartridges in Japan since 1975. Their designs are characterised by exceptional dynamic performance and a musical engagement that makes them a natural partner for a wide range of tonearms and turntables.
We stock Dynavector at Audio Republic across their range of moving coil cartridges.
“Dynamic performance that is simply exceptional.
Dynavector moving coil cartridges have a
liveliness and engagement that makes music
sound exciting. A natural partner for a wide
range of tonearms.
The Dynavector product
portfolio is an embarrassment of riches,
starting with the new ASKA entry level model
and culminating in the mightily impressive
DRT-XV-1T.
Recent developments include a new
annealing process which is slowly being
incorporated into the manufacturing process
of each model, resulting in significant
improvements in clarity and detail
resolution.” — Andrew Oliver
Nagaoka has been making styli and cartridges in Japan since 1940. Their moving magnet cartridges offer exceptional tracking ability and a warm, musical presentation that makes them a natural choice for long listening sessions.
We stock Nagaoka cartridges at Audio Republic.
“Making styli since 1940. Their moving magnet
cartridges have a warmth and musical naturalness
that makes them a genuine pleasure for long
listening sessions. These cartridges possess
some of the richest and best defined bass to
be found in the world of moving magnet
cartridges. If an Audio Technica errs on the
lean side, or if you are a lover of bass-rich
music you may find the interpretation offered
by these very fine cartridges exactly what you
are looking for.
The recent introduction of
their statement MP-700 model is proof that
this company are trying to challenge the
boundaries of existing moving magnet
performance. Bob Marley is alive!”
— Andrew Oliver
Sumiko produces a range of carefully engineered cartridges that offer exceptional musical performance at accessible prices. Their designs consistently receive praise for combining detail with a natural, engaging presentation.
We stock Sumiko cartridges at Audio Republic.
“Carefully engineered, musically engaging and consistently well-priced. Sumiko cartridges combine detail with a natural presentation that suits a wide range of tonearms and turntables.” — Andrew Oliver
Ortofon has been making cartridges in Denmark since 1918 — longer than any other cartridge manufacturer. Their range spans from excellent budget moving magnets to reference moving coils costing thousands of pounds, and their engineering expertise is unrivalled.
We stock a wide range of Ortofon cartridges at Audio Republic, from the 2M series through to the top moving coil range.
“”Making cartridges since 1918. The accumulated
expertise is evident across their entire range
— from the excellent 2M series to the reference
moving coils. Reliable, musical and exceptionally
well engineered at every price point.
The recent
introduction of ‘Rega-friendly’ 2M Series
cartridges has boosted the appeal of this
mainstream brand.” — Andrew Oliver
Hana cartridges are made by Excel Sound Corporation in Japan — a company with decades of experience manufacturing cartridges for other brands. Their own-brand Hana range offers extraordinary value, delivering moving coil performance at prices that were previously impossible.
We stock Hana cartridges at Audio Republic. If you’ve never considered a moving coil cartridge because of cost, Hana changes that entirely.
“Moving coil performance at prices that were
previously impossible. Made by Excel Sound
Corporation in Japan — a company that has
been making cartridges for other brands for
decades. If cost has stopped you considering
a moving coil cartridge, Hana changes that
conversation entirely. Very sweet and lyrical
cartridges — these models combine the classic
richness of high end Japanese moving coil
manufacture with rather more down to earth
pricing.
However, the recently developed
Umami range are superb in all respects for
those looking for cost no object performance.”
— Andrew Oliver— Andrew Oliver
We demonstrate all the brands we stock — in our Gateshead showroom or in your own home. Call Andrew to discuss what you’re looking for and arrange a listening session.
