7/21/2026: LP Tunes unleashes new platform—Unified Solutions Platform (USP)™. It unifies upgrade options on a single page, simplifying customers' search for high-fidelity turntable componentss—such as turntable styli, cartridges, and belts.
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For correct playback fidelity of your 78 RPM records you need to use a cartridge with stylus designed for 78 RPM records. A very common misconception is that you can use a LP stylus for playing 78 records. This is one quick and sure way to damage the 78 record groove. Playing it once is enough. Moreover, the LP stylus is much narrower than the 78 record groove hence the tip will slip to the bottom of the groove where debris has collected for many decades. This results in extraordinarily high surface noise. The LP stylus also sways on either side of the groove wall or misses the groove wall where the sound was recorded. All in all, it's not good for the 78 RPM record, for your LP stylus, and for listening. For these reasons, it really makes very good sense to use a 78 RPM cartridge for your 78's.
Mono True 78 RPM Cartridge
The AT-MONO3/SP is a true mono 78 RPM cartridge - one of a select few in the world! A true mono cartridge is designed, wired and built only to retrieve signals from the record grooves in the horizontal plane. The groove of a monaural recording is modulated only in the horizontal plane. Stereo recordings, on the other hand, are cut into the vinyl at a forty-five degree angle with a separate channel of information on each of the grove walls, thus requiring the stylus to pick up signals in both the horizontal and vertical plane. As a stereo cartridge sums the channels internally, it picks up noise from the vertical plane of the record grooves.
Interestingly, in a mono record much of the surface noise is in the vertical plane, so avoiding this plane is beneficial.
By not even picking up or amplifying this information you eliminate a lot of the noise from mono records that you hear when played back through a stereo cartridge.
High Output Moving Coil Mono Cartridge
The Audio Technica AT-MONO3/SP cartridge is special. A high output moving coil cartridge of excellent production quality and wound with PCOCC coil for signal purity, it is designed to deliver excellent fidelity and superb clarity when playing 78 RPM mono records. With its high output of 1.2mV, it can be used without additional pre-preamplification or a MC transformer.
As a Moving Coil mono cartridge of superior design and execution, the AT-MONO3/SP offers a listening experience that is close to musical truth with the detail, high frequency extension, sound stage, harmonic layering, and low frequency response that make other cartridges seem flat and constricted.
Proven in use for many years in Japan, the Audio-Technica AT-MONO3/SP 78 RPM cartridge in now available in the U.S. It brings back the pure joy of discovery and listening pleasure for 78 record playing.
Audio-Technica AT-MONO3/SP Cartridge Specifications
- Tonearm mount: 1/2 inch
- Type: Moving coil, mono 78 RPM mono cartridge
- Frequency response: 45Hz-7kHz1
- Output voltage @ 1kHz,5cm/sec: 1.2mV
- Tracking force: 3 - 7 g (5 g standard)
- Recommended load: 40 ohms - 47K ohms (determine best value by listening)
- Cantilever: Aluminum alloy
- Stylus: Highly polished special conical 2.5 mil diamond
- Dynamic compliance: 7.0 x 10-6 cm/dyne
- Static compliance: 20.0 x 10-6 cm/dyne
- Dimensions (mm): H16.0 x W16.6 x L26.5
- Weight: 6.8 g
- Accessories included: Screwdriver, screws, washers, nuts, spacer/weight,
stylus brush
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Footnote 1: Old 78RPM records were recorded using different equalizations (EQ) depending on the recording label. In listening, we surmise that
the narrow specification possibly reflects the difficulty in publishing an accurate extended low and high frequency response range even though this cartridge has this capability.
GRADO 78C PHONO CARTRIDGE
Ships to US only
Grado 78 RPM cartridges are designed for high output and excellent stability even under severe use. Each Grado 78 RPM phono cartridge can be used for either archival or casual play without concern for undue wear on the record. All Grado 78 phono cartridges have a considerable reduction in tip mass resulting in extended frequency response while tracking forces can range from 2-5 grams. The experts acclaim these Grado 78 RPM cartridges as virtually the finest 78 RPM cartridges in the world.
The Grado 78C cartridge uses a three-piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, highly polished conical/spherical 3.0 mil diamond mounted in a brass bushing.
Grado 78C Phono Cartridge Specifications
- Type: Moving magnet
- Output voltage: 5mV
- Frequency response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Load impedance: 47k ohms
- Stylus type: Conical
- Stylus replacement: User replaceable
- Stylus part no.: 78C
- Tracking force: 2-5 g
GRADO 78E PHONO CARTRIDGE
Ships to US only
Grado 78 RPM cartridges are designed for high output and excellent stability even under severe use. Each cartridge can be used for either archival or casual play without concern for undue wear on the record. All Grado 78 RPM phono cartridges have a considerable reduction in tip mass resulting in extended frequency response while tracking forces can range from 2-5 grams. Many experts acclaim Grado 78 RPM cartridges as virtually the finest 78 RPM cartridges in the world.
The Grado 78E cartridge uses a modified four-piece OTL cantilever technology, oxygen free wire in the coils and a specially designed, highly polished, conical/spherical 3.0 mil diamond mounted in a brass bushing.
Grado 78E Phono Cartridge Specifications
- Type: Moving magnet
- Output voltage: 5mV
- Frequency response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Load impedance: 47k ohms
- Stylus type: Conical
- Stylus replacement: User replaceable
- Stylus part no.: 78E
- Tracking force: 2-5 g
The monophonic Shure M78S phono cartridge is designed to accurately play 78 RPM records. Its N78S stylus replacement can also be used in any of Shure's existing cartridges for playing 78 RPM records.
Shure M78S 78 RPM Phono Cartridge Specifications
- Tonearm mount: 1/2 inch
- Type: Moving magnet
- Cantilever: Shure type I low mass, aluminum alloy/tubular, 1 mil wall thickness, 30 mil diameter
- Stylus tip: Spherical, 2.5 mil radius
- Tracking force: 1.5 - 3 g
- Output voltage @ 1kHz,5 cm/sec: 4mV
- Recommended load: 47kW in parallel with 250 pf
- Weight: 6.2 g
- Height: 15.875 mm
- Accessories included: User guide, mounting hardware,stylus guard
- Warranty: 1 year
- Recommended maintenance: Replace stylus after 600 - 1,000 playing hours
- Stylus replacement: User-replaceable Shure N78S
Looking for a replacement cartridge for your turntable? Browse our wide array of hand-picked cartridges from the top brands like Audio-Technica, Ortofon, Shure, Denon and more! Check out the some of our best selling cartridges like the Audio-Technica AT95E or the Denon DL-110 cartridge. Whether you’re shopping for a DJ cartridge, half-inch mount cartridge, 78 RPM cartridge, P-Mount cartridge, pre-mounted cartridge, or you’re looking for a hard-to-find cartridge, we’ll be delighted to help you find that special cartridge or a suitable alternative!
Need a replacement needle for your turntable? Here at LP Tunes we have a huge selection of replacement stylus from the top brands. From Grado to Shure, and Tonar, we have the perfect replacement DJ stylus for your turntable. We also carry the best Hifi needles for your record player. If you’re shopping for a new needle to upgrade the sound of your turntable, check out some of our best selling styli. The Audio-Technica ATN150SA stylus is one of our top sellers. Or check out another one of our best selling styli the Audio-Technica ATN440MLb stylus. Aren't sure which stylus will fit your turntable? Use our free stylus matching service and we'll help you find the right one.
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Looking for a pair of headphones or in-earphones that are good enough for an audiophile? You’re in luck. Our selection of high-quality headphones and sound isolating earbuds will make your music listening experience awesome. Shop the top brands in headphones like; Audio-Technica, Grado, and Shure to find the perfect pair of headphones or earbuds.
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