LP Tunes CARBON FIDELITY CF3600LE cartridge

LP Tunes CARBON FIDELITY CF3600LE cartridge

SKU: CF3600LE

  • $49.98
  • Save $25

Developed by LP GEAR®, manufactured by Audio-Technica.

Details
  • • Carbon fiber technology for remarkable nuance and tonal complexity
  • • Harmonically exquisite, refractive, large multidimensional soundstage
  • • Carbon fiber cantilever for firm and sensitive response to grooves
  • • Spectra Elliptical diamond for very fine tracing accuracy
  • • Diamond tip r/R radii: 8 x 18 µm (.0003 x .0007 inch)

LP Tunes CARBON FIDELITY CF3600LE CARTRIDGE 
- Music that makes you want to listen.™

Listen to the new voice of music. Carbon fiber composites offer 10 times the strength of steel at half the weight. Codeveloped and designed with LP Tunes by the same Audio-Technica team that developed their lofty cartridges, the new Carbon Fidelity (CF) 3600LE harnesses carbon fiber technology to advance the state of existing Audio-Technica AT3600 cartridges and all of its versions. The updated design, tight specifications, Twin-Flux™ magnets, high-quality moving system fulcrum and radial damping ring allied with a Spectra elliptical diamond tip produce music that makes you want to listen. Higher fidelity from carbon technology.

"This is an amazing cartridge for the money. This cartridge digs into the grooves and gives a musical presentation with very good detail, excellent bass and natural midrange. I have had super pricey cartridges and I don't miss them. Not saying it's in same league as my 1k Clearaudio cartridge, but this thing just plays music that makes me want to listen. I have several pairs of high quality speakers and amps and have had same experience on all of my gear. I am playing more vinyl than ever because I am not thinking about a $500 re-tip of my pricey cartridge. Absolute no brainer purchase. Don't let price fool you. I have recommended to several friends all of whom purchased and enjoy it."1 

Mastered to illuminate against lofty cartridges beyond the economics of most listeners, the CF3600LE touches and endears the more you listen. You won't want to go back to your underperforming or pricey cartridge. You'll hear, feel and sense the music exquisitely rendered — harmonically full-bodied, refractive and refreshingly crystal clean with luminous detail spatially radiating with realness. You'll experience remarkable note clarity, projection and nuanced tonal complexity previously unheard and unappreciated. It will surprise and astound.

"Well, it sounded pretty good for an mm cart. To me it sounded more like a Grado 8MR without the dreaded Grado hum. Neutral, light, pleasing and easy to listen to. These are made by Audio-Technica and rebranded LPG. Good price considering the materials used (carbon fiber). Though a different character from the ATN95E this one has a receptive and inviting tone." 2 

"The sonic improvement was noticeable in terms of high frequency clarity and extension and improved detail." 3 

"Best budget cartridge available. I compare it with the AT-120e as far as sound quality goes." 4 

You are better off replacing the cartridge, or at the very least replacing the stylus with the $29.98 LP Gear CFN-3600LE, which improves the sound and lets you track a gram lighter at 2.5 grams." 5 

CF3600LE Phono Cartridge Details 
- Type: Moving Magnet VM Dual Magnet Stereo
- Output voltage @ 1kHz,5cm/sec.: 2.5 mV
- Channel balance at 1kHz: 2.5 dB or less
- Channel separation @ 1kHz: over 18 dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Load resistance: 47k ohms
- Load capacitance: 100 - 200 pF
- Stylus type: 0.3 × 0.7 mil Spectra Elliptical diamond
- Cantilever: Super Fidelity Carbon Fiber6
- Tracking force range: 1.8 - 3.5 g
- Tracking force recommended: 2.5 g (25 mN)
- Coil impedance at 1kHz: 2.8k ohms
- Recommended load resistance: 47k ohms
- Recommended break-in duration: 30 hours
- Color: Black, Silver, Indigo
- Weight: 5.0 g
- Dimensions (mm): 30.0L × 16.9W × 17.0H
- Accessories included: Brass screws × 2, and nuts × 2
- Stylus replacement: LP Tunes CFN3600LE stylus

____________________________________ 
Footnote 1: Customer Review, "LP Tunes CF3600LE phono cartridge". 
Footnote 2: Customer Review, "LP Tunes CF3600LE Cartridge Set". 
Footnote 3: Michael Fremer, "Pioneer PL-30-K Automatic Single Play Turntable", Analog Planet, June 10, 2015. The esteemed reviewer compared, evaluated and found the LP Tunes CFN3600LE stylus to offer obvious sonic and tracing improvement as well as lower tracking force for record preservation. 
Footnote 4: Customer Review, loc.cit. 
Footnote 5: Michael Fremer, "Onkyo's CP-1050 Direct Drive Turntable", Analog Planet, July 21, 2015. The esteemed reviewer recommends the CF3600LE cartridge or CFN3600LE stylus depending on customer preference. 
Footnote 6: Carbon fiber composites offer 10 times the strength of steel at half the weight. Each producer's carbon fiber differs from those of its competitors, and the processing details are considered to be intellectual property. The special carbon fiber used in the Carbon Fidelity cartridges and styli is patiently and expertly considered for its signature characteristics to bring out the subtleties and finesse of music extracted from the grooves of records and LPs. For carbon fiber info see: "The making of carbon fiber". 

LP Tunes Music listening equipment: Graham Slee Reflex M phono preamp, Graham Slee Elevator EXP headamp, Denon AU-300LC Step-up transformer, Graham Slee Proprius mono amps, Quicksilver Silver 88 mono amps, Roadrunner Digital Turntable Tachometer, Sota Sapphire turntable, Audience SE Phono Cable, Audience Ohno speaker cables, Rogers LS3/5A speakers, Audience ClairAudient 1+1 Loudspeakers, Krell LAT 2 speakers, Yamaha NS1000M speakers, LP Tunes CF3600LE cartridge, Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge, Rega Carbon, Supex SD 901 Super cartridge, Denon DL-103 cartridge, Denon DL-110 cartridge, Grace F-9E cartridge.

Customer Reviews

Based on 13 reviews
85%
(11)
15%
(2)
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(0)
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L
Les B (Stoney Creek, CA)
Excellent cartridge for the price

I am finding great value in this affordable cartridge.
For my system, this cartridge resolves the high to mid frequencies very well.
The bass response is weaker than other cartridges I own. I suspect after the initial break in period the bass will improve. Overall a good purchase for a music lover on a budget.

G
Guy Goodman (Atlanta, US)
LP Gear CF 3600LE Cartridge

I primarily use vintage Shure cartridges with original, Vivid Line and Jico styli. In other words, expensive. I had to find out what all the buzz was about this cartridge for under 50 bucks. I balanced it at 1.8 grams which is its minimum tracking range and was extremely impressed. Would recommend it to anyone on a budget or otherwise. A very nice little cartridge and nice 0.3x0.7 elliptical stylus. Try one and find out.

M
MusicLover
Great price. Great sounds.

Very similar to the audio technica VM95 cartridge. However, I feel the overall sound is superior and detail more pronounced. Very good cartridge for the price. I Play all sorts of music and I felt that the details of the sound were captured with each genre.
Highs, mids, and bass sound good and clear but is not overwhelming. Sounds a natural part of the recordings.

C
Charles Barker (Kansas City, US)
WOW!

Just getting back into listening to my old vinyl and getting some new records. I have had my Technics SL-3200 since the late 90's, and never replaced the old ADC LX-II cart, until now. I have not gotten but an hour into breaking in this cart, but WOW! I am hearing detail that the old cart was just not picking up.
First album, Deftones- OHMs. I just got this record two week ago, and today, it was like listening to it again for the first time. I can hear details in the guitars that I was completely missing out on with the old cart.
Second album, Rush - Farewell to Kings. Seriously? Niel's drumming was just exploding out of the mix, again, hearing new details in Getty's bass and Alex's guitar. Just so much better.

I would highly recommend this cartridge, for the price (it was on sale, $50), it makes listening so much more...

J
John Carr (Lee's Summit, US)
Excellent value

I don't think it can be beaten for it's current sale price of $35. I put it on a backup table of mine that has always suffered from an untameable sibilance. Out of all of the expensive carts I've mounted to it, this cheaper one sounded the best.

k
knotscott (Rochester, US)
Tough to Beat at the Sale Price

This cart/stylus combo is an improvement on the giant slayer AT-3600L with the carbon fiber cantilever and conical stylus. It adds the more refined elliptical stylus to the same cantilever and body. A sale price of 35 bucks is a no brainer. At regular price of 75, I'd probably go with the stock configuration for a third of that, then upgrade the stylus to the Vividline stylus, which is a world beater combo for 100 bucks..

O
Owen LaPrath (Seattle, US)
Update to: El cheapo plays solidly in 100 dollar class

With my stash of cartridges playing, I finally got around to this one again and mounted it in a vintage Technics SL-Q3, a quartz controlled full auto machine with a comparatively fat platter for its year and what followed shortly after. In other words, the turntable is in way better class than this cartridge, but it holds up and then some! This budget cartridge simply blows my socks off on this machine! I think the old Japanese tables were simply made for perfect harmonising with Audio Technica carts, and this one being an upgraded AT3600 just really performs well and leaves nothing to wish for that wouldn't cost you a hell of a lot more money!
At the current price on this site for under 40 bucks, this is a totally smart buy!

a
anthony palmeri (Miami, US)
Great for the price

A definite upgrade to the 3600L, worth it.


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★ Reviews ★

Let customers speak for us

3373 reviews
94%
(3163)
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A
LP Tunes Nagaoka MP110 Pre-mount
Adriano Rampazzo (São Paulo, BR)
lower volume output?

Is this cartridge’s output volume considerably lower than of a say, shure m-44? i’m experience a good sound overall, pretty much what i was expecting, but at a much lower volume. i’m having to increase around 25-30% the knob to achieve similar results.
any comments will be much appreciated.
thanks!
adriano

"Bonded" version ?

I received the JICO replacement Shure VN-35E stylus for V15 Type III Series cartridge.
The sound produced by the stylus is excellent.
I regret, however, that there is no indication on your site that this is the "Bonded" version of the Stylus and not the "Nude" version also produced by Jico. I deduced this information from research I had to do on other companies' sites. I like to know exactly what I usually buy without having to guess.

LP Tunes Headshell

A+ and great quality for the price. I depend on this company for all my phono needs. They are the best!

L
Stylus for BSR XL-1400 XL 1400 XL1400 turntable
Lenny Bolinder (St. Petersburg, US)

Stylus for BSR XL-1400 XL 1400 XL1400 turntable

T
Audio-Technica VM540ML cartridge
Tom Lokers (Holland, US)
Clarity and transparency

Just what I needed. This cart breathes new life into old records, also minimizes surface noise. What a bargain!

Jico SAS Stylus

Arrived quickly, fit perfect and sounds great on my Shure N91E Cartridge on a Dual 1019

LP TUNES ViVid Line Upgrade replacement for Shure N97xE stylus

Mitsubishi LT-5V 3 replacement belts

So glad you were able to provide the 3 belts for my 1983 Mitsubishi linear tracking turntable. They were shipped promptly and arrived in great condition. Now this classic turntable works great except I have to find a replacement tonearm lightbulb so tracking error problem gets fixed.