I'm looking for new needles. Preferably ones that are pre-mounted. I'm willing to pay the extra 20 or 30 bucks per needle so my meaty fingers don't have to struggle with a screwdriver the size of a pencil.

I'm highly considering the Shure Whitelabels. I'm a big Shure fan even though I'm using some Ortofon's now. But Shure has been good to me for other products so I'm tempted to make the needle switch as well. I know about the legendary M447's and have considered just getting those as well. I guess I'd just have to mount them to a 20 dollar headshell. Anyone here have some opinions/reviews/suggestions?

I recommend you let me play on your tables.

I use the S-120 with Serato, feels like i won't needing an upgrade for awhile.

quote:

Originally posted by Zak McKracken why would you do that? there are specific ones for timecode...

I use time code and analog. Thats what s-120 specializes in. Its basically a serato cartridge that be used at any tracking force.

Anyhow I can't tell the difference between timecode needle and a regular ortofon needle. What i know is they never skip and are very reliable.

I've actually got the s-120's myself, but am thinking about switching to Shure. Argh, I dno anymore. They are also a good 2.5 years old now.

M44-7 on technics headshells.

The best combination of output, bass, and tracking, bar none. There is a reason the drum & bass and scratch guys use them, and I am slowly on a mission to convert techno people that insist on ortofons to them too...

Whitelabels are too fragile, and concordes - although they look nice - are nowhere near as good as the M44-7.


Not that difficult to mount - if you cant be assed you can buy them in a pack pre-mounted to technics headshells.

Thanks freak

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Originally posted by Zak McKracken im in the same search, im just thinking to get the ortofon concordes but im not sure what model i should go for: - Concorde Pro S - Concorde DJ S - Concorde ELEKTRO - Concorde Nightclub MKII - Concorde GOLD - Concorde S-120 too many options.

The info on their website really isn't helpful in actually figureing out which on is best.

Technically speaking, the Concord Nightclub Mk2 is the best needle they make for DJ'ing in regular conditions (i.e. highest quality playback, a little bit of cueing/scratching). They also have a high output but not really high (like the s-120). The gold were basically the nightclub mk1's.

I've been a die hard concord fan for years and I do love them but Freaks info is interesting and I keep hearing it but I'm just not sure if it's personal preference thing.

I may have to give the M44-7 a shot.

Edit: fuck, I am getting super mixed info on which is better now. There's one article about this big vinyl mastering guy from holland who swears by the Shure's but it also reads like a nice paid for PR plug.

Some people saying the Shure's have higher output (but that's not necessarily a good thing) and others saying they're a pain to tell where the needle is in the groove of the record because the square body obscures it, then others saying the ortofons track much better and are more balanced where the shures are too bass heavy.

Fuck knows now. I suppose if you are either between the nightclub's and m44-7's then you're in a good place either way.

Last edited by DJ RANN on Jun-02-2015 at 22:51

quote:

Originally posted by Freak M44-7 on technics headshells. The best combination of output, bass, and tracking, bar none. There is a reason the drum & bass and scratch guys use them, and I am slowly on a mission to convert techno people that insist on ortofons to them too... Whitelabels are too fragile, and concordes - although they look nice - are nowhere near as good as the M44-7. Not that difficult to mount - if you cant be assed you can buy them in a pack pre-mounted to technics headshells.

This... I've owned both Ortofons & Shure M447. By far the Shure's are my weapon of choice. I love Ortofons, but one big flaw is that the handle brakes very easily. Once that happens, you pretty much have to replace the whole thing.

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EDM is not a trend, it's a lifestyle. You either get it or you don't.

True. I think if you're gigging regularly this is a concern - as you say, then that little arm breaks, the cartridge is basically useless. But in 15 years of using them at home, I've only broken one so it's not really a concern.

Then again, i know some guys who swear by the Ortofon's for gigging because there's no chance of the headshell alignment going out - they are standardized due to the design.

My main concern is sound quality - I suppose I'll have to give the shure's a try to see which I prefer.....

What you don't like big bass? You're to old to be specific just give up.