[header] How to choose a phono cartridge [title] Determine your budget. [step] The phono-cartridge is a single piece of a much larger stereo system, and the budget allocated to the cartridge should reflect the total cost of the whole system. Entry-level audiophile cartridges retail around 30 u.s. dollars, with incredibly high-end models reaching over $3000. 
A good budget might start with allocating about 10 percent of your total expenditure towards the cartridge. [title] Select the right type of cartridge for your tonearm's mount.