i need a new needle for my 1200 turntable. i think i'm going to buy a new headstock and all the stuff. what do you guys like for 1.transfer to MP3s, 2. home use, 3. DJ use. an off the shelf all-in-one thing sounds appealing, but some that DJs recommend (Ortofon Nightclub) sound like they amplify surface noise, especially for MP3s, and have a weak mid-range. what do you guys like for playing punk/garage/lo-fi music? do i really have to drop $140 on a Grado Red? there tend to be lots of fans of Shure, tho detractors seem to really dislike them. what gives?
is there some place i can pick and choose a headstock/cartridge combo and they'll assemble it so it's ready to go? online? it's kinda frustrating, it seems like online sellers engage in price-fixing since there doesn't seem to be any variation. uggh.
i saw some old threads on here linked below. there's good info. can anyone comment specifically to making MP3s/surface noise. also does anyone have any negative experiences with Shure M97XE and/or Grado Red. has anyone here tried a variety to be able to compare?
http://terminal-boredom.com/forums/index.php?topic=19745.0http://terminal-boredom.com/forums/index.php?topic=1853.0