See how the Stanton legendary cartridges blow away the competition! Coming soon to a show near you!

Don't wanna wait for a show? You can do the challenge yourself!! You will be amazed at the crystal clear difference.

How to do the cartridge challenge:

The Ingredients

• 2 turntables (S arm preferred)
• 1 mixer
• 2 monitors (KRK preferred)
• 2 new copies of the same record
• Your current cartridge
• The Stanton Cartridge

The set up - make sure your tables are level and that the pivots, counter weight and anti skating are properly adjusted. For more help on this, click here.

The Tests

1. Sound Quality - to demonstrate this, you will need to start both records at the same point at the same time. It is important to make sure that both turntables' speed and pitch control are exact. You will also want to have both channels on the mixer set with the same EQ, level and trim. This will then provide the basis for a level test. Start both records at the same time and then use the cross fader to go back and forth between the two so you can compare one cartridge vs. the other. Here are some important items to listen for:

• Volume level - all cartridges do not have the same output. Similar to speaker wattages, cartridges have different mV ratings. You will find in most cases that the Stanton cartridges will sound louder at the same levels due to our cartridges having a higher mV rating.
• Highs - while listening to the music, try to only concentrate on the high frequencies for a bit. To do this, listen for symbols or high hats in the music. You will find that the Stanton cartridges will have a more crisp high sound than most other cartridges.
• Lows - next concentrate on the BASS frequencies. Listen to the booms of the music by concentrating on a bass guitar, or bass drum. Here again you will hear and feel a richer, more full sound.
• Switch Tables - take the cartridges off the tables that you started with them on and switch them to the other table and then repeat this test. This will demonstrate that it's not the table; rather it's the Stanton Cartridge that makes the music sound better.

2. Cue Burn - the next area that we'll want to address is Cue Burn. Cue Burn occurs due to the fact that you are taking a diamond, the toughest substance known, and is having it run over vinyl which is not even close to being the hardest substance. To do this test, pick a section of the record where you would have a normal cue point for a performance.

Scrub or back cue over the cue spot that you've selected on one record with the cartridge that you are currently using about 20 times. This will simulate about one week's worth of cueing during practice and performances. Do the same thing on the same cue spot on the other record with the Stanton cartridge on the other table. Now listen to the section where you've scrubbed both records, paying particular attention to the following:

• Volume levels - one aspect of cue burn is a decrease in the volume level. As you listen to the record through your cue point, does the volume tend to increase a bit a few bars into the music? For most other cartridges, you will hear a noticeable difference between the area that was scrubbed under the cue process as opposed to the Stanton cartridges.
• High Frequencies - now concentrate on the high frequencies again. Does the cartridge that you are using have a muddier and more unclean sound in the scrubbed area and then the highs tend to clean up once you've gotten a few bars in? Then you've just been burned by your current cartridge! Jewelry grade diamonds in the Stanton cartridges are what allow our needles to not eat up your vinyl and your wallet like our competitors.

This test is with a scrub of about 20 times. Now think of how many times you'll cue that record during your normal practices and performances and how many times you'll need to replace it due to how often your current cartridge burns it out.

3. Tracking - after you have properly set up the cartridges, see how well the Stanton cartridge tracks vs. the cartridge that you are currently using. In most cases you will shocked by how well they hold the groove, even through your toughest tricks. This is why artists like Roc Raida, Annalyze, and Kool Herc are among just a few who stick with the Stanton cartridges. Check out what a few more artists have to say.

Once you've taken the Challenge, we're sure that you'll be sold on the Quality of the Stanton Cartridges and that you'll want to have your friends take the challenge as well!!!