London Decca Cartridges
It Just Sounds Right…
Hand-built and rooted in over 70 years of audio innovation, London Decca cartridges bring distinctive detail, dynamics, and musical realism to your vinyl collection. Explore our range below, or let us help you choose the right cartridge for your system.
Bring your mono record collection to life with the London Decca Maroon Mono Type II. Designed for dedicated mono playback, it reveals the energy, presence, and musical character of these treasured recordings.
At its heart is a UK-manufactured, grain-oriented conical diamond, precisely aligned in a sprung-steel armature. This distinctive design delivers the direct, dynamic presentation that makes London Decca cartridges so compelling.
Maroon Mono Type II Specifications.
Type: Moving Armature single lateral mono coil
Stylus: Grain-orientated diamond
Profile: Spherical 0.008-0.010 inch
Body Mounting/Ouput/Frequency
Sliding mount with Cerakote stainless steel screening body
Output; 4mV at 5cm/sec
Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz +/-3dB
Compliance/Vertical/DC Resistance
Compliance: Lateral 15 x 10-6cm/dyne
Vertical: 10 x 10-6cm/dyne
DC Resistance: 1.2K Ohm
Input Impedance/Input Capacitance/Playing Weight
Input impedance: 47K Ohms (optimum 33K Ohms)
Input capacitance: 100 to 300pF (optimum 220pF )
Playing weight: 1.8-2.0 grams
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All the London Decca range of cartridges are the result of decades of dedicated research and development. They are thoroughbred transducers; one of the worlds best, and if treated with care and attention, they will reward you with many years of constant service and listening pleasure.
Formed from tempered spring steel the armature is held in positive tension by a fine retaining cord. This configuration gives an instantaneous response without any cantilever haze prevalent in traditional cartridges.
Two vertical coils pick up the vertical modulation to complete the classic three-coil sum/difference circuit.
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Critical to the sound quality of any cartridge are the magnets. For this new range of London Decca cartridges we have reverted back to the original design specification of Alnico magnets ( Aluminium, Nickle, Cobalt); Alnico 5 to be speficic. Alnico magnets deliver a rich and textured ouput with superb tonality and dynamics.
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Historically, the MK V DECCA cartridges had three-pin outputs. For the New Maroon Mono, Maroon and Super Gold we have updated the terminal block to four-pin, with industry standard colour coding. All internal solder joints are fabricated with Audiophile grade Silver Solder (6% silver, 91% tin, 2% copper.) The Reference has industry standard four-pin connections, all solder connections are with Silver Solder.
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The final revision for the Maroon Mono, Maroon and Super Gold is that of Cerakote finishing on the stainless-steel can. Cerakote is a hard-wearing ceramic coating that not only gives superb visual looks but also stiffens and dampers the screening can for greater focus and dynamic output.
Originally introduced in 1976 by Decca, the Maroon cartridge is our entry-level stereo cartridge. Operating in the classic Decca principle of sprung steel armature working in a sum/difference circuit, the Maroon uses the same classic Conical profiled diamond as our mono cartridge, grain-oriented and optimally aligned. Mounted in a classic red Decca body with a sliding mounting bracket and a striking Maroon Cerakote finish screening can, the Maroon delivers a robust, dynamic, full sound, elevating any system’s performance.
Maroon Type II Specifications
Type: Moving Armature using Sum/difference principle with common ground
Stylus: Grain-orientated diamond
Profile: Spherical
Magnets: Alnico 5
Body Mounting/Output/Frequency Range
Sliding mount with Cerakote stainless steel screening body
Output: 4mV at 5cm/sec
Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz +/-3dB
Channel Balance/Channel Separation/Compliance
Channel balance: 1dB at 1KHz
Channel separation: 25dB at 1KHz
Compliance: Lateral 15 x 10-6cm/dyne
Vertical/Inductance/DC Resistance
Vertical: 10 x 10-6cm/dyne
Inductance: 130mH per channel
DC resistance: 2000 Ohms per channel
Input Impedance/Input Capacitance/Playing Weight
Input impedance: 47K Ohms (optimum 33K Ohms)
Input capacitance: 100 to 300pF (optimum 220pF )
Playing weight: 1.8-2.0 grams
The Super Gold cartridge was originally introduced in 1985. Our latest incarnation takes the Super Gold to a new level of performance. Keeping with the original grain-orientated line contact diamond profile, the new version Super Gold uses Alnico 5 magnets housed in a striking Gold Cerakote finish, updated with a four-pin connection block. Bringing an additional level of detail and refinement, the presentation for the Super Gold can best be described as fast and detailed, combined with superb dynamics. The Super Gold will reinvigorate your vinyl playback system.
Super Gold Type II Specifications
Type: Moving Armature using Sum/difference principle with common ground
Stylus: Grain-orientated diamond
Profile: Line contact
Magnets Alnico 5
Body Mounting
Body Mounting/Output/Frequency Range
Body Mounting: Sliding mount with Cerakote stainless steel screening body
Output: 4mV at 5cm/sec
Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz +/-3dB
Channel Balance/Channel Separation/Compliance
Channel balance: 1dB at 1KHz
Channel separation: 25dB at 1KHz
Compliance: Lateral 15 x 10-6cm/dyne
Vertical/Inductance/DC Resistance
Vertical 10 x 10-6cm/dyne
Inductance: 130mH per channel
DC resistance: 2000 Ohms per channel
Input Impedance/Input Capacitance/Playing Weight
Input impedance: 47K Ohms (optimum 33K Ohms)
Input capacitance: 100 to 300pF (optimum 220pF )
Playing weight: 1.8-2.0 grams
The Jubilee was originally introduced in 1992, designed by John Wright, and featured a two-piece aluminium body; the design profile and shape took design clues from the earlier SC4E cartridge. Finished in a high-quality Gold Anodise, the two-piece body slides together to form a rigid, non-resonant structure.
This being the perfect platform allows the stylus to faithfully trace the record groove. Utilizing the grain-orientated line contact diamond, the same profile used in the Super Gold, the Jubilee reveals a wealth of detail hidden in the record groove. A greater sense of being and life spring forth as the Jubille simply elevates the Super Gold performance to another level!
Jubilee Type II Specifications
Type: Moving Armature using Sum/difference principle with common ground
Stylus: Grain-orientated diamond
Profile: Paratrace
Magnets: Alnico 5
Body Mounting/Output/Frequency Range
Body mounting: Two-part Aluminium machined, M2.5 fixing threads, non-resonant profile, Gold Anodised
Output: 4mV at 5cm/sec
Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz +/-3dB
Channel Balance/Channel Separation/Compliance
Channel balance: 1dB at 1KHz
Channel separation: 25dB at 1KHz
Compliance: Lateral 15 x 10-6cm/dyne
Vertical/Inductance/DC Resistance
Vertical: 10 x 10-6cm/dyne
Inductance: 130mH per channel
DC resistance: 2000 Ohms per channel
Input Impedance/Input Capacitance/Playing Weight
Input impedance: 47K Ohms (optimum 33K Ohms)
Input capacitance: 100 to 300pF (optimum 220pF )
Playing weight: 1.8-2.0 grams
The ultimate culmination of the original 1951 principle, taking the Decca design configuration to new levels. Mounted in a rigid, hard anodised aluminium body, the Reference’s crowning glory is the Paratrace stylus. Manufactured in the UK, with the most sophisticated of stylus profiles, the Paratrace stylus can be considered to be the pinnacle of stylus design. Critically aligned in the rigid reference body, the Paratrace stylus delivers a true Reference performance. Rim shots have a natural crack, piano has body and sopranos simply soar; so, reveal in the detail that only a true Reference cartridge can deliver!
Reference Type II Specifications
Type: Moving Armature using Sum/difference principle with common ground
Stylus: Grain-orientated diamond
Profile: Paratrace
Magnets: Alnico 5
Body Mounting/Ouput/Frequency Range
Body mounting: Two-part Aluminium machined, non-resonant profile, M2.5 fixing threads. Hard Anodised grey
Output: 1.5mV at 5cm/S
Frequency response: +/-1dB 20Hz-20KHz
Channel Balance/Channel Separation/Compliance
Channel balance: 1dB at 1KHz
Channel separation: 12dB at 1KHz
Compliance: Lateral 15 x 10-6cm/dyne
Vertical/Inductance/DC Resistance
Vertical 10 x 10-6cm/dyne
Inductance: 130mH per channel
DC resistance: 2000 Ohms per channel
Tracking: 60uM
Input Impedance/Input Capacitance/Playing Weight
Input impedance: 47K Ohms (optimum 33K Ohms)
Input capacitance: 100 to 300pF (optimum 220pF )
Playing weight: 1.8-2.0 grams
Flexible Ordering Options
Need help choosing the right London Decca Cartridge for your system?
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Please note: This form is for product orders and sales inquiries only, not service repairs. If you have a cartridge that requires service, please complete our Service Request Form HERE.
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Handcrafted Product & Final Sale Policy
Each London Decca product is individually hand-built, tested, and carefully inspected. Due to the handcrafted nature of our products, slight variations may occur and are part of the unique character of each piece.
All sales are final. London Decca does not accept returns, refunds, cancellations, or exchanges once an order has been placed.
By completing your purchase, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and confirm that you have reviewed the product details prior to ordering.
We want you to feel confident in your selection. If you have questions about compatibility, cartridge selection, or your order, please contact us before purchasing.
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