There are 2 basic types of cartidges, not counting exotics like strain gauge carts. Moving coil, and moving magnet. I feel the MM are better on rock, and the MC show more subtle details on complex music. Until you become an audiocrackhed stick to MM carts. The music Hall TT's already come with a cart thats well matched to their arm.

Neither type of cartridge has enough output to be connected directly to the input jacks of a standard reciever or preamp. Some preamp or recievers will have a specific set of inputs marked 'phono' and they will have an additional gain stage inside.

So, what you need is a phono preamplifier to bring the low level signal up to the voltage that the inputs expect to see.

John C.