ETI_5000
Super Member
Note that Pickering confirmed in their ‘Pickering Perfection’ brochures https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/pickering.shtml that the Pickering V-15 Micro IV (Stanton 600-series near-equivalent) and XV-15 (Stanton 680/681 near-equivalent) styli could interchange, as they recommended the same mono and 78rpm styli for both cartridge series. I should mention that although hifiengine label that a 1976 brochure, several of the Pickering cartridges in it such as the XSV/4000 and XSV/5000 weren’t released until the 1980’s, so it’s more likely a 1986 brochure!
The Pickering XV-15 styli will fit the Stanton 600/Pickering V-15 Micro IV-series and work well, so a high level elliptical stylus (e.g. from the XV-15 750E or 1200E) or even better, one of the stereohedron alternatives, such as the 1800S or 757S, can be used to upgrade the 600/V-15 Micro IV-series.
However, because of the mounting system that was used for the Stanton 600/Pickering V-15 Micro IV-series extending out past the front of the cartridge body, the Stanton 680/681-series stylus grips hit the mounting adaptor at the top, unless the plastic at the top of the 680-681 stylus is trimmed back, because of Stanton's different method of stylus fitting compared to Pickering.
The Pickering XV-15 styli fit the 600/V-15 Micro IV bodies OK due to the Pickering stylus grips extending on either side of the cartridge bodies, but the Stanton 680/681 styli need the plastic trimming where it wraps over the top front of the cartridge body, so it’s best to go for the Pickering XV-15 styli in preference to Stanton 680/681 styli, to make it easy. So the following Pickering XV-15 styli would all be upgrades over the Stanton 600EE stylus:
Stereohedron: 1800S or 757S (tracking force 0.75-1.5g)
0.2 x 0.7mil elliptical: 1200E (0.5-1.25g)
0.3 x 0.7mil elliptical: 750E (0.75-1.5g)
Note that all tracking forces are without brush - add 1g if the brush is used, to counteract its upward push.
Incidentally, I also own one a Stanton 600EE, as well as a 681EEE, and can confirm that while the Stanton 680/681 styli won't fit the 600EE body (without trimming the stylus plastic), the Pickering XV-15 styli will fit and work well.
The Pickering XV-15 styli will fit the Stanton 600/Pickering V-15 Micro IV-series and work well, so a high level elliptical stylus (e.g. from the XV-15 750E or 1200E) or even better, one of the stereohedron alternatives, such as the 1800S or 757S, can be used to upgrade the 600/V-15 Micro IV-series.
However, because of the mounting system that was used for the Stanton 600/Pickering V-15 Micro IV-series extending out past the front of the cartridge body, the Stanton 680/681-series stylus grips hit the mounting adaptor at the top, unless the plastic at the top of the 680-681 stylus is trimmed back, because of Stanton's different method of stylus fitting compared to Pickering.
The Pickering XV-15 styli fit the 600/V-15 Micro IV bodies OK due to the Pickering stylus grips extending on either side of the cartridge bodies, but the Stanton 680/681 styli need the plastic trimming where it wraps over the top front of the cartridge body, so it’s best to go for the Pickering XV-15 styli in preference to Stanton 680/681 styli, to make it easy. So the following Pickering XV-15 styli would all be upgrades over the Stanton 600EE stylus:
Stereohedron: 1800S or 757S (tracking force 0.75-1.5g)
0.2 x 0.7mil elliptical: 1200E (0.5-1.25g)
0.3 x 0.7mil elliptical: 750E (0.75-1.5g)
Note that all tracking forces are without brush - add 1g if the brush is used, to counteract its upward push.
Incidentally, I also own one a Stanton 600EE, as well as a 681EEE, and can confirm that while the Stanton 680/681 styli won't fit the 600EE body (without trimming the stylus plastic), the Pickering XV-15 styli will fit and work well.
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