Stupid good $12 styli (with thanks to beatcomber)

[markshan]

I saw this post from beatcomber in a different thread and it got me to thinking...

My recommendation is to go on eBay and buy an old Shure, particularly an M91ED, with a busted/worn stylus. That should set you back about $25-$30 or so. Then find an eBay seller offering an EVG brand replacement stylus (made by JICO), which costs around $15 or so.

Well, I had just had my AT440MLa stylus destroyed and didn't have money for a replacement at the moment. But I have a Shure 91 with a good Hi-Track stylus that I was using in a pinch but don't really like the way it is voiced. So I got to wondering if there was an equally economical way to get the Audio Technica sound.

I contacted my favorite eBay seller of cheap styli and asked him if he had any EVG brand styli for AT cartridges. He told me that he has one, the EVG PM2280DE. He said it is a bargain, but for best bang for the buck he recommended the Pfanstiehl 629-DE. Ten dollars cheaper and has a .2 MIL X .7 MIL diamond.

A hyper elliptical for $12! I ordered immediately. It came today and I have listened to about a half dozen albums with it (JVC QL-A7, Marantz 2230, Grado SR-60). I put in on an AT82ED cartridge that I had in a junk drawer, but it fits literally dozens of Audio Technica cartridges.

This sounds much better than it has a right to. I would say that it is 90% of my 440 at 10% of the cost. Tames sibilance and IGD nearly as well as the micro line and has a similar tonality, though it does lack a but of air at the very top with the 440 had. If you need to get a table sounding really decent for really cheap, this one is a winner.

So beatcomber gave a budget solution for Shure, now I've given one for AT. Any others we should know about?

 

[audiojones]

That one surprised me too. I almost feel guilty playing older worn albums with it because it sounds so good.

 

[skriefal]

That's a 'sharp' elliptical tip -- not hyperelliptical. If it works well for $12 then it is indeed a bargain.

 

[markshan]

HE was my term for it, not his. I figured if 3x7 was elliptical, then 2x7 was more (hyper) elliptical. Is there somewhere that these terms are clearly defined? I don't want to mislead anyone.

While we are at it, what is the difference between HE and micro line?

 

[skriefal]

Here's a good overview of the various stylus tip shapes:
http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=22894

My limited understanding is that hyperelliptical is a form of line contact tip, sitting perhaps half-way between elliptical and microline. But someone with more knowledge on the topic will need to verify that!

That 629-DE looks similar to one that I used about a year ago on an AT11E. It had a blue plastic stylus housing, and the Pfanstiehl package stated 'Manufactured in U.S.A.' on the back. I had expected performance to be marginal but instead found it to be pretty good. The '629' implies an original manufacturer needle (generics usually are preceded by a '4', e.g. 4629-DE). But what manufacturer is '629'? Anyone know?

 

[penkosey]

... I would say that it is 90% of my 440 at 10% of the cost. Tames sibilance and IGD nearly as well as the micro line and has a similar tonality, though it does lack a but of air at the very top with the 440 had...

If this is the case, then I wonder how it compares to the AT-120e, which seems highly regarded.


.

 

[beatcomber]

Excellent news! Not too many bargains in styli out there, but you've just ID'd a new one!

This appears to be a re-packed genuine AT stylus, as suggested by skriefal. Did the package say "Manufactured in Japan?"

 

[markshan]

Did the package say "Manufactured in Japan?"

No, it says "Manufactured in Switzerland". However, the sellers ad said, one of four colors, and two of the four pictured had an AT logo on them. I wonder if they are selling them all under the same model number. At any rate, it does sound really good.

 

[markshan]

If this is the case, then I wonder how it compares to the AT-120e, which seems highly regarded.


.

Well, the 120e is a 3x7 with (perhaps) the same body as the 440. The styli are interchangeable at any rate and I was (and still am) considering trying the generic ATN120E from the same seller. The generic is 4x7 for $21.

My experience tells me that stylus shape and surface noise go hand in hand and I wouldn't be at all surprised if this $12 solution bests the 120e.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

That said, I like the old M 91ED better than the M 97xE. My first magnetic and a superb performer. Sounds great and tracked reliably.

 

[quadtech]

Now this looks like a needle in search of a cartridge.
So can someone recommend a good cartridge for it?

 

[markshan]

There are literally dozens of carts it will work on. Like I said, I put in on an AT82ED cartridge, but here is the cut and paste from the eBay listing (BTW, he jacked the price because he is out of them for a few days, it will go back when he restocks)...

USED IN THE FOLLOWING CARTRIDGES: AUDIO TECHNICA AT-11E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT100E,

AUDIO TECHNICA 111, AUDIO TECHNICA 111H, AUDIO TECHNICA 112, AUDIO TECHNICA 112H,

AUDIO TECHNICA 1000HP, 1010E, AUDIO TECHNICA 4040E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT11EPQ,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT11E2, AUDIO TECHNICA AT26E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT28E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT36,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT40E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT45E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT62E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT72XE,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT77EP, AUDIO TECHNICA AT80E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT80EB, AUDIO TECHNICA AT82EDB,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT88E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT89E, AUDIO TECHNICA ATAT90E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT94E,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT101E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT111EPM, AUDIO TECHNICA AT211E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT211H,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT22E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT247E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT250, AUDIO TECHNICA AT250G, AT-320, AT-331.

ALSO USED IN THE FOLLOWING AUDIO TECHNICA CARTRIDGES: AT1010E, AT12E, AT12EZ, AT2012E, AT212E, AT212ED,

AT212EX, AT22I2EH, AT221MP, AT221MP, AT2512E, AT333E, AT3500ED, AT400SE, AT400XE, AT42, AT42E, AT433E, AT530E, AT5500ED,

AT55E, AT6009E, AT64E, AT666, AT7000, AT73EA, AT78EP, AT79EP, AT82ED, AT82EDB, AT84EX, AT84EXB, AT8808EX, ATU12E, ATX1201E,

AT11E/U, 1000HP, 111, 111/HL, AT-1000XE, AT1000XE, AT-1001E, AT1001E, AT-101E, AT101E, AT-1100E, AT1100E, AT-1111E, AT1111E, AT-111EPM,

AT111EPM, AT-11E, AT11E, AT-11E2, AT11E2, AT-11EPQ AT11EPQ AT-11EX, AT11EX AT-11EZ AT11EZ AT-2011E AT2011E AT-2013E,

AT2013E AT-2100E AT2100E AT-2111E AT2111E AT-211E AT211E, AT-211E/H AT211E/H AT-211E/H AT211E/H AT-2211E AT2211E,

AT-2211EH AT2211EH AT-222E AT222E AT-247E AT247E AT-2511E AT2511E AT-26E AT26E AT-26E AT26E AT-28E, AT28E AT-28E,

AT28E AT-300E AT300E AT-311E AT311E AT-3310E, AT3310E AT-3310E AT3310E AT-3311E AT3311E AT-3311E AT3311E AT-331E,

AT331E AT-331E AT331E AT-332E, AT332E AT-338E AT338E AT-3500E AT3500E AT-3500EG AT3500EG AT-36, AT36 AT-388E AT388E,

AT-40 AT40 AT-4000 AT4000 AT-4011EP AT4011EP AT-4011ET AT4011ET AT-4040E, AT4040E AT-40E AT40E AT-411E AT411E AT-4411E,

AT4411E AT-444 AT444 AT-45E, AT45E AT-500SE AT500SE AT-5011E AT5011E AT-590E AT590E AT-605E AT605E AT-62E AT62E,

AT-650E AT650E AT-7111E AT7111E AT-72XE AT72XE AT77E, AT77EP AT-8000E AT8000E, AT-80E AT80E AT-80EB AT80EB AT-88E,

AT88E, AT-89E, AT89E, AT90E, AT-90E, AT-911E, ,AT911E, AT-94E, AT94E, AT-962XE, AT962XE, AT-G11E, ATG11E, AT-S5011E,

ATS5011E, MANY OTHERS.

BTW, no affiliation in case anyone is wondering.

 

[totem]

That said, I like the old M 91ED better than the M 97xE. My first magnetic and a superb performer. Sounds great and tracked reliably.

Hey Kent still on the subject of rep stylus what do you use on your M 91ED?

 

[Pio1980]

I have an EVG/M91 combo waiting for to get around to trying it on something as a utility grinder.

 

[bobins08]

There are literally dozens of carts it will work on. Like I said, I put in on an AT82ED cartridge, but here is the cut and paste from the eBay listing (BTW, he jacked the price because he is out of them for a few days, it will go back when he restocks)...

USED IN THE FOLLOWING CARTRIDGES: AUDIO TECHNICA AT-11E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT100E,

AUDIO TECHNICA 111, AUDIO TECHNICA 111H, AUDIO TECHNICA 112, AUDIO TECHNICA 112H,

AUDIO TECHNICA 1000HP, 1010E, AUDIO TECHNICA 4040E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT11EPQ,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT11E2, AUDIO TECHNICA AT26E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT28E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT36,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT40E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT45E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT62E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT72XE,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT77EP, AUDIO TECHNICA AT80E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT80EB, AUDIO TECHNICA AT82EDB,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT88E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT89E, AUDIO TECHNICA ATAT90E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT94E,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT101E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT111EPM, AUDIO TECHNICA AT211E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT211H,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT22E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT247E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT250, AUDIO TECHNICA AT250G, AT-320, AT-331.

ALSO USED IN THE FOLLOWING AUDIO TECHNICA CARTRIDGES: AT1010E, AT12E, AT12EZ, AT2012E, AT212E, AT212ED,

AT212EX, AT22I2EH, AT221MP, AT221MP, AT2512E, AT333E, AT3500ED, AT400SE, AT400XE, AT42, AT42E, AT433E, AT530E, AT5500ED,

AT55E, AT6009E, AT64E, AT666, AT7000, AT73EA, AT78EP, AT79EP, AT82ED, AT82EDB, AT84EX, AT84EXB, AT8808EX, ATU12E, ATX1201E,

AT11E/U, 1000HP, 111, 111/HL, AT-1000XE, AT1000XE, AT-1001E, AT1001E, AT-101E, AT101E, AT-1100E, AT1100E, AT-1111E, AT1111E, AT-111EPM,

AT111EPM, AT-11E, AT11E, AT-11E2, AT11E2, AT-11EPQ AT11EPQ AT-11EX, AT11EX AT-11EZ AT11EZ AT-2011E AT2011E AT-2013E,

AT2013E AT-2100E AT2100E AT-2111E AT2111E AT-211E AT211E, AT-211E/H AT211E/H AT-211E/H AT211E/H AT-2211E AT2211E,

AT-2211EH AT2211EH AT-222E AT222E AT-247E AT247E AT-2511E AT2511E AT-26E AT26E AT-26E AT26E AT-28E, AT28E AT-28E,

AT28E AT-300E AT300E AT-311E AT311E AT-3310E, AT3310E AT-3310E AT3310E AT-3311E AT3311E AT-3311E AT3311E AT-331E,

AT331E AT-331E AT331E AT-332E, AT332E AT-338E AT338E AT-3500E AT3500E AT-3500EG AT3500EG AT-36, AT36 AT-388E AT388E,

AT-40 AT40 AT-4000 AT4000 AT-4011EP AT4011EP AT-4011ET AT4011ET AT-4040E, AT4040E AT-40E AT40E AT-411E AT411E AT-4411E,

AT4411E AT-444 AT444 AT-45E, AT45E AT-500SE AT500SE AT-5011E AT5011E AT-590E AT590E AT-605E AT605E AT-62E AT62E,

AT-650E AT650E AT-7111E AT7111E AT-72XE AT72XE AT77E, AT77EP AT-8000E AT8000E, AT-80E AT80E AT-80EB AT80EB AT-88E,

AT88E, AT-89E, AT89E, AT90E, AT-90E, AT-911E, ,AT911E, AT-94E, AT94E, AT-962XE, AT962XE, AT-G11E, ATG11E, AT-S5011E,

ATS5011E, MANY OTHERS.

BTW, no affiliation in case anyone is wondering.

OP,

I am setting up a table for my son and looking for a budget stylus for one of those AT bodies.

Where does one find said stylus?

cheers, Bob

 

[markshan]

Just search "629-DE" on eBay. There are a couple of sellers. Please report back with your findings. Two of us find this to be a really great cheap stylus, but lots of folks have reservations about Pfanstiehl. I'd love to get more impressions.

Make sure you are getting one that is 2x7. Some conical and 4x7 tips are showing up in that search.

 

[markshan]

One listing claims that it is a JICO. I wish I had seen that before I purchased. I'll try that one next time.

 

[BuddhaBob]

I purchased a .2x.7 elliptical from the same needle seller about a month ago. I had purchased a used headshell and that came with an AT96E cartridge as a freebie--but with the cantilever snapped, as was disclosed by the seller. So I needed a replacement and figured that for twelve bucks I would try it. Looks like Pfahnstiel made it.

I believe that AT used the same body for the AT12S and I could put a Shibata (JICO) on this cart also. For $11.95, this .2x.7 elliptical is quite amazing. It tracks beautifully at 1.55G and there is noticeably less surface noise than with the .3x.7 stylus I was using before in an AT311EP. I have played many LPs just marveling at how well it tracks and how much quieter it is. I am now torn between getting a Shibata stylus for this cart body and getting a JICO for my Shure V15IV. I know, a ton of you may want to reply that I need to go for the Shure upgrade (and did, in a different post where I asked about just getting a new 97xE). But this AT cart has clarity and separation that, in my setup and to my ears, isn't borne out by the published specs. All with a $12 needle.

 

[thes]

Wow,now that's a bang for the buck!
Could it fit in an audio technica at91 body? I have one unused...

 

[Ambien Gnome]

There are literally dozens of carts it will work on. Like I said, I put in on an AT82ED cartridge, but here is the cut and paste from the eBay listing (BTW, he jacked the price because he is out of them for a few days, it will go back when he restocks)...

USED IN THE FOLLOWING CARTRIDGES: AUDIO TECHNICA AT-11E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT100E,

AUDIO TECHNICA 111, AUDIO TECHNICA 111H, AUDIO TECHNICA 112, AUDIO TECHNICA 112H,

AUDIO TECHNICA 1000HP, 1010E, AUDIO TECHNICA 4040E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT11EPQ,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT11E2, AUDIO TECHNICA AT26E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT28E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT36,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT40E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT45E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT62E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT72XE,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT77EP, AUDIO TECHNICA AT80E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT80EB, AUDIO TECHNICA AT82EDB,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT88E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT89E, AUDIO TECHNICA ATAT90E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT94E,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT101E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT111EPM, AUDIO TECHNICA AT211E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT211H,

AUDIO TECHNICA AT22E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT247E, AUDIO TECHNICA AT250, AUDIO TECHNICA AT250G, AT-320, AT-331.

ALSO USED IN THE FOLLOWING AUDIO TECHNICA CARTRIDGES: AT1010E, AT12E, AT12EZ, AT2012E, AT212E, AT212ED,

AT212EX, AT22I2EH, AT221MP, AT221MP, AT2512E, AT333E, AT3500ED, AT400SE, AT400XE, AT42, AT42E, AT433E, AT530E, AT5500ED,

AT55E, AT6009E, AT64E, AT666, AT7000, AT73EA, AT78EP, AT79EP, AT82ED, AT82EDB, AT84EX, AT84EXB, AT8808EX, ATU12E, ATX1201E,

AT11E/U, 1000HP, 111, 111/HL, AT-1000XE, AT1000XE, AT-1001E, AT1001E, AT-101E, AT101E, AT-1100E, AT1100E, AT-1111E, AT1111E, AT-111EPM,

AT111EPM, AT-11E, AT11E, AT-11E2, AT11E2, AT-11EPQ AT11EPQ AT-11EX, AT11EX AT-11EZ AT11EZ AT-2011E AT2011E AT-2013E,

AT2013E AT-2100E AT2100E AT-2111E AT2111E AT-211E AT211E, AT-211E/H AT211E/H AT-211E/H AT211E/H AT-2211E AT2211E,

AT-2211EH AT2211EH AT-222E AT222E AT-247E AT247E AT-2511E AT2511E AT-26E AT26E AT-26E AT26E AT-28E, AT28E AT-28E,

AT28E AT-300E AT300E AT-311E AT311E AT-3310E, AT3310E AT-3310E AT3310E AT-3311E AT3311E AT-3311E AT3311E AT-331E,

AT331E AT-331E AT331E AT-332E, AT332E AT-338E AT338E AT-3500E AT3500E AT-3500EG AT3500EG AT-36, AT36 AT-388E AT388E,

AT-40 AT40 AT-4000 AT4000 AT-4011EP AT4011EP AT-4011ET AT4011ET AT-4040E, AT4040E AT-40E AT40E AT-411E AT411E AT-4411E,

AT4411E AT-444 AT444 AT-45E, AT45E AT-500SE AT500SE AT-5011E AT5011E AT-590E AT590E AT-605E AT605E AT-62E AT62E,

AT-650E AT650E AT-7111E AT7111E AT-72XE AT72XE AT77E, AT77EP AT-8000E AT8000E, AT-80E AT80E AT-80EB AT80EB AT-88E,

AT88E, AT-89E, AT89E, AT90E, AT-90E, AT-911E, ,AT911E, AT-94E, AT94E, AT-962XE, AT962XE, AT-G11E, ATG11E, AT-S5011E,

ATS5011E, MANY OTHERS.

BTW, no affiliation in case anyone is wondering.

is it me or is the 120 not on that list? wonder if it would still work?