Review (sorta) 767-DED Cheap Stylus

I've been looking for the best cheap replacement stylus for my Shure M95ED for awhile now. I've read many of the numerous threads on replacements for the 95 and there are almost as many different reccomended styli as there are threads (well, almost sorta). It's actually pretty nerve racking to do that kind of research, for me anyway, and ended up giving me a headache. But, through that research on this forum, I was swayed to the 767-DED. Not just any 767-DED but the one sold by stereoneedleslady on ebay. Actually her name is Carole and the packing slip that I got with it says it was from Carole Needles. I have no affiliation with them in any way it's just that she was mentioned in the forum that these particular 767DED styli are the EVG and not the pfanstiehl styli. Anyway, that's what I finally decided to get and the price was right at $15.65 with free shipping.
You can pull your hair out with all the different specs and all the different companys and all the different ebayers and most of all all the different prices for what boils down to, probably, only a few different styli that are just represented in a different way.
Well, that's enough about how I got this stylus.

It looks fantastic! It also sounds fantastic! I can't give a real review because I'm not an audiophile (did I spell that right)(wait a minute did I spell that correctly) and I don't know thier language but I do know what sounds good and what sounds bad. I had the original stylus from a Shure M95EJ on my M95ED and I could tell it was singing it's last hurrah so I didn't really know what an M95ED could sound like. When I got this baby set up on my PL-50, tracking at the suggested 1.25gr, I was very pleased. I didn't even want to tinker with that trcking weight.

I'm listening to David Sanborn's "Hideaway" right now and the first thing I noticed was how hard the bass hits. Nice and sharp but still low, if you know what I mean (you probably have no idea what this fool is talking about). The highs are not metalic and don't sound like there coming threw a tin can. What I really like is the sound of the horns. nice and smooth but vibrant. This M95ED with this stylus is mellow to me, but don't get me wrong, it's still vibrant and full.

I did notice the cantilever is a hair thicker than the one on the original Shure stylus. Also, the 767-DED has the "blue" dot on the cantilever.

OK, I'm not a very good reviewer and my headache is getting worse so I'll just say I really love this cart/stylus combo. I didn't know the M95 could sound this good.

BTW, I'm using this stylus with my Kenwood KA-9100, Pioneer PL-50 and Advent 25th Anniversary Editions.

I'll post some pictures of the stylus directly.

Al

Pics

Here are some pics of the new stylus and with a shot of the new one sittng next to the original Shure N95EJ. It's hard to see the different sizes of the cantilevers but they are different if you look close.
I also should have said that this stylus is suppose to be .2 x .7.

Al

Also, the 767-DED has the "blue" dot on the cantilever.

Click to expand...

Quite possibly made by JICO!

760-DED looks more like a Pfanstiehl part number than an ElectroVoice part number. I've noticed several other needle sellers on ebay doing the same thing--selling EVG branded needles with Pfanstiehl part numbers. Odd.
Rick

I've had that same headache trying to decide on a replacement stylus for my M95ED. Thanks for your review.

FWIW, the EJ was a 4 x 7 tip and the ED is 2 x7. Most of the M95ED replacements I've looked at seem to be 2x7. I've had Pfansteihl replacements before and had no complaints.

jimbofish said:

I've had that same headache trying to decide on a replacement stylus for my M95ED. Thanks for your review.

FWIW, the EJ was a 4 x 7 tip and the ED is 2 x7. Most of the M95ED replacements I've looked at seem to be 2x7. I've had Pfansteihl replacements before and had no complaints.

Click to expand...

That was really why I posted this review. It's obvious I'm not much of a reviewer but I was having a hard time trying to figure out which stylus to buy also.
It's no wonder people are confused with all the descriptions and model numbers on ebay and even on the internet companys that sell these styli contradicting each other.
One poster in some of the threads I read, who I can't recall at the moment, recommended this stylus with the part number 767-DED from this seller and said it was an EVG stylus and the one with the part number 4767-DE is the pfansteihl stylus. If you buy from a different seller you may end up with just the opposite results. Like was said before, there is a heck of alot of confusion out there.
I messaged Carole when I bought this stylus and ask her if it was an EVG stylus and she said yes. Now, I'm not saying you will get the same stylus if you order the same one I did but after I got this one I sent her a "Thank You" and she responded that she has had "excellent reports on this needle".
If I was to buy another one I would first ask the seller if it had the "blue" dot on the cantilever. I really like the sound from this stylus and at that price I am very pleased with the results. YMMV

Al

Many have reported (including myself) that the EVG "blue dot" stylus for the Shure M91ED is also an excellent bargain at $12 or so.

Here comes that headache again

If this is the same stylus you ordered, it's getting confusing again...

http://www.stereoneedleslady.com/servlet/the-6471/767-dsh-DE-STEREO-RECORD-PLAYER/Detail

Says it's Pfansteihl, made in Switzerland. :scratch2:

Then there's this one...

http://www.stereoneedleslady.com/servlet/the-6421/767-dsh-DE-STEREO-RECORD-PLAYER/Detail

... listed with the same part number, but obviously different, shown in an EVG box. :scratch2:

By price and color, I'm guessing you ordered the one that says Pfansteihl made in Switzerland, but received an EVG that's labeled 767-DED. :scratch2:

Duh... now I see that there are two listings for this stylus, both at the same price. Didn't see both till I sorted them by price. One says Pfansteihl & Switzerland, the other doesn't say, but appears to indicate EVG. The photos look identical.

I see your location is Ausable river, presumably the one in northern MI? Maybe I should order the other one and we can compare them?

I recently bought an EVG stylus for my M91ED from eBay seller "NeedleDaddy1" and it seems to work well. However, the cantilever has a black dot just behind the stylus tip and maybe another dot with no real color on the side of the cantilever. So it doesn't have the hoped-for "this could be a JICO" blue dot. The package says "EVG" with part number PM3136DE.

I sent a message to Carole (Angler's eB supplier) and asked if she can see which of her 3 M91ED stylus offerings has the blue dot. Is it hit and miss or does one part number consistently have blue dots? She has 3 yellow EVG PM3136DE listings with three slightly varying prices as well as a black Pfanstiehl listing for the M91ED.

Beatcomber, where did you buy your M91ED EVG stylus with the blue dot that is hopefully a JICO?

LexDM3 said:

I sent a message to Carole (Angler's eB supplier) and asked if she can see which of her 3 M91ED stylus offerings has the blue dot. Is it hit and miss or does one part number consistently have blue dots? She has 3 yellow EVG PM3136DE listings with three slightly varying prices as well as a black Pfanstiehl listing for the M91ED.

Click to expand...

I had just been looking at those 3 before seeing your post. It gave me another headache trying to figure out the difference other than a few cents in price. Please post her response. :yes:

If I order another cheap stylus for my M95ED I will send Carole a message to make sure I get the "blue" dot before I commit to buy. As I said earlier about the stylus number and buying that particular one from Carole, I was going by what another AK'er posted when I made my decision to order. What I did this first time was, I clicked on BIN and sent a note with my purchase order. I didn't know what the different colored dots really meant until I got my stylus in the mail. If someone orders one just like mine from the same vendor I would be surprised if it doesn't have the blue dot but, ya' never know, it's better to be safe than sorry. The truth is, maybe a red one would be just as nice but I don't want to take the chance so I will inquire before I buy.

jimbofish, I didn't go to Carole's store to order mine. I just bought it from her ebay listing. The ivory colored one looks like mine but the number is wrong. The one I got is in the picture which reads 767-DED and the one on the store site that you posted says 767-DE so I don't know. Like has been said before, these model numbers are a pita and that's why, regardless of who I buy it from, I will ask beforehand if it has the blue dot.

Another question I have been asking myself is; Does the dot color tell us who made the stylus or does it tell us what type of diamond it is? Does it tell us what type of cantilever or is it the distributer's color code? Or, does it tell us nothing at all?

Yeah, it's a headache waiting to happen.

Thanks for your input fella's.

Al

LexDM3 said:

I recently bought an EVG stylus for my M91ED from eBay seller "NeedleDaddy1" and it seems to work well. However, the cantilever has a black dot just behind the stylus tip and maybe another dot with no real color on the side of the cantilever. So it doesn't have the hoped-for "this could be a JICO" blue dot. The package says "EVG" with part number PM3136DE.

I sent a message to Carole (Angler's eB supplier) and asked if she can see which of her 3 M91ED stylus offerings has the blue dot. Is it hit and miss or does one part number consistently have blue dots? She has 3 yellow EVG PM3136DE listings with three slightly varying prices as well as a black Pfanstiehl listing for the M91ED.

Beatcomber, where did you buy your M91ED EVG stylus with the blue dot that is hopefully a JICO?

Click to expand...

Those varying prices from the same seller for the same merchandise are a little baffling and Carole's Needles isn't the only seller to do it. Since these are import items the different prices may reflect different inventory cost based on the exchange rate at the time they were billed.

Anyway, the EVG vs. Pfanstiehl dilemma is easier to deal with when looking at the styli for the M91ED. The Pfanstiehl is black with a red dot on the cantilever directly opposite the stylus. The EVG is "yellow" with the dark blue dot about half way up the cantilever on the bottom side.

I have both, each mounted in its own cartridge and its own headshell. I like them both. I think I favor the EVG slightly though. I got them from Anderson Music (Andydeals).

The M95ED styli from Pfanstiehl and EVG are both yellow so you have to look for red or blue dots to tell one from the other. Also, the EVG cantilever is slightly finer and slightly better formed on the EVG. At least that's the case regarding the M91ED styli. That green one, by the way, is a replacement for the heavier tracking N97EJ.

John

jimbofish said:

I've had that same headache trying to decide on a replacement stylus for my M95ED. Thanks for your review.

FWIW, the EJ was a 4 x 7 tip and the ED is 2 x7. Most of the M95ED replacements I've looked at seem to be 2x7. I've had Pfansteihl replacements before and had no complaints.

Click to expand...

The Pfanstiehls are .2 x .7 mil but the EVG/JICO ones are .3 x .7 mil.

John

boreas said:

The Pfanstiehls are .2 x .7 mil but the EVG/JICO ones are .3 x .7 mil.

John

Click to expand...

The EVG 767-DED is .2 x .7 according to Carole's listing that I bought mine from. I believe the specs are just as baffling as the rest of the info concerning these styli. At least they are to me. boreas, have you got other information that gives the specs of these besides all the contradictory specs that are given on ebay? I haven't found anything that is written in stone myself.

Al

Angler said:

=boreas, have you got other information that gives the specs of these besides all the contradictory specs that are given on ebay? I haven't found anything that is written in stone myself.

Al

Click to expand...

It appears I may be wrong. I've found several eBay sellers that describe the EVG as a .2 x .7 mil elliptical. My assumption that they're .3 x .7 mil stems from my belief that EVG styli are made by JICO and, as far as I know, all their ellipticals are .3 x .7 mils. I was told this in an email from JICO. That's exactly what was said but it could have been the result of imperfect English.

So, IF EVG styli with the blue dot on the cantilever are indeed made by JICO (and they sure as hell look like they are and that's what the VP for Sales at Russell Industries told me) and IF, as I was told, all JICO ellipticals are .3. x .7 mil, then the EVG styli for the M95ED with the blue dot on the cantilever are .3 x .7 mil and not .2 x .7 mil as advertised.

Also, TurntableNeedles' listing for the JICO 767-DE lists it as .3 x .7 mil.

Lotta "IFs", I guess.

John

Thanks, Boreas. Three bits of further information:

- Since the EVG M91ED stylus I bought from NeedleDaddy1 is yellow but has a black dot on the cantilever, I'm guessing it's not made by JICO but I could be wrong on that. Maybe EVG has more than one supplier or possibly their one supplier marks stylii with different dot colors depending on _____. (fill in the blank - quality, tip size, phase of the moon...).

- TurntableNeedles lists an "AVCR" private label M91ED and does say that it's a JICO and is .3 x .7. It's $29.95 but if you want a JICO non-SAS at a reasonable price, this might be the best way that you get the mythical blue dot version. If anyone has bought this item, did it have the blue dot?

- I just got a message back from Carole (StereoNeedlesLady) after I asked if she could verify if her EVG M91ED stylii have blue dots. She wrote, "I grabbed a handful of these and looked under the microscope...they all have black mark on the cantilever, not a blue dot."

--Dan

LexDM3 said:

Thanks, Boreas. Three bits of further information:

- Since the EVG M91ED stylus I bought from NeedleDaddy1 is yellow but has a black dot on the cantilever, I'm guessing it's not made by JICO but I could be wrong on that. Maybe EVG has more than one supplier or possibly their one supplier marks stylii with different dot colors depending on _____. (fill in the blank - quality, tip size, phase of the moon...).

- TurntableNeedles lists an "AVCR" private label M91ED and does say that it's a JICO and is .3 x .7. It's $29.95 but if you want a JICO non-SAS at a reasonable price, this might be the best way that you get the mythical blue dot version. If anyone has bought this item, did it have the blue dot?

- I just got a message back from Carole (StereoNeedlesLady) after I asked if she could verify if her EVG M91ED stylii have blue dots. She wrote, "I grabbed a handful of these and looked under the microscope...they all have black mark on the cantilever, not a blue dot."

--Dan

Click to expand...

This is the one you want:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEREO-TURN...040?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519c9af568

boreas said:

It appears I may be wrong. I've found several eBay sellers that describe the EVG as a .2 x .7 mil elliptical. My assumption that they're .3 x .7 mil stems from my belief that EVG styli are made by JICO and, as far as I know, all their ellipticals are .3 x .7 mils. I was told this in an email from JICO. That's exactly what was said but it could have been the result of imperfect English.

So, IF EVG styli with the blue dot on the cantilever are indeed made by JICO (and they sure as hell look like they are and that's what the VP for Sales at Russell Industries told me) and IF, as I was told, all JICO ellipticals are .3. x .7 mil, then the EVG styli for the M95ED with the blue dot on the cantilever are .3 x .7 mil and not .2 x .7 mil as advertised.

Also, TurntableNeedles' listing for the JICO 767-DE lists it as .3 x .7 mil.

Lotta "IFs", I guess.

John

Click to expand...

This is exactly the info I have been looking for. Thanks boreas! We may get to the bottom of this yet. I think the specs that are given from all the different sellers on ebay can be taken with a grain of salt. I don't mean to say they are misleading us it's just that I think they are as confused as we are. They are probably giving us the specs that they are given from thier suppliers, I don't know.

I know I'll deal with Carole again. She has been straight with me and has answered my messages pronto. From what I've seen she has been straight with others as well. I'm sure there are others who are just as nice to deal with also but I have know experience with anyone else.

So, do you guys think the "blue" dot signifies the maker of the stylus? I mean, seeing how I have the M95 and some of you are talking about the M91, does the "blue" dot on the M91 mean it's made by the same company that makes the "blue" dot M95? I'm keeping my eye open for an M91 body to add to the stable.

By the way, did I say I really like this stylus? It sounds natural to me. That's the best description of it I can give.

Thanks Guys,
Al

LexDM3 said:

Thanks, Boreas. Three bits of further information:

- Since the EVG M91ED stylus I bought from NeedleDaddy1 is yellow but has a black dot on the cantilever, I'm guessing it's not made by JICO but I could be wrong on that. Maybe EVG has more than one supplier or possibly their one supplier marks stylii with different dot colors depending on _____. (fill in the blank - quality, tip size, phase of the moon...).

- TurntableNeedles lists an "AVCR" private label M91ED and does say that it's a JICO and is .3 x .7. It's $29.95 but if you want a JICO non-SAS at a reasonable price, this might be the best way that you get the mythical blue dot version. If anyone has bought this item, did it have the blue dot?

- I just got a message back from Carole (StereoNeedlesLady) after I asked if she could verify if her EVG M91ED stylii have blue dots. She wrote, "I grabbed a handful of these and looked under the microscope...they all have black mark on the cantilever, not a blue dot."

--Dan

Click to expand...

I just looked at the EVG I have for my M91ED. The dot on it looks black to me now whereas before it looked blue. Who knows!

"AVCR" is TurntableNeedles. That's all that means. As you saw, however, they list it as a JICO and as being .3 x .7 mil, just as they list all their JICO Ellipticals.

Anyway, I like my EVG no matter who made it and no matter what color the dot is.

John