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AT M12E/U cartridge

B

Brett martin

New Member
I have a Sherwood ST903 linear tracking turntable that, to the best of my knowledge, uses a AT M12E/U cartridge. I having a hard time finding one. Does anyone know if there is a compatible cartridge I can use? Or if there a table showing replacements? Any help would be appreciated.
 
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That's a T4P (p-mount) cartridge. Not too many options in the market, however, search Amazon for the AT85EP, for a low-priced alternative. LpGear, and Tuntableneedles.com (no affiliation with either one) also carry p-mount models. If all you need is to replace the stylus, you can find an ATN112EP or an ATN122EP stylus from these vendors. Both models will fit your AT M12E/U cartridge.
 
Yes, let us know whether you're looking for the whole cartridge + stylus or merely the stylus alone, and what your budget is. Audio-Technica made many, many clones (or, if you will, rebadges) of the M12E/U, so if you need a cartridge, you don't have to look solely for that one.

Folks wanting to help may want to know which A-T p-mount is being discussed, so here's a photo of a typical first-generation model. The M12E/U is the same; only the label is different.
2a.jpg 1a.jpg
These bodies are still easily available here in the US on places like eBay. The advantage of using them is their ability to accept many standard-mount A-T styli.
 
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I know this is an old thread but first of all is M12E/U considered a decent cart among other Audio Technica T4P carts? Doe it make sense to upgrade the stylus? Also, what styli can be used with M12E/U and finally what is the best bang for the buck stylus upgrade for this cart?

Thank you so much in advance, I know these are hard/subjective questions
 
I know this is an old thread but first of all is M12E/U considered a decent cart among other Audio Technica T4P carts? Doe it make sense to upgrade the stylus? Also, what styli can be used with M12E/U and finally what is the best bang for the buck stylus upgrade for this cart?

Thank you so much in advance, I know these are hard/subjective questions


wualta said:
Folks wanting to help may want to know which A-T p-mount is being discussed, so here's a photo of a typical first-generation model. The M12E/U is the same; only the label is different.
View attachment 2456433 View attachment 2456432
These bodies are still easily available here in the US on places like eBay. The advantage of using them is their ability to accept many standard-mount A-T styli.
Click to expand...
 
duchski said:
..is M12E/U considered a decent cart among other Audio Technica T4P carts? Doe it make sense to upgrade the stylus?
Click to expand...
Yes and certainly, respectively.
duchski said:
Also, what styli can be used with M12E/U and finally what is the best bang for the buck stylus upgrade for this cart?...
Click to expand...
I use a combination of A-T's p-mount (ATN152MLP) and standard-mount (ATN440MLa) styli in my M12E/U-equivalent cartridges, but they all date from a time when A-T was still making light-tracking styli with beryllium (and boron) cantilevers, and those are all long out of production. So the answer to this question very much depends on your budget, your turntable model and the availability of affordable styli. I hope others who are up-to-date with A-T's current stylus lineup and know which ones can track well at 1.25 grams (if any) will come forward. It may be that with the current trend to higher tracking forces, you may have difficulty finding off-the-shelf A-T styli that can track at the p-mount standard, though there are workarounds.
 
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Thank you. What do you, and others as well, think about this stylus, supposedly nude elliptical?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204187952545



wualta said:
Yes and certainly, respectively.

I use a combination of A-T's p-mount (ATN152MLP) and standard-mount (ATN440MLa) styli in my M12E/U-equivalent cartridges, but they all date from a time when A-T was still making light-tracking styli with beryllium (and boron) cantilevers, and those are all long out of production. So the answer to this question very much depends on your budget, your turntable model and the availability of affordable styli. I hope others who are up-to-date with A-T's current stylus lineup and know which ones can track well at 1.25 grams (if any) will come forward. It may be that with the current trend to higher tracking forces, you may have difficulty finding off-the-shelf A-T styli that can track at the p-mount standard.
Click to expand...
 
I don't have that one, but I know the aftermarket can make good-sounding inexpensive copies of A-T's earlier styli (eg, the 629-DE), so I hope someone who's tried the one in your link has good news. I can at least say that in my longish experience, stereoneedleslady is a known-good vendor.
 
duchski said:
Thank you. What do you, and others as well, think about this stylus, supposedly nude elliptical?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204187952545
Click to expand...

I think the issue on those, is that the cantilever has been a little long and if you're using this on a T4P arm you can't really do anything to compensate for the alignment.

The bonded 3x7 elliptical sold @ turntableneedles.com isn't bad at all. They also have an aftermarket nude hyper-elliptical, but I haven't tried one.
 
Great news! This is what I was looking for as ebay is often sketchy. Ill let everybody know

wualta said:
I don't have that one, but I know the aftermarket can make good-sounding inexpensive copies of A-T's earlier styli (eg, the 629-DE), so I hope someone who's tried the one in your link has good news. I can at least say that in my longish experience, stereoneedleslady is a known-good vendor.
Click to expand...
 
cgallery said:
I think the issue on those, is that the cantilever has been a little long and if you're using this on a T4P arm you can't really do anything to compensate for the alignment.

The bonded 3x7 elliptical sold @ turntableneedles.com isn't bad at all. They also have an aftermarket nude hyper-elliptical, but I haven't tried one.
Click to expand...

Do you know the ebay item# for 3x7 eliptical you mentioned?
 
https://www.turntableneedles.com/AT...a-AT-122EP-cartridge-Stock-212-DET_p_955.html

They sell a 3x7 bonded in a variety of colors to match the original colors of the Audio Technica T4P line. Just have to find one that is in stock, the color is irrelevant.

If you were looking for the nude hyper-elliptical you can put yourself on the waiting list. They were out of stock a month or six weeks ago, I put myself on the waiting list and was notified two days later they had some. I don't know if they assemble them to order or it was just a fluke they got some in when I was curious.

I didn't actually try one, I was simply interested. I may try one in the future.
 
I did. I really wanted to try nude stylus as I never had one. Some people claim the difference is spectacular. I really don't know. Is it really worth the extra money?


cgallery said:
https://www.turntableneedles.com/AT...a-AT-122EP-cartridge-Stock-212-DET_p_955.html

They sell a 3x7 bonded in a variety of colors to match the original colors of the Audio Technica T4P line. Just have to find one that is in stock, the color is irrelevant.

If you were looking for the nude hyper-elliptical you can put yourself on the waiting list. They were out of stock a month or six weeks ago, I put myself on the waiting list and was notified two days later they had some. I don't know if they assemble them to order or it was just a fluke they got some in when I was curious.

I didn't actually try one, I was simply interested. I may try one in the future.
Click to expand...
 
duchski said:
I did. I really wanted to try nude stylus as I never had one. Some people claim the difference is spectacular. I really don't know. Is it really worth the extra money?
Click to expand...

Well you need to decide that for yourself.

I do think a lot of people start with a bonded then later update to nude and think the difference is spectacular BUT how worn is the bonded by this point?

I have very nice bonded elliptical and Shibata styli and enjoy they. I also have nice nudes of everything. Sometimes I actually prefer the bonded models. It is a different sound but as long as they're all similarly worn I'd say they sound different not necessarily that nude blows the bonded away.
 
I just received the nude elliptical stylus for my M12/U from stereoneedleslady : it fits perfectly and sounds spectacularly with most of the surface noise gone!
Wow. I just ordered a nude eliptical for my P22 cart as well. at $40 its a steal!


cgallery said:
Well you need to decide that for yourself.

I do think a lot of people start with a bonded then later update to nude and think the difference is spectacular BUT how worn is the bonded by this point?

I have very nice bonded elliptical and Shibata styli and enjoy they. I also have nice nudes of everything. Sometimes I actually prefer the bonded models. It is a different sound but as long as they're all similarly worn I'd say they sound different not necessarily that nude blows the bonded away.
Click to expand...
 
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