AT15sa vs M97xe

[PHILEAUDIO]

Recently they gave me a AT15sa cartridge, but lacks the needle, worth putting to work this cartridge? or is it better to buy the shure m97xe? I own a Technics 1200 mk2 turntable.
I appreciate your comments.

 

[mr_petit]

An at-15sa would completely outclass the shure m97xe.
The at-15sa is a very good mm cartridge.
But only if you can get the original needle. That isn't made anymore and pretty rare (maybe you can find a NOS on ebay).
I think jico make a high quality replacement shibata, but I don't know if it's a nude shibata.

 

[gusten]

The needle is rather hard to find, and it won´t be that cheap. Still very much worth it, but only with an original needle. Can´t really be compared with the Shure, it´s so much better.

 

[vincei]

You could get an after market Shibata from Lp Gear for about $130. Likely not as good as the original, but should be decent. Or depending on budget, sell that body and put it towards a new AT-440MLb.

 

[neobop]

The aftermarket (Jico) shibata is bonded, but they're good quality. LpGear usually has a vivid line, but not for the AT15/20 body. This is one of the old round plug bodies. I wonder if an ATN14 would fit? They have a vivid line for that - $90. The ultimate would be a transplant, but that's expensive and hairy.
neo

 

[gusten]

The aftermarket (Jico) shibata is bonded, but they're good quality. LpGear usually has a vivid line, but not for the AT15/20 body. This is one of the old round plug bodies. I wonder if an ATN14 would fit? They have a vivid line for that - $90. The ultimate would be a transplant, but that's expensive and hairy.
neo

Yes ATN13-14 will fit, so will ATS12S e.g.

 

[lini]

neo: Nope, wouldn't - 'cause one the AT14Sa body the connector block is only about as wide as the generator shell, whereas on the AT15Sa/20SLa body the connector block is a bit wider, so that (the plastic holder of) the needles for these have to be wider on the inside towards the rear end. Well, and the other way around it would work either, because the ATN15/20 has higher side walls than the ATN13/14.

PA: I'd suggest to grab an ATN15XE instead.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[gusten]

lini: I was more thinking in the Clearaudio sense.

 

[neobop]

neo: Nope, wouldn't - 'cause one the AT14Sa body the connector block is only about as wide as the generator shell, whereas on the AT15Sa/20SLa body the connector block is a bit wider, so that (the plastic holder of) the needles for these have to be wider on the inside towards the rear end. Well, and the other way around it would work either, because the ATN15/20 has higher side walls than the ATN13/14.

PA: I'd suggest to grab an ATN15XE instead.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

I figured something like that. The Jico replacement for the XE is a .3 x .7 mil bonded/straight alum. cantilever for $40. Stereo Needles says they have an orig. .2 x .7 for $120.
Hardly seems worth the difference, even if it's a nudie. I suspect the Jico shibata will outperform the orig. XE?

Would a Clearaudio style trim even work with a round plug? I guess the magnet assembly would keep it from rotating, but it doesn't seem secure. It would be interesting to find out.

I think the best would be the Jico shibata and next would be the XE replacement.
neo

 

[jrtrent]

As others have noted, AT no longer supports this model with new styli. 3rd party styli are available, but they will be different than the originals. You might find the sound to your liking. Personally, I'd opt for the M97xE simply because I prefer its tonal quality to the typical AT house sound (which I find thinner and brighter than the Shure) and because it's a current model still supported with factory fresh, original styli (that don't cost too much, either). I've also found the dynamic stabilizer brush a great help in tracking warped records.

 

[gusten]

I figured something like that. The Jico replacement for the XE is a .3 x .7 mil bonded/straight alum. cantilever for $40. Stereo Needles says they have an orig. .2 x .7 for $120.
Hardly seems worth the difference, even if it's a nudie. I suspect the Jico shibata will outperform the orig. XE?

Would a Clearaudio style trim even work with a round plug? I guess the magnet assembly would keep it from rotating, but it doesn't seem secure. It would be interesting to find out.

I think the best would be the Jico shibata and next would be the XE replacement.
neo

Yes, but the best is to leave a little of the wings to make it more secure, I have tested this.

 

[PHILEAUDIO]

Thank you all for your answers, attracts me the needle lpgear 129 dlls, but for your comments, I can find the original, although it will not be easy to find. A needle m97xe SAS'd better at15sa? or I can also go through at44mlb?

 

[ripblade]

To my knowledge, all aftermarket needles for the 15Sa are bonded, whether elliptical or Shibata. Even so, it's a fantastic cartridge, not bright like the later AT cartridges, but with a wide open, dynamic and lively sound.

 

[SSaxdude]

Even if you can't find a genuine Shibata (there must be genuine ellipticals out there for cheaper, or Jicos) I'd take that over the M97xE.

 

[neobop]

Thank you all for your answers, attracts me the needle lpgear 129 dlls, but for your comments, I can find the original, although it will not be easy to find. A needle m97xe SAS'd better at15sa? or I can also go through at44mlb?

Tough call between the M97/SAS and AT15/Jico shibata ? The M97/SAS is supposed to be one of the more successful SAS. I've never heard it, but I've been told the Shure SAS works best with high inductance and the M97 fills the bill. I have an AT15/20SS and it's a beautiful cart, but without that stylus it's hard for me to say. I suspect with the Jico, it would be smooth where the M97 is a little edgy?

From what I can tell, the 440MLb isn't quite in this league. There are a lot of 440 bodies out there. Put an ATN150MLX on one and you've got a fantastic cart. That's almost the same as a 160ML without the deluxe body and boron instead of beryllium. The stylus is < $200 on Amazon. The 440 and 120 share the same body. You ought to be able to do that for around the same $ as the M97/SAS.
neo

 

[stonedeaf]

The OEM ATN-15xE is very good . Within a day of getting my first -ordered two more. I'm a pretty big fan of the Shure 97xE -but if you can get a original stylus for the AT body and run it at low capacitance 100pF or a little more - this is getting pretty close to the top of AT's game.

 

[lini]

neo: I wouldn't underestimate that ATN15XE - that's a very nicely polished, sharp, true elliptical nudie with square shank on tapered, anodised alu cantilever. Won't live quite as long as an ATN15, but sonically is more a different flavour than being any worse. 120 bucks for that quality level would still seem pretty fair, imo, and not a bad investment.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[neobop]

A couple of factors here - call Stereo Needles first, before ordering. Make sure they have it. Some people had trouble getting vintage AT styli. They also reported problems with a refund.
A .2 elliptical has good detail, but also the smallest contact area of any stylus. AT recommends checking for wear (all elliptical) after 300 hrs. This stylus sounds good on carts like the 7V and 33EV. Both have tapered alum/nude .2E, but the 440/120 combo with ATN150MLX shouldn't be underestimated either. IMO it goes up against the best AT MMs. Some might prefer a 100E or 5V body, more like a 150 body, but the stylus is current and the possibilities greater. The ML is the most advanced AT stylus. On a boron cantilever will give the most detail and last the longest. Going up against the 15SS, the 440/150MLX is a little more detailed and the 15SS is a little sweeter.
neo

 

[PHILEAUDIO]

I'm already found the genuine ATN15 shibata nude in a epay auction (I did pay 80 bucks) and it's in new condition. I wanna test this couple right now!!

 

[Blue Shadow]

Very well bought. A $300 or more cartridge today for 80 something since you had the body.