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Audio Technica AT-155LC Stylus Replacement

D

Decibel_116

AK Subscriber
I recently acquired this cartridge. Before I buy the original correct stylus, I thought I would consider some other options. The original is a line contact with beryllium cantilever. These are still available. However, I am a little concerned about potential suspension issues with an NOS stylus. Other options are to use one of the newer Audio Technica style such as the ATN-150MLX or the ATN-440MLb. I have even considered sending it to a re-tipper for an all new solution. I am looking for some opinions and recommendations. As always, thanks in advance.

Dave
 

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How good does it have to be? The best value would be the ATN440 from B&H. The ATN155 and 150MLX are definitely better but I don't know if they are 2 to 3 times better. The ATN440 is really very good already, especially if your preamp has adjustable loading.
 
Any of these will work. Obviously, the Line Contact (LC), MicroLine (ML) & Shibata (Sa) ones offer the best performance.

ATN100E - bonded .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN103 - bonded .6 conical tip, straight aluminium cantilever

ATN120E - bonded .4 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120E/T - nude .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120Ea - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120Eb - nude .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120E/II - bonded .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120ZE - ??? elliptical tip, ??? cantilever

ATN125LC - Tianium-bonded LinearContact, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN130E - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN135E - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN140LC - nude LinearContact, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN140ML - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever

ATN150E - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, beryllium cantilever
ATN150ANV - nude MicroLine, sapphire cantilever
ATN150Ti - nude MicroLine, tapered titanium cantilever
ATN150MLX - nude MicroLine, gold coated boron cantilever
ATN150Sa - nude Shibata, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN155LC - nude LinearContact, beryllium cantilever
ATN160ML - nude MicroLine, gold coated beryllium cantilever

ATN430E(/OCC) - nude .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN440ML(/OCC) - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN440MLa - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN440MLb - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN450E(/OCC) - bonded .4 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever


There's also the p-mount variations like the ATN142LP and ATN152LP.




James H
 
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Since the A-T suspension pulls the cantilever against a rubber disc instead of sinking it inside a rubber bushing, I think you're safe with the original. At least I can say that I haven't come across an A-T suspension failure that wasn't attributable to a tensioning problem rather than a rubber-deterioration problem. Full disclosure: I'm a beryllium/boron True Believer.
Now, the problem is that the ATN155LC you spotted may be in stock, or it may not be, if it's the vendor I think it is. Email/phone before you end up placing the order only to have it cancelled. If it does turn out to be in stock, please let us know.
 
Walt: As far as I'm aware Stereoneedles has already been out of ATN155LCs and ATN152LPs for a while now. BBE might still have some ATN152LPs & -MLPs, though.


Dave: Which turntable/arm would you intend to mount it on, btw?


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
Lp Gear has the original for $249.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATN155LC-OR.html

That's about the same money as an MLX on Amazon. Those are your best options if you're willing to pay that much. The generator in the 155 is similar to the 440, but it's also similar to the 150SA and 160ML. Put one of these on a 440 and you get some magic instead of just good. The ATN155LC is a bit more compliant - 1.6g max VTF.
neo
 
lini said:
Walt: As far as I'm aware Stereoneedles has already been out of ATN155LCs and ATN152LPs for a while now. BBE might still have some ATN152LPs & -MLPs, though.


Dave: Which turntable/arm would you intend to mount it on, btw?


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
Click to expand...
I was planning to use it on an SL-1210M5G. I have a couple ATN 152 styli that I bought for an ATN155LC/U (p-mount). Those came from Stereoneedles. That combo works great on the SL-QX200 arm. Is this too compliant for the SL-1210 arm?
 
wualta said:
Since the A-T suspension pulls the cantilever against a rubber disc instead of sinking it inside a rubber bushing, I think you're safe with the original. At least I can say that I haven't come across an A-T suspension failure that wasn't attributable to a tensioning problem rather than a rubber-deterioration problem. Full disclosure: I'm a beryllium/boron True Believer.
Now, the problem is that the ATN155LC you spotted may be in stock, or it may not be, if it's the vendor I think it is. Email/phone before you end up placing the order only to have it cancelled. If it does turn out to be in stock, please let us know.
Click to expand...

I will check on the availability. Thanks
 
neobop said:
Lp Gear has the original for $249.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATN155LC-OR.html

That's about the same money as an MLX on Amazon. Those are your best options if you're willing to pay that much. The generator in the 155 is similar to the 440, but it's also similar to the 150SA and 160ML. Put one of these on a 440 and you get some magic instead of just good. The ATN155LC is a bit more compliant - 1.6g max VTF.
neo
Click to expand...
I didn't know that. Thanks.
 
Dave: The ATN155LC and the ATN152LP/MLP might already be a bit marginal in combination with the heavy luxury body variant or the T4P body variant with halfinch-mount adaptor. You wouldn't happen to have one of the lighter halfinch-mount bodies for that family (e.g. AT120E et cetera) as well?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
lini said:
Dave: The ATN155LC and the ATN152LP/MLP might already be a bit marginal in combination with the heavy luxury body variant or the T4P body variant with halfinch-mount adaptor. You wouldn't happen to have one of the lighter halfinch-mount bodies for that family (e.g. AT120E et cetera) as well?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
Click to expand...

No,I don't have the lighter body. I may have confused things by mentioning the p mount version as I now have both versions of the AT155. I'm not planning on using the T4P cartridge on the SL-1210 with an adapter either. I'm actually using it on a p mount deck with a excellent result. I have used an AT150MLX on the SL-1210 before with excellent results. I'm wondering if the AT 155LC with an original stylus is as good of a match on the SL-1210.
 
Thanks for all the help guys. I lucked up on an NOS original stylus for less than $150 so I decided to take a chance and buy it. I also found a great deal on an AT-OC9/III and got it too. I now have to get them mounted up and aligned. I hope to have some time to do some listening this weekend. I am interested in how the AT-155LC compares to my AT-150mlx and Shure V15 IV MR. Also how the AT- OC9/III compares to my OC9ML/II and Denon DL-301mkII. Then there is the MM vs. MC comparison I am still working through. Once again thanks for all of your very thoughtful replies.
Cheers,
David
 
james73_2010 said:
Any of these will work. Obviously, the Line Contact (LC), MicroLine (ML) & Shibata (Sa) ones offer the best performance.

ATN100E - bonded .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN103 - bonded .6 conical tip, straight aluminium cantilever

ATN120E - bonded .4 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120E/T - nude .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120Ea - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120Eb - nude .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120E/II - bonded .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN120ZE - ??? elliptical tip, ??? cantilever

ATN125LC - Tianium-bonded LinearContact, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN130E - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN135E - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN140LC - nude LinearContact, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN140ML - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever

ATN150E - nude .2 X .7 elliptical tip, beryllium cantilever
ATN150ANV - nude MicroLine, sapphire cantilever
ATN150Ti - nude MicroLine, tapered titanium cantilever
ATN150MLX - nude MicroLine, gold coated boron cantilever
ATN150Sa - nude Shibata, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN155LC - nude LinearContact, beryllium cantilever
ATN160ML - nude MicroLine, gold coated beryllium cantilever

ATN430E(/OCC) - nude .3 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever
ATN440ML(/OCC) - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN440MLa - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN440MLb - nude MicroLine, tapered aluminium cantilever
ATN450E(/OCC) - bonded .4 X .7 elliptical tip, straight aluminium cantilever


There's also the p-mount variations like the ATN142LP and ATN152LP.




James H
Click to expand...

Sorry that this is such an old thread but I just acquired a Sony PS-X55 turntable with a Audio Technica AT-155LC cart and it needs a new stylus, the cantilever has collapsed. So all these stylus will fit the AT-155LC cart? I apologize but I'd just like to get it right. Thanks so much for the information.
 
Current replacement styli from Audio Technica that will work in the AT-155LC cartridge body:
VMN40ML - Microline profile
VMN50SH - Shibata profile
VMN60SLC - Special Line Contact
Of course, none of these have the beryllium cantilever of the ATN-155LC.
 
Decibel_116 said:
Current replacement styli from Audio Technica that will work in the AT-155LC cartridge body:
VMN40ML - Microline profile
VMN50SH - Shibata profile
VMN60SLC - Special Line Contact
Of course, none of these have the beryllium cantilever of the ATN-155LC.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much appreciate it!!
 
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