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Audio-Technica AT15Sa cartridge - worth getting stylus for?

drabina

drabina

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I have an Audio-Technica AT15Sa cartridge without a stylus. I measured the resistance on the cart and it comes to 0.474/0.476kOhm. Would this cart be worth getting a stylus for? I am currently running Nagaoka MP-110 which I am happy with. Honestly, I do not really need another cart but since the AT was free, the only cost would be the stylus. But at the current price of $130 it is an expensive stylus. The Nagaoka was that for the cart and stylus. The stylus alone is about $60. Would I hear 2x improvement in sound quality? I know it is hard to say without auditioning but maybe somebody here has an experience with the AT15Se cart and can provide some insight.
 
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The AT15 is a fine cartridge, and it appears the coils are well-balanced, based on the measurement you shared. I'd get a new stylus and take the gamble.

The Nagaoka is a good cartridge, but the '110 is at the lower-end of the MP series, and the AT-15 was near the top end of its series (especially if you spring for a Shibata stylus), so I think it would be a good comparison.

I run an AT-14Sa on an inexpensive "daily" turntable down in the family room and the sound and tracking are very good.
 
OP, your AT was top of the line back in the 70s. Though I am a Shure guy, I keep an eye open for one. Get a stylus for it..
 
Yes worth it provided the Cartridge is known to work, and you're talking an original AT Stylus. Numbers would likely be ATN-15, ATN-15s, ATN 15Sa, or ATN-15SS, last one was called a Super Shibata Stylus.

I believe the ATN-20 also fits the 15. It was said the AT-20 and its variants were nothing more than cherry picked AT-15's.
 
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Thanks for all the replies. If the linked $28 stylus is decent, I can try it. The one I found for $130 was on the LPTunes website and it is the Shibata needle. But that's too much just to try the cart.
 
drabina said:
Thanks for all the replies. If the linked $28 stylus is decent, I can try it. The one I found for $130 was on the LPTunes website and it is the Shibata needle. But that's too much just to try the cart.
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I agree, $28 skins is not too large a risk.
 
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