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Audio Technica cartridge help (again).

classic carl

classic carl

Without Music, Life Would B FLAT.
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Old thread updated below in post #19.

I picked up an Optonica RP-7705 TT yesterday. See my thread in General Audio Discussion.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=649118

The cartridge is an Audio Technica AT3500S. Does anyone know anything about it? I found a replacement stylus (ATN12S) that says its a Shibata.

I can't figure out how to remove the stylus. I'm not familiar with AT carts. Does anyone know if it lifts straight up or what? It's not moving but I don't want to force it.
 
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Yea to change the stylus. You just have to lift the stylus assembly straight off the cartridge body. If it's been on there a long time. It will be a little hard to remove. Just be patient and work slowly. It will come off and just push the new one back on the same way.
 
Those stylus assemblies seat really tight. Try using a small screwdriver at the back to CAREFULLY open a gap between the back part of the plastic and the rest of the body. Once you move it up a bit the rest should come out easily.

NB - never anything but straight up on that assembly. There's a protrusion on the bottom that fits into a matching depression (cup) on the body. Don't go near the stylus/cantilever at all.

Happy trails,
Larry B.
 
Grbluen said:
Take a good look at the cartridge. Some users felt it might be a good idea to glue the stylus to the body.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's glued. I bought it from the original owner and after talking with him, I'd guess he had it set up at the store and never touched it again. It's probably the original stylus. If so, it's been on there for about 28 years.
 
1tumbleweed said:
Those stylus assemblies seat really tight. Try using a small screwdriver at the back to CAREFULLY open a gap between the back part of the plastic and the rest of the body. Once you move it up a bit the rest should come out easily.

NB - never anything but straight up on that assembly. There's a protrusion on the bottom that fits into a matching depression (cup) on the body. Don't go near the stylus/cantilever at all.

Happy trails,
Larry B.
Click to expand...

Thanks Larry! The screwdriver did the trick. It went back on much easier than it came off.

A web search shows that I have 3 options to replace the stylus. An aftermarket for $85, a JICO for $120, or an original AT for $130. Does anyone have any experience with any of these replacements?
 
The ATN12S is probably the best stylus you can put on that cartridge, but there are lots of choices. Whose aftermarket is $85? There's lots of iffy brands out there. The Jico at $120 is excellent.

Are you set on a Shibata? There are several excellent Jicos and similar with a 2x7 elliptical for lots less money.

Happy trails,
Larry B.
 
1tumbleweed said:
The ATN12S is probably the best stylus you can put on that cartridge, but there are lots of choices. Whose aftermarket is $85? There's lots of iffy brands out there. The Jico at $120 is excellent.

Are you set on a Shibata? There are several excellent Jicos and similar with a 2x7 elliptical for lots less money.

Happy trails,
Larry B.
Click to expand...

The aftermarket stylus is at LPGear. They only say it's made in Japan by a world class manufacturer. They call it a Vivid Line diamond.

I'm not set on a Shibata. I may opt for an elliptical if that is an option. Would that be a ATN12e?
This table is going into the workout room system, so it won't get used as much as my other tables.
 
A genuine A-T stylus, the ATN12XE, is a "sharp elliptical" (.03 x .07) is $50 at stereoneedles.com. Or, turntableneedles has a Jico equivalent for about 1/2 that.

FWIW, I had a very bad experience with LPGear, and I'm not the only one. Just my opinion, YMMV.

Happy trails,
Larry B.
 
Thanks again Larry. I was just looking at the ATN12XE but wasn't sure if that was the correct fit. I've also heard bad things about LPGear but have no prior experience myself.
 
The AT 3500E body is lower inductance than the 3500S. The ATN 12S is the proper match for that body. Would running the 12E make much of a difference? I doubt it.
 
revox-b77 said:
The AT 3500E body is lower inductance than the 3500S. The ATN 12S is the proper match for that body. Would running the 12E make much of a difference? I doubt it.
Click to expand...

I had both bodies, and both styli (12sa, 12xe) the 12XE sounded better in the low inductance body, the 12sa stylus sounded better in the 12xe body than the 12xe stylus did, the 12Sa sounded its best in the 12Sa body.
the lower inductance bodies sound a touch faster, cleaner.
 
Marc,
You're correct and I got the inductence mixed up. The 3500S is around 450 ohms resistance the 3500E body is around 1100 ohms resistance. Sorry for the confusion, been a long week.
 
I'm resurrecting this old thread with another question and an update. I have a chance to pick up a Technics SL-D2 and it has an AT15 cartridge on it. I'm assuming the stylus is trashed and my question is, will the ATS12S stylus that I bought for the AT3500S cartridge referred to previously in this thread, fit on the AT15 cart?

I bought the ATS12S for the AT3500S because I assumed the stylus that came with the cart was trashed, although it sounded fine to me. I recently had it looked at by a local tech with a scope and he said it's like new. My plan is to put that one back on the AT3500S and use the ATS12S for the AT15. What say you AT gurus?
 
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