audio-technica cartridge

M

Marconi

Member
Just purchased a pioneer PL-518 off of ebay. It had an audio-technica AT11EPQ cartridge and green stylist.

The needle (stylist) had a bad bend in it from shiping or abuse. When I discovered it and straightened it out crudely with a pair of needle nose, the base picked up. As a minimum, I need a new stylist.

My question, I see replacement stylists out there from $25-35 for my cartridge. What I can't find are specs on this cartridge.

Is it low or mid end? I'm willing to spend a few bucks for a strong cartridge, but not the $400 top end stuff I saw from audio-technica.

Magnetic cartridge capability only (no moving coil inputs).

Been 20 years since I owned a turntable. Appreciate any input.

Thanks guys/gals,

Marconi
 
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It is low end. Not horrible, but you can do better with a new cartridge for not much more. Look at AT95E, 95HE, or 95SA at lpgear.com under their cartridges. Others to look at would be AT110E or AT120E, AT440MLa, Grado, Ortofon. Some dealers to consider would be lpgear.com, needledoctor.com, garage-a-records.com, turntableneedles.com. Do a search here in the forum for "new cartridge" or "cartridge suggestions" and you'll find lots of discussions.
 
new cartridge, $150 budget

Thanks, (and help)

I don't have a feel of the $ range verses quality for economy and high end cartridges. Also, how far can one go with a Pioneer PL-518 direct drive? It's not DJ material, or even close to the 5 pound (?) turntables I saw at A-K Fest 2008 (feeding MacIntosh Class A Tube amps and $19,000 speakers...IPS linear arrays by Ken Haig). Best sounding system I've heard in my life by the way!

I've seen magnetic cartidges out there from $35-400 so far. Should I go with the audio-technica line?

If I am willing to spend $100-125, and have decided on an ellipital stylist, is audio-technica the cartridge to buy?

Marconi
 
You might also want to consider a Denon DL-110 in your price range. very nice sounding High-Output Moving Coil cartridge.

Also available from the vendors Hakaplan suggested, BTW.

Jorge
 
OK, so the deal with cartridges is that they have a voice or a slight coloration to the music. There is no way to build a cartridge that will exactly duplicate a record cutting lathe head. You can come close, but the machines are different by nature, so it's always an approximation. That said, the MFGs all try to get close and mostly succeed.

The AT line is known as fairly neutral, some say a bit dry. The more you spend, the more detail and resolution you get. Along the way up the line, you'll get some interesting by-products like better tracking, or more high end detail, etc. Another fairly neutral cartridge is the Shure M97eX that's on sale currently. Only problem with it is that some folks (me included) find it too bland. But, that's a trait only the listener can figure out?

The Grado line does not even come close to trying to be "neutral". They have a definite lush and warm sound. It is a very appealing sound and many here find Grados to be their preferred cartridges. I have three models of Grado for LPs and one for 78s. So I guess you could say I'm a fan, but I have 7 or 8 AT's so the Grado is not the leader in my pack. However, one of the Grados does spend a lot of time on the end of the arm. They are easy to live with :)

The Pickerings, Empires, ADC's and the like get less arm time, but they do have LPs that they match better than the others. So it comes down to what you are going to do? If you want to live with one cartridge, it's a much harder deal. If you can live with 3, it's a whole new ball game?

If you want to go with 3 and switch shells/cartridges to match the LPs - I'd go with a Grado Black, an AT like Hakaplan suggested (or 440/MLa), and the Shure M97eX. That will give you really good options in the smallest library of current cartridges. You can do this one at a time :)

The AT95SA should be about equal to the 440/MLa as far as tracking. One's Shibata and one is Micro-Line. Both are excellent trackers. The 440 tends to be a bit "bright", that is a bit hot on the top end to my ears. The 95 is a bit more mellow, but does not resolve detail quite as well. It's a toss-up. I'd probably opt for the 95SA if I was just starting. The 440 can be an acquired taste on some systems.
 
since price is a consideration, you may want to go with the AT95E or the AT95HE. they are both wonderful sounding. the 95E is only $50 and the 95HE is about $70. the AT120E is also excellent (i have one of those)....currently around $90.
 
The 518 is a fine table-but I'm biased as I have one

And what they said about cartridges
Amazon has the Shure Mx97e for around 80 and the AT AT440ML for a bit more
 
If I were you I would be thinking about an Ortofon 2M Red, an AT440mla or...the Denon DL 160 high output MC......
 
Just a quick note Marconi, don't exclude high output moving coil from your choice. A HO MC will work just find in a standard MM phone input.

Why as a matter of fact, I just moved into the HO MC world myself. My TT is plugged into an old Pioneer SX-3700.

All good choices listed here for MM. But if you can squeeze out a little more in the budget, you may want to look at Denon DL-110 at ($140) or a DL-160 (as noted by Big Mac) if you really really squeeze ($180). Either one should work fine on your PL-518.

Something to think about.
 
rexrider said:
Just a quick note Marconi, don't exclude high output moving coil from your choice. A HO MC will work just find in a standard MM phone input.
Click to expand...


I recall from 100 years ago that phono pre-amp sections have a "non flat" frequency response that emphasises the bass. RIAA? I'm not an expert. Is there a significant frequency response difference between MM and MC ? Or is the bass emphasis similar for both due to the vinyl recording/mechanics.

I have had equipment in the past with selectable MM/MC inputs. Is this just a "gain" switch, or different equilization?

Thanks.
Marconi
 
Marconi,

It's not an issue of frequency response, its an issue of output signal from the cart.

Most MM run around 5 mv and MM preamps amplify based on that much voltage. Low output carts run around .5 mv. So MC preamps have to amplify the signal much more than if it was a MM. So if you plug in a conventional low output MC into a conventional MM preamp as found on most home receivers, there simply is not enough signal to feed the main amp.

High output MC like the denons allow you to have a MC that still has a high enough voltage output that can be used with a MM preamp. The Denons are listed at 1.6 volts but I have read reviews where they were measured at 2.2 volts. Either way it is enough for the MM preamp to work with (this is the setup I am currently using).

Also, don't plug a MM cart into a MC preamp. Then you are sending way to much signal to the preamp and it will sound like you know what.

So, In a nutshell....
MM + MM preamp = okay
High Output MC + MM preamp = okay (what I have now)
Low output MC + MM preamp = bad (not enough juice for the preamp to work with)
Low output MC + MC preamp = okay
High output MC + MC preamp = probably bad as it is still to much signal for the MC preamp. I would not try it.
MM + MC preamp = bad bad bad (voltage overload)

I hope that made sense. If anyone sees any mistakes please feel free to correct me so I don't pass along bad info. But I think I got it right. :D

ETA: The short answer: yes it is matter of gain. I guess I could have just said that. :)
 
BrocLuno said:
......The 440 tends to be a bit "bright", that is a bit hot on the top end to my ears.
Click to expand...


My ears have tended to favor "bright" equalization. (Mirage speakers for example). Probably hearing loss....haha.

I know this may be impossible to answer, and a subjective topic, but does a "brighter" cartridge mean more "pop and click" emphasis.....in your opinion?

Thanks,
Marconi
 
Marconi said:
My ears have tended to favor "bright" equalization. (Mirage speakers for example). Probably hearing loss....haha.

I know this may be impossible to answer, and a subjective topic, but does a "brighter" cartridge mean more "pop and click" emphasis.....in your opinion?

Thanks,
Marconi
Click to expand...

Having used a 440 I will say....not really or sometimes. Most of the pops and clicks are below the frequencies that seem to get lit up. Any increase in pops or clicks is more then made up by its tracking and ability to get deeper into the grove thanks to the micro-fine stylis.
 
440/MLa can be a bit harsh on high female vocals (think Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Streisand, Celine, etc.). It can also get a bit scratchy on some strings and alto sax. If tuned and aligned by ear, you can work around a lot of this. It's a high compliance cartridge with a lot of cantilever flex, so it's best suited to light headshells and light to medium light arms. It's good cartridge. I have my new one (replacement for hummer) and I have a 440?MLa stylus assembly in an AT120 body. So I guess I've been down that road a bit? But, usually when I'd pull out that cartridge, I pull out the AT150MLX instead. It does everything the 440 does (is also a micro-line stylus), but is MUCH smoother.

In fact, now that I have all these AT's to play with, I'd say the 150 is the least expensive real "audiophile" cartridge in their line-up. Don't get me wrong, it does not get the bulk of arm time as I only pull it out when I'm in the mood for critical listening. The Shures and Grados get the bulk of the arm time.
 
BrocLuno said:
440/MLa can be a bit harsh on high female vocals....Streisand....alto sax

Goose Bumps!

best suited to light headshells and light to medium light arms.

A bit beyond my knowledge. Does that include Pioneer PL-518's tone arm/shell in your opinion?

In fact, now that I have all these AT's to play with, I'd say the 150 is the least expensive real "audiophile" cartridge in their line-up....

Thanks for the opinion on the AT line.


Marconi
Click to expand...
 
440 MLA catridge

Been listening to an AT 440/MLA cartridge and am very happy with it.

I've been reminded of the wide range of equilization differences on vinyl.

Out of frustration, I'm back to a ten band equalizer. My Mid-Range Yamaha RX-V2500 has a 7 band built in, but working an equalizer with a remote control an on screen display is "worthless".

Unless you've been here, don't even try to defend the new technology (on screen).

Marconi
 
BrocLuno said:
440/MLa can be a bit harsh on high female vocals (think Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Streisand, Celine, etc.). It can also get a bit scratchy on some strings and alto sax.
Click to expand...

I've been listening again to the 440MLa on the Technics using a Cambridge 640P preamp instead of the Hagerman Bugle. The warmer sounding 640P compliments the 440MLa by removing the high frequency hardness or bite you mentioned yet leaving the detail intact.

Dave
 
ChairSpud said:
I've been listening again to the 440MLa on the Technics using a Cambridge 640P preamp instead of the Hagerman Bugle. The warmer sounding 640P compliments the 440MLa by removing the high frequency hardness or bite you mentioned yet leaving the detail intact.

Dave
Click to expand...
I'm running my Pioneer PL-550 with an AT 400 MLa/Cambridge 640p combo and it has a much bigger, richer presentation with nearly as much detail resolution as my $700 Rotel CDp set-up. I find the combo to have good synergy. FWIW
 
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