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Box of 8 cartridges-- which to use?

K

Kiwanda88

New Member
My main setup is a Pioneer PL-51 running a Grado black cartridge and I'm quite happy with it. But I spent the weekend digging out all my other turntables and cartridges in attempt to put together a second (and possibly third) working system. I am looking to pair cartridges with a Technics SL-Q2 (standard mount, direct drive) and a Technics LS-5 (p-mount linear tracker) or a Technics SL-B211 (p-mount, belt drive).

I have the following cartridges (mounts) on hand:

  • Audio Technica AT112EP (p)
  • Audio Technica ATX1 Compass (p)
  • Pickering TLE (p)
  • Stanton L727E (p)
  • EPC P33 (p)
  • Shure 500S (s)
  • Shure TR50 (s)
  • Nagatron 344DE (s)

I need at least one P-mount and one standard mount. It looks like I can get replacement styli for any of these for under $30 so I'm just looking for opinions/advice as to which is worth using vs buying something new/different. Should I buy replacement styli for any of these? If so, which? Or would I be better off just ordering two more Grado blacks or perhaps a Shure M97xE for the SL-Q2 and calling it good?

Listening is classic rock, big band jazz, and acoustic folk for the most part if that colors the decision.
 
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From VE:

"According to the 1980 Audio Preview, the Nagatronics 165 s was an induced magnet cartridge with a 0.5 mm spherical stylus. Price new in 1980 was $50.00 Canadian. Output is 3.6 mV.

Next model up was the 175IS with similar specs but integrated headshell for an extra $10.00.

Next is the 185E, similar specs but this time a 0.3x0.7 mm eliptical stylus. Price new was $65.

For the same money there is also a model 200S which again has the spherical stylus but slightly higher output at 4 mV. The body looks different than the 165/185/195.

Next up is the 195IS, again with the integrated headshell. Appears to be exactly the same as the 185 but with headshell. It cost $75.

A model called 340S, again with the spherical stylus - appear to be slightly heavier version of the 200S, but looks different and cost $80.

Then comes the 344DE - same body as the 340 but elliptical stylus and cost is $100.00.

The 210E has a nude diamond, elliptical stylus, aluminum cantilever - body similar to 165 etc. Higher model 220CE has carbon fibre cantilever. Costs are $125/$180

350E has body of 340/344 but nude elliptical diamond. 360CE also has CF cantilever. Prices are $140/200.

Top line model is 9600 which has triangular stylus, weighs 7.6 g and costs $350.

So the 165/185/195 stylii should fit yours. All are induced magnet and none are conical. Not exactly budget carts but in the sweet spot of the decent cartridge market for the time.

My 1978 book does not show them and neither does the 1983. So they were not around for long here."

I have some older Nagaoka's and they sound good. A nude mounted elliptical will generally be about $100 for any decent cartridge, so that's not out of line.

But the real question to me is what are each of these TT going to do? Is one for a garage system? Maybe one for thrift store vinyl test plays? That might have something to do with the final decision ...
 
Methinks you will be pleasantly surprised by the Nagatron provided it is still in good shape.

I have a 360CE installed longterm on a Grace 727 Gyro Master arm and the Nagatron is going nowhere, still sounding good and no mistracking. What kind of cantilever? Mine is carbon fibre.

tripod
 
Of the p-mounts, I'd look at the Audiotechnica AT112EP (low-end spherical to high-end linear contact stylii available, and very nice sounding to my ears), the Stanton L727E (p-mount version of the 680/681 series, will also take Pickering TL series stylii like the DTL-1 or DTL-1E), or the Technics EPC-P33 (JICO makes nice replacement stylii for these, up to a SAS).

The Compass ATX1 I know of is not a p-mount, but part of a line of 1/2 inch mounts marketed towards DJs. The Pickering TLE is a p-mount version of the Stanton 500. I've tried a TLE a few times and not had great results, not nearly as good as with my old brass body Stanton 500.
 
The Shure 500S (mine measures 630mH) is an M97-class p-mount and takes any of the Shure p-mount styli from Era IV or Era V, and this includes the current M92E's stylus. Alternatively, you can, as of this writing, get a hyperelliptical-tipped replacement from eBay for $46 shipped (I own a few of these--they're JICO N97LTs-- and they're surprisingly good).

The Shure TR50 is one of an oddly-shaped line called the Designer Series (gott knows why). The original styli (called NDC, as in NDC-ED, -EJ, -HE) included a Hyperelliptical, but those are becoming very hard to find. I found that JICO makes an SAS stylus for it (!), though that's way beyond the budget for this project. They also make less exotic replacements, of course.

The EPC-P33 is a Technics p-mount, and a very good one. It and the AT112EP are the most advanced technically, which of course doesn't mean you're going to like them best. Technics p-mount carts and styli fly under the radar, so NOS is still available, sometimes for shockingly little money.
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Last edited:
Kiwanda88 said:
My main setup is a Pioneer PL-51 running a Grado black cartridge and I'm quite happy with it. But I spent the weekend digging out all my other turntables and cartridges in attempt to put together a second (and possibly third) working system. I am looking to pair cartridges with a Technics SL-Q2 (standard mount, direct drive) and a Technics LS-5 (p-mount linear tracker) or a Technics SL-B211 (p-mount, belt drive).

I have the following cartridges (mounts) on hand:

  • Audio Technica AT112EP (p)
  • Audio Technica ATX1 Compass (p)
  • Pickering TLE (p)
  • Stanton L727E (p)
  • EPC P33 (p)
  • Shure 500S (s)
  • Shure TR50 (s)
  • Nagatron 344DE (s)

I need at least one P-mount and one standard mount. It looks like I can get replacement styli for any of these for under $30 so I'm just looking for opinions/advice as to which is worth using vs buying something new/different. Should I buy replacement styli for any of these? If so, which? Or would I be better off just ordering two more Grado blacks or perhaps a Shure M97xE for the SL-Q2 and calling it good?

Listening is classic rock, big band jazz, and acoustic folk for the most part if that colors the decision.
Click to expand...

Since a P-mount is easy to change, simply pop each one in and give 'em a good listen.... That Pickering just might surprise you though. I have one here I use every now and then and it's a d*mn fine cartridge for the $$ it sold for. Good output too.
 
BrocLuno said:
From VE:


But the real question to me is what are each of these TT going to do? Is one for a garage system? Maybe one for thrift store vinyl test plays? That might have something to do with the final decision ...
Click to expand...


Thanks for the input. re use, I think one of these will end up in the living room for casual listening (paired with a 1980s Harmon-Kardon receiver and a pair of Tri-Trix from Parts Express). That's likely the home for the SL-Q2. The other system will be the linear tracker and a 1970s Sansui receiver in my office, likely with a pair of Dayton Audio BR-1 speakers given the space I have and the speakers in my closet.

Neither would be for critical listening but it would be nice to pull vinyl from the basement (where my main system lives) and show it off a bit in the living room on occasion, so I'd likely go with a better cartridge and the superior TT there.
 
Vinylmasters said:
Since a P-mount is easy to change, simply pop each one in and give 'em a good listen.... That Pickering just might surprise you though. I have one here I use every now and then and it's a d*mn fine cartridge for the $$ it sold for. Good output too.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the styli on these are all 30 years old (I'm assuming, some of them are not original to me) and at least one has no needle at all. So I'm looking for input on which are worth purchasing replacements for in hope of liking the results, rather than picking blind or wasting money on the lower-end carts I won't likely enjoy as much.
 
Thanks for the feedback folks. I decided to order styli for the Audio Technica AT112EP, EPC P33, and Nagatron 344DE as a starting point. After working through all my spare parts I ended up with a single 1/2" mount turntable and two P-mounts in good condition, so will set up all three and decide what to do with them after.

I appreciate the advice!
 
In my opinion, those are good choices. But where'd you find styli for the Nagatron?
 
wualta said:
In my opinion, those are good choices. But where'd you find styli for the Nagatron?
Click to expand...

BrocLuno up above thinks the 185 might fit; I found an Ebay vendor in Canada importing Japanese styli that are inexpensive enough to give it a shot. I'll report back once I have these in hand and a chance to test them all.
 
Kiwanda88 said:
BrocLuno up above thinks the 185 might fit; I found an Ebay vendor in Canada importing Japanese styli that are inexpensive enough to give it a shot. I'll report back once I have these in hand and a chance to test them all.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to know if you were successful at finding a stylus for your Nagatron?
 
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