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Budget p-mount stylus/cartridge question

Odditory

Odditory

New Member
I have a Realistic Lab 2200 linear tracker with a Realistic cartridge that needs a new stylus. There's no model number on the cart, but I'm 99% sure it's an RX1500, which from what I understand is a rebadged AT product. It's looking like a replacement stylus from somewhere like LP Gear will be $25–40. In the same price range I could get a new AT3482P at the low end or a new AT85EP at the high end. Ebay has a few interesting NOS options, including an AT250G, an AT320, and an AT SS335E/U. There's also a used AT6006 with a reportedly good stylus.

In your august opinions, what's my best option? Is there a particular replacement stylus for my RX1500 that you'd recommend? Would I be better off replacing the cart, and if so, with which one? (Just to be clear, I'm totally open to non-AT products, I've just been focusing on AT stuff because there's so much of it out there.)
 
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It depends on what you want to do and how much you want to spend.

You could go new, but that is actually a pretty good cartridge body. There are a lot of styli that will fit that it. I have one and I put an ATN120E stylus on mine. If you want to go crazy, you can fit something like an ATN440ML stylus on it.:)
 
If this is not a mission-critical turntable and the cart and/or stylus has got to be cheap, then my advice, as long as you're not against using a conical diamond, is to go with the AT3482P if you've found one at a low price. I have a couple of them myself and really like them. The 6006 and its clones are also very good, though not often found at a low price.

The RX1500, a Shack version of the very capable AT122EP p-mount, will accept in-production standard-mount A-T styli, but of course those are very unlikely to be cheap. So don't throw the RX1500 away.
 
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Thanks for the quick replies! I just use this TT to enjoy thrift store vinyl, so I don't need anything fancy, but I'm fine with spending up to $40 or so if a little extra money will get me something noticeably better than the absolute cheapest solution. The NOS carts I mentioned are all in the $25–35 range.
 
I doubt that going from $35 to $40 will get you anything obviously better these days. I hope I'm wrong.
 
Yeah, it'd be nice to move into real audiophile territory for an extra $5. :) Sorry I wasn't clear, I was thinking more in terms of, for example, the SS335E/U I can get for $30 vs. the $16 4212-DE from Voice of Music.
 
Glad you spotted that. I'd seen it and had clean forgotten about it. 4x7 isn't ideal, but it'll be kind to records and still track well at 1.25g, which the 4212-DE may not. I say grab one. I wish the stylus alone was available (the ATN112ED and its other clones) so you didn't have to buy an extra body, but the price is right.
 
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I think I've narrowed it down to either the SS335E/U or the AT320 which is about the same price. Their specs appear to be the same except that the AT320 is 0.3x0.7, so I'm leaning towards that one.
 
Nothing wrong with the AT320, which was a rebadge of the now-discontinued AT92E, but I'd still stay with the RX1500/AT112EP body due to its far greater versatility/upgradability down the road. That would outweigh the tiny distortion advantage a 3x7 has over a 4x7, at least in my mind, but in the everyday, with no intention of turning that LAB 2200 into some kind of giant killer, you could flip a coin and win either way.

There's this: with the SS335E/U, you could sell the extra body and recoup a few bucks.
 
I just ordered the AT320. I'll hang onto the RX1500, and that way in the future I'll have two types of cartridge for maximum flexibility when it's time for a new stylus. Might come in handy if the stylus availability situation changes. Thanks again, wualta and beat_truck!
 
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