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Can Anyone Help Me Identify this Cartridge?

dylan_k

dylan_k

Member
When I got my Technics SL-BD20 turntable, it had this cartridge on it. It's probably the one that came with it when it was new, but I can't find information about what that was at the time. The needle is broken, and I would like to replace that, to see if it works. But what's the name of this cartridge? If I knew the name of it I could search for a compatible stylus for it. SL-BD20 takes P-Mount cartridges, and this one says "Audio Technica" on it, but there's no model number that I can see, not even if I remove the stylus part. Does anybody know how to identify this?

PXL_20231027_161231203.jpg PXL_20231027_161239130.MP.jpg
 
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Lots of variations of this style, but there's plenty of available styli that would/should fit. Look for something in the AT90/91/92CD (or ECD) series and you'll be fine.

Alternatively, the AT300/301/3011 will work, also the 316, 331 probably others too. Nice thing about P mounts is their universality. The oval underneath the name indicates it was originally an elliptical stylus.

s always, just my opinion, YMMV.
 
1tumbleweed said:
Lots of variations of this style, but there's plenty of available styli that would/should fit. Look for something in the AT90/91/92CD (or ECD) series and you'll be fine.

Alternatively, the AT300/301/3011 will work, also the 316, 331 probably others too. Nice thing about P mounts is their universality. The oval underneath the name indicates it was originally an elliptical stylus.

s always, just my opinion, YMMV.
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Is the stylus replaceable on that model? Doesn't look like it is, but I could be wrong.
 
That stylus, one of many cosmetic variations on the ATN3472NE (NE for "nude elliptical")-- aka ATN316EP-- is replaceable, and I wish Audio-Technica still made that stylus as a replacement. It appeared (in the US at least) under many names, possibly most often as the gray 6006:
7 crop.jpg
The same stylus appeared in many different colors on cartridges with many many different model names. However, it's not absolutely necessary to restrict yourself to this particular stylus. Any similar-looking Audio-Technica styli will work. Right now A-T makes styli for the AT85E (elliptical) and the AT81CP (conical).
HUM EDIT: Try unplugging and replugging your current cartridge a few times (volume turned down!) to see if the problem is simply atmospheric crud causing an iffy electrical connection. Try plugging in the A-T cartridge shown above to see if there's any difference. If one hums and the other doesn't, you've likely found the problem. If they both hum, further troubleshooting is likely needed. Addendumb edit: Also try reversing the AC power plug of the turntable.
 
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Is it just me, or does that thingy look really badly smoke-stained?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: Hi Larry & Walt, btw!
 
lini said:
Is it just me, or does that thingy look really badly smoke-stained?
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It sure does look discolored, doesn't it! I had assumed it was just aged plastic, but it could be smoke stains too. I guess with a new stylus it's going to look pretty unique.
 
Its that white plastic from the 80s that turns a butterscotch color. I don't know the chemistry involved but lots of plastics from that period go yellow. Doesn't really mean much, its just ugly.
 
I read about that 80s plastic that turns the color of gross teeth. I think there was a chemical in it that was supposed to keep the plastic from melting or burning, but the chemical changes the plastic's color. Collectors of vintage keyboards, Nintendos, etc. have devised ways of reversing the discoloration but I can live with this one being ugly. If I can get it working again at all, that is.

I don't know if it works, even after I find a new stylus for it.
 
here's the other thing from my admittedly limited AT P mount experience, you can often buy an entire new cartridge with a stylus for the same or less than a replacement stylus. It makes no sense to me, but I've had several over the years that I worked on for myself or others that got a new cart because it just made no sense to not replace the whole thing.
 
gadget73 said:
you can often buy an entire new cartridge with a stylus for the same or less than a replacement stylus.
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In my hunt for a stylus for this cartridge, I'm noticing that, too! It's pretty weird. So now I'm wondering if I might get a better cart with a better stylus and give up on this ugly old original. Still, it's been helpful to learn the details of that original so I can make comparisons with anything I might get to replace it. I really have no idea about any of this stuff but I'm having fun learning about it all.
 
The AT85EP looks perfectly good to me, as a way to get a "default" cartridge working for my turntable. As it says in the listing,
"virtually the same cartridge has been sold with and as original equipment across dozens of brands. for decades now."
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I think I'll get this instead of the 213-DE stylus you mentioned earlier. I like it because (a) I'm not even sure that my original cartridge still works, (b) the original looks super gross now, and (c) it's not too much more expensive to get the whole kaboodle.

This gives me an affordable and straightforward way to compare with the Grado while I investigate the hum issue I've got.

Thinking beyond the short term--ideally, I'd like to try a line contact stylus. Can you fit one on the AT85EP? Maybe I could upgrade later to something like the LP Gear ATN3472ML? Is it any good? (I just found the P-Mount Owners Club thread and searched it for ATN3472ML, but nothing came up.)
 
..which may go a long way to explain why it doesn't show up in that cited thread.
 
Good to know. Is there a better way to have a line contact stylus on a P-Mount cartridge? Seems there are a lot of options but it's hard to tell what's currently available and I don't know what's a good price and who are the trustworthy makers.
 
Tough question. I suppose we should start with asking how much is too much to spend on this cart/stylus?
 
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