Can I use any P-Mount cartridge, or...?

[WilliamD.]

Hi all,

I met a fellow member today and swapped an older receiver for a Technics SL-Q300 turntable. As of now, it does not have the cartridge/stylus in it.

I read it is a P-mount, and my question is, can I use any P-mount cartridge, or are there specific parameters I need to pay attention to (output voltage for example)

I was looking at these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUDIO-TECHN...184?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25698975a8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUDIO-TECHN...229?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25698979bd

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Techn...636?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a173495dc

One is a AT-90, and one is an AT-92. Will either of those work? What is the difference between the 90 and the 92 (if anyone knows).

 

[wlmill]

the AT92E will work fine with this turntable. The AT92E has an eliptical stylus and sounds pretty good for the price. I use this cartridge on my Technics SL-Q30.

 

[Bob_in_OKC]

The difference between these two cartridges appears to be the stylus shape...one conical (90) and one elliptical (92). All else being equal, the elliptical will usually be the better stylus. The symbols for these stylus shapes appear on the bottom face of the stylus, which in both cases is visible in the photos.

 

[Multiplex]

I have a Technics SL-QX300 (basically the same TT, only difference being pitch control, if I remember correctly) and I use the AT92ECD. It's cheap but it sounds great. Plus, it tracks far better than the Stanton L720P that I was using previously. I would say at under $17, its probably the best bang-for-the-buck cartridge out there. I bought mine here:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._AT92ECD_AT92ECD_Turntable_Cartridge_for.html

 

[wlmill]

The AT92E can also be upgraded to a Shibata stylus for higher quality sound. This stylus can be pretty pricy. The AT92E sounds pretty good with the eliptical stylus that comes with it.

 

[ETI_5000]

The best stylus you can fit to the AT-92ECD is the ATN-3472ML, which is a microline stylus. Slightly more expensive than a Shibata, but a much better stylus http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATN3472ML.html .:thmbsp:

 

[jancumps]

Any p-mount cartridge with label T4P is working for your table.

 

[dlaloum]

I didn't know there were any ML's left in captivity for these!

The AT90/92 is also the same underlying generator body as the AT95... the difference (other than the p-mount) is that the styli are high compliance (suited to p-mount arms!) rather than mid-compliance (suited to S-Arms) for the AT95.

They are generally considered very musical cartridges...

And when fitted with an upper end stylus option (HE, Shibata, ML) can give some top end cartridges a run for their money...

:thmbsp:

 

[Fred Fredrix]

The AT311EP is pretty good, Amazon still might have them for $24.

 

[EricF]

When I was running my Technics SL-QD33, I enjoyed the sound of this cart...http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATSER05L.html

 

[goldwax]

The best stylus you can fit to the AT-92ECD is the ATN-3472ML, which is a microline stylus. Slightly more expensive than a Shibata, but a much better stylus http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATN3472ML.html .:thmbsp:

I wonder how an AT92E/ATN-3472ML combo would stack up against a stock AT440MLa. The ATN-3472ML costs as much as the replacement stylus for the AT440MLa, so...

 

[1tumbleweed]

Last I checked, AT92s are considerably cheaper on Amazon than fleabay...

 

[dlaloum]

Another alternative for you:

Shure M92e

This is the P-mount version of the M97xE

You can fit it with the stabiliser brush (N97xE stylus) quite economically - which will reduce resonance, and its associated intermodulation distortions, while keeping a very similar needle.(actually the closest needle to the M97xE in the p-mount format without the brush is the N99e)

When / If ready for the "BIG UPGRADE" you can plump for the Jico SAS stylus with the brush ($180) or without ($130)

Another very fine sounding and competitive option for you!

Bye for now

David

 

[rnorton]

You can fit it with the stabiliser brush (N97xE stylus) quite economically - which will reduce resonance, and its associated intermodulation distortions, while keeping a very similar needle.(actually the closest needle to the M97xE in the p-mount format without the brush is the N99e)

Is the additional weight of the stabiliser/brush sufficient to compensate for the additional tracking force needed when it's used or will this require a way to change the tracking force of the arm (which you can't do easily on most P-mount arms)?

 

[wlmill]

Is the additional weight of the stabiliser/brush sufficient to compensate for the additional tracking force needed when it's used or will this require a way to change the tracking force of the arm (which you can't do easily on most P-mount arms)?

You can adjust VTF and anti-skate on the SL-Q300. Getting the tracking force right for the Shure M92E with an upgrade stylus shouldn't be a problem.

 

[ETI_5000]

I wonder how an AT92E/ATN-3472ML combo would stack up against a stock AT440MLa. The ATN-3472ML costs as much as the replacement stylus for the AT440MLa, so...

I don't think the AT440MLa comes in p-mount, though - it's a half inch mount, whereas the AT92E/ATN-3472ML combination is one of the better p-mount combinations left. If they produced a p-mount version of the AT440MLa, it would probably be better value.

 

[dlaloum]

The original Shure doco suggest the non brush p-mounts for fixed value arms, and the ones with the brush fitted for adjustable VTF arms...

BUT - I have found that the JicoSAS styli with the brush exactly match the additional VTF needed with the additional mass of the stylus (coincidence? or Engineering? - I don't know, but it is handy!)

I will check the Shure version to see shortly...

 

[audio4life]

I have a Technics EPC-P511S and a EPC-P531 which I swap to my Technics SL-QD3 and a TT Weights record weight they sound so good..If you can find a Technics T4P cartridge stick with them..they outperform my Grado Black,Shure M97x and Stanton 681eee..

 

[Wally Swift]

The AT311EP is pretty good, Amazon still might have them for $24.

I used this one with my old Technics SL-B20 p-mount and I like it alot. I bought it with the biradial .3X.7 elliptical stylus [you can also specify conical if you want]. Since upgrading to the SL-1200 I'm still using it via an adaptor and it's still sounding good though I will probably upgrade at some point.

 

[dlaloum]

I don't think the AT440MLa comes in p-mount, though - it's a half inch mount, whereas the AT92E/ATN-3472ML combination is one of the better p-mount combinations left. If they produced a p-mount version of the AT440MLa, it would probably be better value.

Another alternative is to find one of the classic p-mount AT102 family bodies (At102/112/122/132/142/152/96slt/RX1500/TK4/TK6 etc...) - they usually go quite cheaply on epay, without a stylus.

All these bodies had the same specs, and were the p-mount incarnations of the AT120/130/140/440/150 family.

The ATN440Mla stylus fits on these very well, with excellent results - they are a superior generator to the AT92/311 series, and can be upgraded all the way to the ATN150MLx (or some of the classic NOS styli if you can find them - ATN155LC, ATN152LP, etc...)