Cartridge Recommendation for Sony PS-X5

[nmillerrider]

Anyone have experience with a Sony PS-X5 turntable? Picked one up for cheap a few days ago. All the auto functions work properly, but I think i'll take it apart and clean it up and if you've done so before, I'd love to hear from you. It had an AT3003 cartridge on it which I want to replace. Any suggestions among the >$200 cartridges?

Also, once i get it running nicely, I'll have a Sony PS-X5, Pioneer PL-A45d, and Pioneer PL-4. If you were to choose one of them to give up, which one would you pick?

 

[dshoaf]

I'm partial to the Sony TT's of the mid/late 70s myself - sold and set them up when they were new, too. I'd suggest a nice Ortofon Red or, for less $$, a Shure M97.

Pay attention to the threaded feet, though. They'll tend to break if the TT is moved while they are unscrewed. You can use a nail with the head cut off of the proper diameter to insert into the hold inside the threaded shafts to help add some stiffness to keep the risk of breakage at bay.

The X5/X6/X7 series was one of my favorites!

Cheers,

David

 

[SSaxdude]

AT95E is great for the price.

Though, what other carts are you running on your turntables? Maybe you want more variety.

 

[nmillerrider]

Thanks for the tips! Currently I have a Shure M93E, and a Pickering V-15 Micro IV. I was thinking about picking up a M91ED stylus for the Shure, either NOS or Jico for $60. Anyone know how those would compare to the AT95E or the OM2 Red?

 

[WaynerN]

I have the PS-X7 and traded to Frank my PS-X5 that he has a Grado Gold1 (longhorned) with great results. The Sony's DD motor is very well shielded (as is the transformer) so Grado cartridges of the Prestige line will have no issues (hum wise) with it.

Wayner

 

[nmillerrider]

Thanks Wayner! Does the Grado Prestige line have any noticeable characteristics compared to the Ortofon 2M Red or AT cartridges?

Also, Hook 'Em! from a fellow Longhorn.

 

[Pythonman]

I've had very good luck with a Denon DL160 on my PS-X6 going into my Rega Brio-R. One of the best sounds from vinyl I ever heard, to this day even was from my brother in laws system in the late 70s which consisted of a PS-X7 with a Shure M91ED into his Sony STR- 7800SD reciever with some top of the line at the time JBL speaker cabinets. The phono preamp section of that great reciever was, I kid you not, tailor made to work with the M91ED! Silky extended highs, cavernous depth and separation and crisp lively midrange and a solid yet deep 3D low end that you could feel the impact even at low volumes. I've never heard Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Jethro Tull etc. etc. sound as good as I did through that system and I've heard some amazing systems since then.

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-STR-7800SD.html

 

[WaynerN]

Thanks Wayner! Does the Grado Prestige line have any noticeable characteristics compared to the Ortofon 2M Red or AT cartridges?

Also, Hook 'Em! from a fellow Longhorn.

The Prestige line from Grado has a very glorious midrange and bass line. Some declare that it is somewhat "dark" sounding. When its dialed in, its pretty darn good. I also run my share of AT carts, owning 6 AT440MLa and 1 AT120E/B. One of the AT440MLa bodies is mated with an ATN150MLX stylus. That cartridge and stylus combo is also very magical, but the Microline stylus is a "record groove cleaner" if you do not own a RCM. I have not heard the Ortofon. I also am tracking an old Shure M95HE that I have recently mated with a JICO SAS stylus. That combination is also pretty darn good!

Wayner