Help identify this Pickering cartridge that is in need of a new stylus
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bang4buck
Super Member
I think that's a Pickering V-15 Phase IV. Also sold as Micro IV, I believe. Stylus is Pfanstiehl code 607.
Edited to add: The Stanton equivalent was the 600. Pickering and Stanton were the same company and usually offered the same cartridges with different décor. Stanton 600 styli are Pfanstiehl 821. Neither are easy to find anymore, except for heavier tracking ones that would have been intended for record changers, juke boxes, etc.
Edited to add: The Stanton equivalent was the 600. Pickering and Stanton were the same company and usually offered the same cartridges with different décor. Stanton 600 styli are Pfanstiehl 821. Neither are easy to find anymore, except for heavier tracking ones that would have been intended for record changers, juke boxes, etc.
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ctjetta
It's not a perfect world
What he said.
EDIT- You can get a generic stylus cheaply enough and make it function. And it will sound fine. But, you can do better with a new cartridge if you were inclined to spend more.
Stanton stylus ($30), just as an example-
https://thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog/part_detail.asp?PID=P1994
It all comes down to what your turntable is what your expectations are.
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johnjhazel
PhxJohn
Will a 606 model work as long as it is a MM stylus ?
ctjetta
It's not a perfect world
Just looking at the VoM site, the 606 stylus is for the Pickering XV-15 (Stanton 680/681). So, unless it's been confirmed otherwise previously my guess is no. But, I'm always ready to be corrected.
johnjhazel
PhxJohn
TVOM shows a substitution:
https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/cat...=MfgNameNeedles&MfgName=Pickering&Categories=
A proper 606 type which would be MI, would not work but Switzerland (Synton) puts magnets on all of their mag needles so they will work in MM cartridges as well.
Thank you all for your responses!!! Lots of great info and useful links - I have learned a lot. After reading your thoughts I went back to take another look at the cartridge in question and finally noticed that it has the D8E stylus. Duh. I have no idea how I missed it earlier. Now I can start looking for a replacement/upgrade that I know would fit this cartridge!
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ctjetta
It's not a perfect world
Well, there ya go. More options. That's why I defer to you in these discussions.
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bang4buck
Super Member
The Phase IV / Stanton 600 is MI, not MM, so it's the other way around. Several older threads here, unfortunately outdated now in terms of availability. This one is recent, though: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/stanton-cartidge-identification.997933/
bang4buck
Super Member
The D8E is intended for the Pickering XV-15 but as they are both MI cartridges and share the same stylus grip, it fits and produces sound in the Phase IV body.
This stuff is incredibly confusing, I know. Without searching the forum and TVOM (what a fantastic resource that drab looking little website is, reminds me I haven't bought anything from Gary in a while) we'd all be lost. Blame Pickering for reusing the same V-15 designation for two completely different cartridges, then topping it with the XV-15 (fifteen in Roman and Arabic numerals!), all while Shure also had a V-15, of course.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Yes, the Phase IV/Micro IV/Stanton 600 is moving iron. 2 coil. The company was trying to replace the V15/Stanton 500 with this line. When this line was introduced, the Pickering XV-15 went from 2 coils to 4 coil moving iron, and so did it's Stanton 680 and Stanton 681 counterparts.
