Hitachi HT-2

[XomegamanX]

Hello all, newbie here. I just purchased a Hitachi HT-2. I was thinking of replacing the cartridge, and I was curious as to what any of you would recommend as a solid new cartridge. Thanks!

 

[Crab33]

Your turntable can only accept p-mount cartridges, so there isn't a wide choice open to you, unless you want to look at vintage cartridges. If you want a good budget cartridge with elliptical stylus, I believe the AT85EP to be one of the best options.

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/at85ep

However, you should tell us which cartridge is currently fitted to the turntable (perhaps show a photo), as it may already be as good as the above. It is wise to replace the stylus of a used turntable. Depending on your cartridge, you may be able to upgrade simply by buying a more upmarket stylus for it.

 

[XomegamanX]

Your turntable can only accept p-mount cartridges, so there isn't a wide choice open to you, unless you want to look at vintage cartridges. If you want a good budget cartridge with elliptical stylus, I believe the AT85EP to be one of the best options.

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/at85ep

However, you should tell us which cartridge is currently fitted to the turntable (perhaps show a photo), as it may already be as good as the above. It is wise to replace the stylus of a used turntable. Depending on your cartridge, you may be able to upgrade simply by buying a more upmarket stylus for it.

 

[XomegamanX]

This is the current cartridge. The ATDR200E.

 

[Crab33]

I strongly suspect that your cartridge is very similar to the AT85EP that I suggested, except I believe the latter has a finer elliptical tip. On this LP Gear page, the stylus they show for your cartridge looks to have the same fitting as for the AT85EP, so I assume their styli are interchangeable.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATSDR200E.html

If you look further down the page at Related Products, you will see this third-party VividLine stylus:

https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATN3472VL.html

This stylus should give you an upgrade over your existing one. There is also a Shibata, which is more expensive:

https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN3472SA.html

However, you might want to get a second opinion from another forum member before investing in either of those upgrade styli.

 

[XomegamanX]

Thanks. I appreciate the input, I'll check out the links to those cartridges you mentioned.

 

[Crab33]

I think to upgrade the stylus would be the easiest upgrade route for you. However, before committing your money to either of those styli, I suggest you seek the advice of someone who is more of an AT p-mount cartridge expert - perhaps create a new post with a more informative title like "AT p-mount stylus upgrade" in order to attract the right people.

 

[TerryMarmite]

Having been down rabbit holes on P-mount carts in recent times, I recall people saying that any stylus of the same shape will fit that AT cart shape. So instead of buying a whole new cart, you could for instance get just the stylus for the AT85EP. Or the older better-specced one for the AT311EP, which I enjoyed for years in a bungled/accidentally-good-sounding setup with a P-mount adaptor on a Vestax DJ turntable, that I kind of wish I had still had.