Hitachi L303 - Cart Identification?

[Spellbinder]

I recently came across a Hitachi HT-L303 linear tracking turntable. Sounds great. As for the cartridge according to LP Gear, The Hitachi HT-L303 turntable was fitted with a Hitachi MT-12 phono cartridge and a Hitachi DS-ST12 stylus. That's obviously not the case here, as the previous owner obviously changed that. Aside from being Audio-Technica, I have no clue what it is. Any ideas, guys?

And if/when identified, is there a stylus recommendation?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Spellbinder]

Nobody has any ideas here?

 

[wualta]

Oh, we do, we do!
It's one of the first generation of Audio-Technica p-mount cartridges. They basically borrowed the bodies of their standard-mount cartridges, put p-mount pins on the back, and then made special lightweight (thinner plastic) styli for them that were otherwise identical to the styli for the standard-mounts. Very handy. And since these p-mount bodies are all virtually the same (a few had laminated cores, but the audible difference is small), you can put on styli from the newest A-T line or go back to something like the ATN120E if you can find one, and it doesn't matter which model name your particular cartridge body has printed on top, since it's the stylus that counts.

 

[Spellbinder]

Thanks, wualta!

 

[tubewade]

It's quite a fine cartridge, in my opinion. I'd really prefer this cartridge family over the later 3472 family. As wualta said, you can use needles from the latest lineup, for instance the VM540, etc.