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IS there a Stylus upgrade for CF3600LE?

ClayTune

ClayTune

Well-Known Member
This LPgear cartridge is pretty awesome sounding for the price. I am not saying there's anything wrong with it at all and there's a lot of things right with it.

Now being the curious cat that I am I was wondering if there is some sort of would be stylus upgrade out there? If not on LPgear's website perhaps somewhere else? I know this is branded LP gear but made by Audiotechnica, so is there a stylus upgrade for one of their carts that could would with this?

Always the curious cat, I am.
 
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#5-Alive said:
I wouldn't know. As I said, I would like to try one myself.
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I'm assuming the price point being twice the price of the actual stock cartridge and stylus would indicate some measurable benefits. I also assume, like Microline, vivline is better at tracking inner grooves. Just in theory, if anybody with experience on this can chime in please do.
 
ClayTune said:
Pardon? Do you want to add something to the discussion?
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Sorry. I typed up my comments on the CF3600. Not the upgrade stylus.

Good luck. Definitely report your experience with the new stylus once you get it and it breaks in a bit.
 
ClayTune said:
I'm assuming the price point being twice the price of the actual stock cartridge and stylus would indicate some measurable benefits. I also assume, like Microline, vivline is better at tracking inner grooves. Just in theory, if anybody with experience on this can chime in please do.
Click to expand...

I have the LP Gear ATN3600DLXVL Vividline (~80) on my AT-3600L....its a direct snap in replacement, but note that it tracks a bit lighter due to the aluminum cantilever vs carbon fiber. What improvements you hear will depend a lot on your system and other variables, but it's quite noticeably more refined and clearer sounding than the stock stylus in my opinion. It does track better too. The overall balance and presentation is more reminiscent of my AT_VM95SH, but with a bit less overall refinement and clarity. Not all that surprising since the diamond profiles are similar, but the VM95SH has the benefit of a nude shank vs bonded. For $80 its a nice sounding cart I could live with. While the 3600L is pleasant for a while (and even fun because its $20) , it's not one I'd be looking forward to playing for more critical listening on an extended routine basis. It all boils down to preference and your objectives.
 
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I've owned the AT3600 body in several different iterations, including the CF3600LE, the AT91, the AT3600, AT211 body, etc. The cartridge body on all of them is the same and are available dirt cheap. That's part of what makes them such a wonderful option. Cheap, really good sound, plus many stylus options.

There are numerous different styli that can be found for those carts, some with plastic/fiber impregnated cantilevers, some aluminum, heavy-tracking conical tips that one can find dirt cheap on the auction site, to lighter tracking ellipticals, all the way up to the vivid line and hyper elliptical and even shibata tips found on LPGear and Turntableneedles. Check those two sites along with thevoiceofmusic for plenty of options. At thevoiceofmusic there are no less than six different stylus options (look under Audio Technica '211' tab) for that cartridge. Turntableneedles has tips for that cart including conicals, ellipticals, hyperellipticals, and shibatas.

The LPGear folks, in selling the CF3600LE, took one of the most ubiquitous carts in history, added an LPGear-branded elliptical tip on a plastic/fiber cantilever, and produced a very solid cart that they've likely sold by the bushel.

When looking to branch out, using that same cartridge body, the user has MANY stylus options available to them. The user who is happy with the AT3600 sound can be very happy, with many different stylus options, for not a lot of money, for a long, long time.
 
DavidTT said:
I've owned the AT3600 body in several different iterations, including the CF3600LE, the AT91, the AT3600, AT211 body, etc. The cartridge body on all of them is the same and are available dirt cheap. That's part of what makes them such a wonderful option. Cheap, really good sound, plus many stylus options.

There are numerous different styli that can be found for those carts, some with plastic/fiber impregnated cantilevers, some aluminum, heavy-tracking conical tips that one can find dirt cheap on the auction site, to lighter tracking ellipticals, all the way up to the vivid line and hyper elliptical and even shibata tips found on LPGear and Turntableneedles. Check those two sites along with thevoiceofmusic for plenty of options. At thevoiceofmusic there are no less than six different stylus options (look under Audio Technica '211' tab) for that cartridge. Turntableneedles has tips for that cart including conicals, ellipticals, hyperellipticals, and shibatas.

The LPGear folks, in selling the CF3600LE, took one of the most ubiquitous carts in history, added an LPGear-branded elliptical tip on a plastic/fiber cantilever, and produced a very solid cart that they've likely sold by the bushel.

When looking to branch out, using that same cartridge body, the user has MANY stylus options available to them. The user who is happy with the AT3600 sound can be very happy, with many different stylus options, for not a lot of money, for a long, long time.
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So this is the upgrade stylus I bought.

What do you think?

https://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN3600DLXVL.html
 
knotscott said:
I have the LP Gear ATN3600DLXVL Vividline (~80) on my AT-3600L....its a direct snap in replacement, but note that it tracks a bit lighter due to the aluminum cantilever vs carbon fiber. What improvements you hear will depend a lot on your system and other variables, but it's quite noticeably more refined and clearer sounding than the stock stylus in my opinion. It does track better too. The overall balance and presentation is more reminiscent of my AT_VM95SH, but with a bit less overall refinement and clarity. Not all that surprising since the diamond profiles are similar, but the VM95SH has the benefit of a nude shank vs bonded. For $80 its a nice sounding cart I could live with. While the 3600L is fine (and even fun because its $20) for a while, it's not one I'd be looking forward to playing for more critical listening on an extended routine basis. It all boils down to preference and your objectives.
Click to expand...

My objective is enjoying music, detail, channel separation etc.

Now on the stock stylus it already sounds really good. I won't say it doesn't. But I am always nudging toward improvements when ever possible. How does your viviline stylus handle inner grooves vs the stock stylus? I'm assuming much better.

Also, will putting this stylii on the cart change the counter weight tracking needs?
 
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