MA 2002e Stylus replacement
- Thread starter JMoney
- Start date
bobrown14
Super Member
Where did you get your stylus replaced?? I love MA carts and have a 3002 II that needs a new stylus and I have backups for the backup....
Cheers,
Bob
I just saw these postings and wonder if you guys who know about these Cartridges are still around ?
I have one of these that came with the JVC QLA7 TT that I bought used many years ago. Not sure how old is this cartridge but it sounds great. I really don't know how one is able to tell if one cartridge is better than another since I would think the differences are small.
From what I read, these are great cartridges. Again, what is the difference between this one and say an Audio Technica one (Which seem to be common)?
And how does one tell when a cartridge/stylus has reached its expiration date ?
Thanks for the education.
I have one of these that came with the JVC QLA7 TT that I bought used many years ago. Not sure how old is this cartridge but it sounds great. I really don't know how one is able to tell if one cartridge is better than another since I would think the differences are small.
From what I read, these are great cartridges. Again, what is the difference between this one and say an Audio Technica one (Which seem to be common)?
And how does one tell when a cartridge/stylus has reached its expiration date ?
Thanks for the education.
Pio1980
AK Member
Most modern pickup cartridges post-1970-ish were magnetics except for inexpensive piezo crystal/ceramic carts, the MA carts being the mid-high end ceramic exception.
A microscopic visual inspection may confirm the wear status of a stylus tip, many listeners can hear a point of deterioration where detailing sounds rough or is lost entirely. See the NYT and other articles cited, like this one:
https://thevinylpress.com/the-finish-line-for-your-phonograph-stylus/
The cart body itself is typically "eternal" and doesn't wear out, tho having one channel drop out because something in it fails can and does happen. The older crystal piezo carts would eventually die because the crystal generators would absorb moisture from humid air and deteriorate, working examples being extremely rare nowadays. Piezo-ceramic and magnetic types were generally immune from moisture contamination.
A microscopic visual inspection may confirm the wear status of a stylus tip, many listeners can hear a point of deterioration where detailing sounds rough or is lost entirely. See the NYT and other articles cited, like this one:
https://thevinylpress.com/the-finish-line-for-your-phonograph-stylus/
The cart body itself is typically "eternal" and doesn't wear out, tho having one channel drop out because something in it fails can and does happen. The older crystal piezo carts would eventually die because the crystal generators would absorb moisture from humid air and deteriorate, working examples being extremely rare nowadays. Piezo-ceramic and magnetic types were generally immune from moisture contamination.
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