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Need advice on which cart to keep, and which to give away.

Shockmaster

Shockmaster

Active Member
Hi guys, today I picked up a great condition Technics SL-D3. All functions work perfectly and it is cosmetically in great condition. I picked it up for $20 at a thrift store. I don't actually need the TT, I really bought it for the cartridge. It was rocking a Shure M97HE Cart with a Shure N97HE ERA IV stylus.

Heres the dilemma, I have a Kenwood KD 770D TT that I use currently. I have an Audio Technica AT120E cart on it currently and I'm okay with it. Im not the most up to date on carts. I plugged in the technics and it sounded great. So I'm thinking to replace the AT with the Shure on my Kenwood and put the AT on the technics. I am giving the technics to a friend. My question is, is the Shure a better cart? does it make more sense for my Kenwood than the AT? Am I making a mistake giving away the AT and not the shure? I love the way the shure looks and I think the little brush on the from there is super cool. It also seems to have a warmer sound than the AT. I currently have the shure on my Kenwood and I think its going to stay there. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much guys!
 

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I have no experience with the AT120E but have read that it is a pretty good cartridge. I have read that its performance gets better with an upgrade to a better stylus. My understanding is that Shure and AT cartridges have different house sound so if you prefer the shure now, you may later prefer the AT sound as you change other components in your system or as your taste changes.

If I was in your shoes, I would keep both. And your friend can buy his own cartridge since he already is getting a free tt.
 
I would prefer the Shure because of the hyperelliptical diamond. I like the ERA IV Shures. I have the p-mount version (M97LT) and it sounds great and tracks anything. The earlier versions had a nude hyperelliptical diamond mounted to a telescoped cantilever.
 
The Shure is a prettty good cartridge and will almost track anything. So buy a half a dozen styli and enjoy your self for the next 20 years. By then there will be something you will like better or the LP fad will have disappeared from your likes. Heaven forbid if it hasn't because will be spending more money than you ever have now. Shure is closing up shop very soon, so buy those styli while you can.
 
twiiii said:
The Shure is a prettty good cartridge and will almost track anything. So buy a half a dozen styli and enjoy your self for the next 20 years. By then there will be something you will like better or the LP fad will have disappeared from your likes. Heaven forbid if it hasn't because will be spending more money than you ever have now. Shure is closing up shop very soon, so buy those styli while you can.
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Very true. I’ve always had LPs and TT laying around and playing my whole life but I have definitely spent more money and time now that there’s so much more stuff coming to market because of the fad. But man those stylus online are looking to be around $120 on flebay.
 
Shockmaster said:
Very true. I’ve always had LPs and TT laying around and playing my whole life but I have definitely spent more money and time now that there’s so much more stuff coming to market because of the fad. But man those stylus online are looking to be around $120 on flebay.
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Try needledoctor, turntableneedles or lpgear.com. They should have the stylus you need for less than $100.
 
M97HE the superior of the two with original or Jico HE, AT 120 is very excellent, and can accept the new AT VM styli also, and can have a Micro-Line upgrade olde or new.
 
You can give me the Shure and keep the Audio Technica.........how's that for fair?


Just Kidding, truth be known I'd keep'em both if I was you, never know when you'll need a backup.
 
Both cartridges awesome, AT best for you, genuine styli available (and still available genuine on the new VM platform). I'd go AT for yours, you have current genuine support, downgrade, what you have, upgrade, or highest end upgrade. And all genuine AT on your platform, older or newest VM. You have lots of choices with AT.
 
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