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Need Cartridge/Stylus Advice - Shure M75 - Possible Missing Diamond

CleanLines

CleanLines

New Member
I am new to the vintage audio game, but really excited to put together my first budget vintage stereo system. Here's what I've got:
  • Dual 1019 turntable
  • Kenwood KR-5030 receiver
  • ADC 303ax speakers
With that out of the way, here are my real questions:
  1. Without a microscope or magnifying glass, is there an easy way to tell if the diamond on my stylus is missing?
  2. If it is missing, what are my options for replacement?
Question 1 details: The Dual has a Shure M75 cartridge. Everything appears to be in great working order, except the stylus slides all over the record, never holding the groove for more than a few seconds, and the sound is super crackly and inconsistent. I know that my tonearm is properly calibrated and my records are clean. When I remove the cartridge and carefully inspect the stylus, I can't see the diamond at the tip of the cantilever. I know the diamond is really small and difficult to see, but I have very good eyesight and all I can see is a tiny spot where I assume the diamond SHOULD be. But there is nothing protruding from that spot. It is completely flat against the cantilever. Should I assume the diamond is missing? Is there a better way to figure this out?

Question 2 details: If the diamond is indeed missing, what are my options for replacing it? I assume my options include:
  • Option 1: Replacing the entire cartridge with another genuine Shure M75.
  • Option 2: Replacing the entire cartridge with a compatible (but not genuine) cartridge, presumably cheaper than Option 1.
  • Option 3: Replacing the stylus with a genuine stylus Shure stylus.
  • Option 4: Replacing the stylus with a non-genuine (but compatible) stylus, presumably cheaper than Option 3.
Obviously, a die-hard audiophile with unlimited funds would find an original/genuine cartridge or stylus for replacement. However, given that my receiver and speakers are relatively modest, will I even notice if I replace the cartridge (or stylus) with a non-genuine knockoff of some sort? I appreciate any thoughts y'all have!
 
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You should be able to see the stylus with the naked eye. With any reasonable magnifying glass or should be clear, and if the tip is chipped, you will very likely be able to see that too.

Really if all else fails, you should be able to feel it.

It also could be very dirty.
 
Replacement stylus is certainly in order. Congrats on a great deck. I have a 1019 that I run an m44 and a pickering v15 on. Truly fun stuff!
 
CleanLines said:
I don't see anything on that page called 4606-DED. Can you clarify? Thanks!
Click to expand...

The 4760-DED is a truly remarkable stylus!

Here:
DF798FB9-41CC-4730-8F6B-DC3D0EBE2714.jpeg

I prefer it to my original Shure stylus. It is more detailed, cheap, has the Shure house sound, tracks really well, is inexpensive, gets you a very nice treble extension, is affordable, fits right, gives great, full bass, is cost effective, and renders your vintage M75 into a really nice cartridge. Oh, and it’s priced right. Or did I already say that??

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The 4760-DED sounds great on the M91 variant left, M93 center, M75 right.
 
^^^ Everything vintage audio has jumped and continues to climb. Limited supply increasing demand. Great for those of us who collected this stuff when it was nickels on dollars. ;)
 
MRL_Audio said:
^^^ Everything vintage audio has jumped and continues to climb. Limited supply increasing demand. Great for those of us who collected this stuff when it was nickels on dollars. ;)
Click to expand...

There are a few items on my shelves that are going readily for twice what I wasn't able to sell them for a year ago.

Think I'll keep waiting...
 
Hey Clean, while we are waiting to hear about your discoveries regarding finding, or not, a stylus at the end of your cantilever I just had to comment on your system! That is exactly the same system that I selected at the Herzo-base HiFi shop as my very first one, except I chose Dynaco A-25's for speakers. I absolutely loved the way it sounded! Nice system.....have you tried using some magnification to see about the stylus yet? I'm curious. Thanks!
 
Quick Update: I went ahead and bought the 6760-DED that everyone recommended. Excited to hear how it sounds. Today's project was removing the deck from the plinth and restoring the wood finish (although it hardly needed it). I also restored the finish on the speaker cabinets, which look much improved.

My next step is replacing the grill cloth, which has some tears. This isn't my photo, but it shows you the original cloth.
Vintage-AUDIO-DYNAMICS-ADC-303AX-Speakers-PAIR.jpg


@Fishead: It's wild that your setup was so similar. I don't like the look of my grill cloth, and I was actually looking into getting some of the fabric from the Dynaco A25's. I really like the look of those! (photo below.) And to answer your question, I never used magnification to see the stylus, but I became convinced that it was missing. I felt like I could get the spot perfectly in focus (with just my eyes), and since I didn't see a damn thing, it's gotta be gone.
Dynaco+A25+vintage+speaker.jpg
 
Good move, and you did mean the 4760-DED, correct?

Just having some fun a while back, this is the "Wall Of Sound" in my B system showing the A25's atop the Infinity Quantum 4's straddling the Wharfedale W-70's.....sold the Wharfedales and the Dynaco's are now in the MBR, leaving just the Infinity's but those have always been one of my favorite sounding speakers.

I replaced the caps in the Dynaco's recently and am now looking for some replacement cloth as the original is still pretty nice but one speaker has a little damage right where the badge is attached, a dilemma I had years ago when I tried to take the stuff off to clean it and found it was nearly impossible to do so without damage.....but, I was young and impatient.....now I'm older and still impatient!!!


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I've done a bit of a search for the cloth with no real luck yet. Ideally, I would also replace both badges.....anyone know of a place where I can get that stuff? Thanks!

PS - Being curious, I would be interested in a picture of your old stylus taken as close up as your camera will allow to see what you were describing as the flat area where the stylus would be attached if you get a minute to post that up?
 
@Fishead: Yes, I meant 4760-DED. The Wall of Sound looked awesome -- like the Dead in the summer of '74, but in your living room!

I bought some of this cloth this morning. I'll let you know how I like it.

I can't get my phone to focus on the stylus enough to illustrate the flat portion. I'll play around later and see if I can get a good image.
 
Currently doing some basic cabinet restoration on the ADC 303ax speakers. Some in-progress pics, along with some before shots.
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Hey man, you need to come by here and do the same number on my Dynacos!!!:beerchug:

They look really, really good and I'll bet the grill cloth will spiff them up even more.....my Dynacos are just a little tired looking, really not in bad shape but need some tlc which I am more than willing to provide, but first I want to locate some of that cloth and also, if possible, some new badges but those might be unobtanium, even more than the cloth.

What did you use to bring back the finish like that? Furniture oil? If so, what type? I want some of that!

Thanks for the kind words about the Wall Of Sound! I remember the day in 1972 when my Dad and I went to that HiFi Club in Germany and I picked those out, along with the Kenwood KR-5030! The Dual 1019 I didn't buy, it was my Dad's and he passed it along to me while he got a 1219 for himself.....I was a happy camper! Guess where the 1219 is now? Hint hint.....look at my signature! It won't be going anywhere any time soon....

Look forward to seeing the cantilever if you get some decent photos of it.....
 
I used Watco Danish Oil in "Medium Walnut." I just do some very light sanding, then apply oil, let it soak, remove excess, rinse and repeat. It's amazing what a few coats will do!
 
When you say "rinse," what exactly is that? What grade sandpaper are you using? Here's some shots of mine:


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Ugh! They didn't look this bad from a bit of a distance, but I imagine with a little elbow grease and determination I can make at least a little improvement. Did yours look this bad when you started? From your "before" pictures they looked a little rough also, but in the "after" pics they sure look nice!

Sorry, this thread kind of morphed away from your original post but I'm hoping you don't mind.
 
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