Need help with stabilizer issue on LP Gear N97XE VividLine stylus

[mcgannahan]

Hey everyone,
Received my N97xe Vividline stylus in the mail from LP Gear and the stabilizer brush is not behaving like the stock brush does. When the Vividline stabilizer is engaged (but in a resting position) it sits much lower than the stock brush does. (See comparison pics, excuse the dust!) The new brush also seems to lower much more quickly than the old one. Did I get a defective unit or is this normal?

 

[Lavane]

Is that an adjustment on the side? I wouldn't think it would matter much if the one original makes full contact before stopping. The fact that the new on goes lower shouldn't matter. Meaning if the full weight of the original is on the record the extra travel in the new one is fine if both ride on the record the same. Someone in the TT forum may know better.

 

[mcgannahan]

Is that an adjustment on the side? I wouldn't think it would matter much if the one original makes full contact before stopping. The fact that the new on goes lower shouldn't matter. Meaning if the full weight of the original is on the record the extra travel in the new one is fine if both ride on the record the same. Someone in the TT forum may know better.

I don't believe it adjusts. My concern I guess is that if the dampening mechanism in the brush is not working correctly it won't really provide any stabilization. Plus the thing wasn't the cheapest. Lol

 

[WaynerN]

Maybe we should see a picture of it in action. Where it is in the up position is of little use.

 

[Lavane]

I get it. You pay that kind of money you want it to be like the original. Is the stabilization due to the up and down motion or side to side? If side to side I can't see a problem.

 

[mcgannahan]

Maybe we should see a picture of it in action. Where it is in the up position is of little use.

Not the easiest thing to get a picture of, but here are a few.

 

[mcgannahan]

I get it. You pay that kind of money you want it to be like the original. Is the stabilization due to the up and down motion or side to side? If side to side I can't see a problem.

I would assume up and down. The idea of the dynamic stabilizer is to help the stylus track warps and other little anomalies on the record surface.

 

[Lavane]

It might very well matter then.

 

[WaynerN]

I'm assuming you changed the VTF when you flipped the stabilizer down......As I remember it, the VTF was suppose to be increased by .5 grams.

I had this Shure cartridge, but could not get into it, musically, so I sold it. I thought the original stabilizer brush was effective and also caught some lint that might have been intercepted by the stylus. BTW, who said the Shure model worked the best anyway. Maybe Vividline improved its performance? I see no problem in the photos.

 

[regore]

I read a technical article some time ago that stated the main reason for the brush was to suppress what we call the Grado wiggle. I've tried my 97xe with the brush up and down and haven't experienced any erratic behavior. Haven't had a cartridge with a brush since my dustomatic Pickering. The brush on the 97xe appears to be damped as it lowers very slowly instead of just falling. Nice cartridge but not really my cup of tea.

 

[luvvinvinyl]

When in use, the new brush appears to run in the same spot as the resting position of the original. If the VTF is proper, and it sounds the same, I'd call it good.

 

[JoeESP9]

I have noticed that some of the less expensive Shure stylus replacements have no damping on the brush as the OEM's do.

 

[mcgannahan]

Update: Upon closer inspection, there is oil on both sides where the stabilizer attaches to the cart. The oil is the damping medium for the stabilizer, so that would explain why it is dropping quickly/not maintaining its correct position. Back to the shop she goes! Thanks everyone for the help.