• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

New stylus for...

mackat

mackat

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
When I next get money, I want a new stylus for either my ADC XLM mkii or my Stanton 680ee. Should I get the vivid line for the Stanton or the NOS super stylus for the XLM? I like the Stanton, but I haven't ally heard a good comparison with the xlm because e current stylus doesn't look or sound very good.

Anyone?

Thanks a lot!


Ben aka MacKat
 
Register to hide this ad
Ben: If you're considering the RZL, that's a pretty good needle - and still available for pretty fair prices.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
Ben

From experience, be carefull buying any aftermarket stylus for a Stanton/Pickering cartridge. I have tried them and as yet have found one that got it right. That is for the 68x series and the 500 series. Stay with an original Plainsfield NY stylus.
 
every ViVid line stylus owner I'm aware of likes them.....a lot. IMHO, that stylus is a bargain, for under $100.
 
Yes that is right John as they are the only one that has them in stock. And yes they are in a sealed Stanton cube with the American flag sticker on the right side and the made in Plainsfield NY sticker on the bottom. .2x.7 stylus. And you act as if me recommending the real thing is more of a problem than the constant recommendation of an LP Gear Vivid Line stylus that nobody knows what it is or where it comes from or the Jico SAS
 
Unless someone just asks where to find something I "only recommend" things I have tried or own. I won't own an LP Gear "Vivid Line" until they bother to tell what they are or where they come from or at least bother to answer an e-mail or a phone call.
 
seminole54 said:
And you act as if me recommending the real thing is more of a problem than the constant recommendation of an LP Gear Vivid Line stylus that nobody knows what it is or where it comes from or the Jico SAS
Click to expand...

Where'd you get that idea? I've got a few Stantons and Pickerings, all with NOS styli so it's not as if I have a preference for the aftermarket versions.

Sheesh!

John
 
Sorry John, I guess the tone of you original entry made it seem as if I had something to gain by recommending StereoNeedles, which I in fact didn't and wouldn't have until asked after what happened on s similar thread a couple of weeks ago. Never dealt with them until recently and didn't even know they existed until I joined this forum. I spent six weeks looking for a genuine Stanton/Pickering stylus for a 68x body I picked up before Christmas. This was after trying both the Pfanstiehl and Russell Ind./EVG/Jico like KAB and many other online and Ebay sellers offer. Both were extremely sibilant both with and w/o the brush and even with a well used NOS brush I had laying around. The EVG was so bad I thought it was defective and got it replaced, but it was no better. So it appeared to me that the aftermarkets were not going to be the answer even though they have worked well on Shure and AT carts. All I found available were the D6800EE from SN and the D625 from Pickering UK for $30 dollars more. So I took my chances. The D6800EE arrived in six days and was as advertised. I eventually ordered a second one as a backup to a 680 I had with a D680 stylus of unknown hours. Seems to me to be a better idea than trolling Ebay for them from individual sellers
 
seminole54 said:
Sorry John, I guess the tone of you original entry made it seem as if I had something to gain by recommending StereoNeedles,
Click to expand...

Apology coaching by Rush Limbaugh? :)

I will say that, based on the reports of others here, I've avoided generics for Stanton and Pickering cartridges. Those reports I've read here, perhaps including your own, have been uniformly negative with the exception of those focused on the Vivid Line styli. Those have been 100% positive. Should I ever need to replace one of my originals, a Vivid Line stylus will be a candidate for sure.

A word about Russell Industries and JICO. When I spoke to their VP for Sales he confirmed that JICO was "one of their suppliers". That suggest to me that they may obtain styli from other sources like Pfanstiehl's Swiss supplier or maybe Namiki (which, it occurs to me, could also be the source for the Vivids.) This means, of course, that your Stanton/Pickering replacements may or may not be JICOs.

By the way, I share to a degree your annoyance about LPGear's reluctance to disclose the source and specs on the Vivid Line styli nut, but, because of the unbiased reports here, I'd still be willing to try one.

John
 
At some point I'll again be looking for an aftermarket stylus for a cartridge and as best I can gather from these comments the JICO is the most consistant high quality aftermarket stylus available. At the higher price points for replacement stylus I'd rather spend extra and not gamble as to who mfg the stylus, that would be my reason for purchasing from JICO and knowing that I'm getting the real thing.
 
John understood that Russell Ind/EVG is just a repackager and buy on bid just like Sears does on appliances. My only reason for mentioning Jico in reference to the EVG Stantons is tha KAB has the same stylus I bought from another source listed that way and I would have to assume that as good as his reputation is he would make sure to know before he listed it that way. But either way they were not good any time the music got complex or on upper register sax or piano. I have gotten really good EVG's and some that were just average, but nothing from them that was this bad. They seem to do there best sourcing on the Shures.
 
seminole54 said:
I have gotten really good EVG's and some that were just average, but nothing from them that was this bad. They seem to do there best sourcing on the Shures.
Click to expand...

Agreed re: Shures (the only EVG styli I've tried). These seem to be just behind the the quality of US Hi Tracks I've had and far better than the Mexican ones. A helluva deal at $15.00 shipped.

John
 
Also had good luck with three NOS Walco in the old style package all marked on the label on the rear as Made in Japan. Don't turn up very often
 
seminole54 said:
Also had good luck with three NOS Walco in the old style package all marked on the label on the rear as Made in Japan. Don't turn up very often
Click to expand...

Seen those pop up on the auction site from time to time and always regret not trying for them. I'll probably jump on the next one I spot.

John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom