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Noob, advice on stylus replacement

R

riffbrokers

New Member
A friend recommended this website- my head was swimming at the search I did- a firehose of info. I'm just going to attempt to ask here and get roasted. I think I should replace my stylus, not sure what the best approach, just stylus or entire cartridge. I'm completely ignorant. Here's a pic of my headshell. My turntable is a Pioneer PL-500. I'd be grateful for a link on what and where to buy. Thank you all. I know it's time to replace because something doesn't sound great, and it's been over 20 years- haven't used my turntable in a long time, but I'm getting into it now, and want to start fresh.
 

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A new cartridge would be my suggestion, after-market styli for older cartridges are for the most part inferior to the originals...JICO is the exception, they are generally better than the originals.

www.audio-technica.com

AT-VM95E

This VM95 Series cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus fits half-inch mount turntables. The cartridge’s special coil design delivers a powerful output level of 4.0 mV. It also offer ...
www.audio-technica.com www.audio-technica.com
 
Hard to suggest anything without knowing what you're working with. Welcome to the board, everyone's pretty gentle, ask away. Is there an issue with what you have?
 
malden said:
A new cartridge would be my suggestion, after-market styli for older cartridges are for the most part inferior to the originals...JICO is the exception, they are generally better than the originals.

www.audio-technica.com

AT-VM95E

This VM95 Series cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus fits half-inch mount turntables. The cartridge’s special coil design delivers a powerful output level of 4.0 mV. It also offer ...
www.audio-technica.com www.audio-technica.com
Click to expand...
so this is compatible with what you see in my picture? I'm just smart enough to detach the headshell- then I suppose it's easy to swap the cartridge? Also I may be confused on what the cartridge is as opposed to the entire headshell- and if that's even the right term.
 
Hello, and yeah, so now that the consensus is clear on replacement, theres a lot to choose from out there, and I would suggest coming up with a price range, and going from there. The new AT models like the one above are great replacements, but my problem with them is the separation specifications. Grado makes a few models with a high output and better separation specification. I would also consider an Ortofon 2M if the budget allows. But before choosing, you may want to check the TT manual regarding arm height limitations, because the physical dimensions of the cartridge, especially the height will have an effect on your choice. The last thing you need is to choose poorly. Adding a shim is easy, but if the cartridge is too tall, the only way is to change the thickness of the table mat, and some are so thin already. Everything is compromise when it comes to playing vinyl. Enjoy!
 
I'm doing something wrong, went to an AT website with pix on stylus/ cartridge replacement. It said to grab by the edges and it would easily pop out, but it cracked instead. What's going on? Didn't say anything about loosening the tiny bolts.
 

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Hajidub said:
Hard to suggest anything without knowing what you're working with. Welcome to the board, everyone's pretty gentle, ask away. Is there an issue with what you have?
Click to expand...
I'm doing something wrong, went to an AT website with pix on stylus/ cartridge replacement. It said to grab by the edges and it would easily pop out, but it cracked instead. What's going on? Didn't say anything about loosening the tiny bolts.

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riffbrokers said:
I'm doing something wrong, went to an AT website with pix on stylus/ cartridge replacement. It said to grab by the edges and it would easily pop out, but it cracked instead. What's going on? Didn't say anything about loosening the tiny bolts.

Attachments​

Click to expand...
Welcome to the vast knowledge database, opinion source, nonsense supply, & rabbit hole we call AK!
Judging by your broken stylus frame pic, note that the cartridge body is yellowed, this due to long- term exposure to sun &/or UV light, both are death to certain materials, such as plastic. Yes, that is a press-fit to the cartridge body, but leave any 2 plastic bits mated together long enough & you'll likely have to force-separate them, sometimes getting the results you did. Being as old as it looks & you say it is, depending on the HOURS on the stylus, it's likely junk anyway. I'd finish pulling the remains out-off the cartridge body & source replacement, barring finding a deal on a complete cart/stylus assembly. If replacing the whole thing, expect to have to set tracking height, stylus overhang of tracking vis-a-vis centering needle to center of spindle, anti-skate & most importantly, re-balancing tonearm to "float" in between platter & upper vertical travel of tonearm when counterweight is adjusted to "0"grams. Sounds nuts, but it's easier than it sounds. Post your questions in the " turntables" forum for all the advice & knowledge you can absorb. :bigok:
 
Thank you, I do believe I will be replacing the whole cart like you say. I didn't want to unscrew it from the headshell, but I had to in order to find the model number- a lot of guesses, but no one guessed right. Here's a pic for viewing pleasure. 1723553795604.pngFortunately my buddy has an overhang gauge. I bought an acrylic platter to adjust the anti-skate. Can you confirm it's ok to put the stylus down on a blank platter to adjust the skate? I've seen how to videos, I think it would damage, but it seems to be ok for this short process.
 
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