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Ortofon VMS20E MK2 stylus

R

RobertoP

New Member
Looking for a stylus donor for my Ortofon cart or your recommendations for a good stylus replacement without breaking the piggy bank.

I know (assume) that there is a Dual M20E that is an Ortofon rebranded that might be compatible. Got any info on this idea for replacement?

Jico I hear mixed opinions. Any other brands of aftermarket stylus that you might recommend for this particular cart.

Thanks,
Rob.
 
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RobertoP said:
Looking for a stylus donor for my Ortofon cart or your recommendations for a good stylus replacement without breaking the piggy bank.

I know (assume) that there is a Dual M20E that is an Ortofon rebranded that might be compatible. Got any info on this idea for replacement?

Jico I hear mixed opinions. Any other brands of aftermarket stylus that you might recommend for this particular cart.

Thanks,
Rob.
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The Dual is technically compatible, but mechanically it doesn't fit without plastic surgery. While the plastic shank is of the right size and shape, the rest doesn't fit. If I recall correctly you have to at least cut away plastic from the top, maybe sides as well. Once you get it to fit, it's a good stylus and sounds and performs about identically to a VMS20E mkII stylus.

I have 2 aftermarket styli for mine, the other one is of unknown origin and I got it used with a cart, but it sounds pretty good. The other one I bought myself from turntableneedles.com, but I never liked it. With the original stylus the cart is very balanced, tonally neutral, with a hint of extra lushness (depending on capacitance) and warmth. With that stylus the mids became a bit cold and brittle. Subtle thing and if I hadn't heard the original, I might have thought it was fine.
 
ctjetta said:
LPGear sells an original Ortofon replacement. Does $149 break the bank? I dunno, but, not many factory replacements available for classic cartridges of any make.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/ORSD20EII-OR.html

Maybe it's available elsewhere less expensively.
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Apparently is out of stock. No sign of where to add it to shopping cart. I found it in stock with a seller in Germany apparently but it is around 190 euro plus shipping!
 
muovimies said:
The Dual is technically compatible, but mechanically it doesn't fit without plastic surgery. While the plastic shank is of the right size and shape, the rest doesn't fit. If I recall correctly you have to at least cut away plastic from the top, maybe sides as well. Once you get it to fit, it's a good stylus and sounds and performs about identically to a VMS20E mkII stylus.

I have 2 aftermarket styli for mine, the other one is of unknown origin and I got it used with a cart, but it sounds pretty good. The other one I bought myself from turntableneedles.com, but I never liked it. With the original stylus the cart is very balanced, tonally neutral, with a hint of extra lushness (depending on capacitance) and warmth. With that stylus the mids became a bit cold and brittle. Subtle thing and if I hadn't heard the original, I might have thought it was fine.
Click to expand...
Great info thanks! If you have a chance could you share a couple of pics of the aftermarket stylus that you mentioned you like. I might try to hunt one of those somewhere.
 
Does anybody know if the D15E Super would work?? That is listed in the same category in the Pfanstiehl cross reference.
 
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Gretsch6120 said:
Does anybody know if the D15E Super would work?? That is listed in the same category in the Pfanstiehl cross reference.
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I'm pretty sure it's not compatible and doesn't produce sound if you get it to fit. I believe they are both technically 'induced magnet' but with the VMS series there's a ring magnet at the root of the stylus shank. I think the earlier super series lack this and must've had the magnet was in the body instead. I might be full of it though, going by memory.
 
62v: Hardly - should have been more like in the US$ 50 to 60 range back in the late 70s.


Roberto: If you'd like to spend a good bit less, Thakker(.eu) still offers the N20EO, which should also fit onto the VMS20EII. Iirc, that's also an elliptical nudie, but might have been round-shanked only.

Unlike the more recent version of the D20EII with x-ish-shaped coding plug the N20EO still sports the original sandglass-shaped coding plug, though, so it's more limited in terms of compatibility to various VMS family bodies - and of course it's older stock. But currently not quite 95 instead of not quite 160 Euro might be a good point for the N20EO.


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
Thank you all, all of the listed options are good but a bit on the expensive side in my opinion considering that you you get a new cart like a Denon DL110 for the same money or less. Don´t know how this compares with the Ortofon in hand but is a well regarded cart for what I have read.

Back to topic, I still want to try the Ortofon cart and I think I´m leaning towards the idea of the Dual M20e modded.
 
I just bought the Ortofon Dual M20 original NOS for 70 USD delivered to my door in Mexico. Let's wait 3 weeks es or so to see how that works. I think it was the best and cheapest way to taste the original sound of the cart.
I found a thread in German about a guy that modified one and compares the VMS and the FF family compatibility. I'll upload the link tomorrow back at the office.
 
RobertoP said:
I just bought the Ortofon Dual M20 original NOS for 70 USD delivered to my door in Mexico. Let's wait 3 weeks es or so to see how that works. I think it was the best and cheapest way to taste the original sound of the cart.
I found a thread in German about a guy that modified one and compares the VMS and the FF family compatibility. I'll upload the link tomorrow back at the office.
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There isn't much between them soundwise. But I never had both styli at the same time, but based on memory they were about the same and out-performed the VMS10E similarly.
 
muovimies said:
There isn't much between them soundwise. But I never had both styli at the same time, but based on memory they were about the same and out-performed the VMS10E similarly.
Click to expand...
Thanks! since I never heard this cart before I´m jumping blindly lets say, but I was curios since many talk good things about this cart and wanted to try the Ortofon sound and this was a good opportunity to do so.
 
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