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P-Mount Cart Recommendations for Techncs SLJ2

ClayTune said:
What about that AT311EP?
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I have one. It's in a Technics SL-DD22 table. It's a decent lower level cartridge in a decent lower level table. Nothing bad about it, but nothing distinctive about it. It works, and sounds fine. I use that table for my "flea-market" records.

It's worst shortcomings can be EQ'ed out.
 
lini said:
Question is, whether that's actually the case or rather an illusion due to different spec styles. I.e., the 3.5 mV for the AT92E(CD) or the AT85EP might be simply due to being a 5 cm/s lateral/mono modulation spec - of which a stereo cartridge would merely "see" 5cm/s x (1/2^0.5) = ca. 3.5 cm/s due to "sensor orientation". Whereas the AT311EP might have been specified for 5 cm/s 45°/stereo modulation, so that its output level might look higher on paper, but could actually be just the same.

This 5 cm/s lateral/mono modulation spec style also is the reason, why for eample the Denon DL-110 and -160 have such a low output on paper (1.6 mV), but in reviews typically deliver quite a good bit more (ca. factor 2^0.5), as these will rather specify the output for 5 cm/s in 45°/stereo modulation.
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Good stuff. I certainly cannot speak to that level of specificity. But I can say that the AT311 (mine) had more body (though slight) than the AT92 with the same stylus (several) mounted. I no longer have the AT92E - it left the house with another table a few years ago.
 
eyewanders said:
The AT311EP combo is good at around $50-60 (based on the couple links here) - it's no longer produced but has a higher output voltage (5mV) than the newer AT varieties in the same form-factor. Good if you want to save some money now and upgrade the stylus to the vividline or even a shibata later on down the road.

The LPGear vividline cart/stylus combo I linked to uses a newer AT cart spec'd at 3mV. The carbon-fidelity version is spec'd at 2.5mV. It's the little things that add up. But make no mistake, these are small differences. The higher output ones generally have more volume and bass response, but not by a huge margin.

Finally, regarding the skipping issue, as was mentioned the shaft and worm gear mechanism likely needs a cleaning is all, and the belt may possibly need replacing. If so, this is what you're after (I'm sure they can be sourced elsewhere, but for the sake of simplicity I only looked on LPGear). https://www.lpgear.com/product/TSLJ02.html
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What do you think of the Specs on this one?

https://www.lpgear.com/product/CFT4PSE.html
 
I suppose then the next loaded question would be, which of the mentioned carts would be the most "Analog" one?

The idea is running it through Pure direct on my Yamaha receiver to get it as close to how it's meant to be heard as possible, Which was the idea behind scoring a Linear tracker to begin with.
 
ClayTune said:
What do you think of the Specs on this one?
https://www.lpgear.com/product/CFT4PSE.html
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I really can't say. Specs look more than fine for 50 USD. Hearing is believing. The carbon-fidelity stylus line gets well reviewed but I've never had one.

ClayTune said:
I suppose then the next loaded question would be, which of the mentioned carts would be the most "Analog" one?
The idea is running it through Pure direct on my Yamaha receiver to get it as close to how it's meant to be heard as possible, Which was the idea behind scoring a Linear tracker to begin with.
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"How it's meant to be heard" is a phrase that's generated more debate than dang near any other, and in my opinion doesn't exist in the truest form people would like to believe, for myriad reasons I won't go into. I'd suggest you may need to just purchase a cart or stylus, mate, and press the pause button on overthinking. :) Get to the listening part. Cheers.
 
This what I got for my SL-5 . Works great .

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/line-series/p-mount-series/at85ep


at85ep_01.png
 
eyewanders said:
I really can't say. Specs look more than fine for 50 USD. Hearing is believing. The carbon-fidelity stylus line gets well reviewed but I've never had one..
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I'll stand up on this one, and mention that I also have the VL and every AT step along the way from conical to ML and 8008 shibata.

At first, I wasn't impressed. It just sound 'blah'. But this one is positively a 'needs to be played in' stylus without a doubt. But it sounds gorgeous, and especially at that price point. It's NOT the 'AT sound', so don't expect that. But it is full, rich and clear, and not overly bright. Warmer than the typical AT, but it in a very good way IMHO. I wish they would do a VL with the carbon!
 
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Vinylmasters said:
I'll stand up on this one, and mention that I also have the VL and every AT step along the way from conical to ML and 8008 shibata.

At first, I wasn't impressed. It just sound 'blah'. But this one is positively a 'needs to be played in' stylus positively. But it sounds gorgeous, and especially at that price point. It's NOT the 'AT sound', so don't expect that. But it is full, rich and clear, and not overly bright. Warmer than the typical AT, but it in a very good way IMHO. I wish they do a VL with the carbon!
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That's interesting to hear... Do you have (at the risk of slightly derailing the thread further) the Ortofon 2M Red? Your description of the Carbon Fidelity sounds a lot like how I'd describe the Red so just wondering if you have direct comparison.
 
eyewanders said:
That's interesting to hear... Do you have (at the risk of slightly derailing the thread further) the Ortofon 2M Red? Your description of the Carbon Fidelity sounds a lot like how I'd describe the Red so just wondering if you have direct comparison.
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The only Ortofon's I have are old Digitracs (180, 280 and 380 I believe I have). It is certainly more 'AT-ish' than the Digitracs are, but again, in a good way IMHO. A bit more 'life' to it you might say, but not as 'open' as say, the AT92E. The high's are still there though, just not as fatiguing as the originals can be (again, a good thing).
 
Vinylmasters said:
The only Ortofon's I have are old Digitracs (180, 280 and 380 I believe I have). It is certainly more 'AT-ish' than the Digitracs are, but again, in a good way IMHO. A bit more 'life' to it you might say, but not as 'open' as say, the AT92E. The high's are still there though, just not as fatiguing as the originals can be (again, a good thing).
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Thanks - that's again how I'd describe the newer 2M line (Red IME) compared to OM and TM Orto cart match-ups (again, my experience). So, that's interesting - particularly at half the price of a 2M Red. (Just conjecture on my part - would still be cool if someone had direct comparison, but thanks!)
 
So guys, earlier I mentioned that I had an AT92E laying around but in fact I was wrong, it is an AT90 white and black P-mount cartridge. Used with an adaptor to play maybe one record.

Any thoughts on this one?
 
Connected the AT90.

It definitely sounds more consistent than the Stock cart and needle replacement that I took off it. Wow the Stylus was crooked! Not just slightly either. It was incredibly crooked. That might be why some records were skipping on later tracks.
 
I have a bunch of P Mounts, from a Shure DT35P with a N97LT hyperelliptical to the lowly AT-3842P. One of my favorites is the Stanton L720 with a D71EE stylus. Bought the Stanton with original stylus for $50 then got a spare Stanton stylus from Voice of Music for $45. The Stanton has nice detail, a sweet high end, good weight in the midrange, and good bass.
 
ClayTune said:
Does the AT90 have the same exact Needle upgrade options as the AT92? Just wondering.
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I believe so, but don't quote me on that particular one.

ClayTune said:
Connected the AT90.

It definitely sounds more consistent than the Stock cart and needle replacement that I took off it. Wow the Stylus was crooked! Not just slightly either. It was incredibly crooked. That might be why some records were skipping on later tracks.
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Have you cleaned/lubed the tonearm rail and related gears on it as of yet? Even doing what can be easily reached might be helpful if it looks dirty. If the travel of the arm gets stuck on these (which is common if they've sat for a long time) from dried grease/dust/debris/etc it doesn't prevent the actual stylus from continuing to travel in the groove away from the cart, which if repeated again and again might possibly bend the cantilever. On the linears I've had that were dirty it was usually most common at the end of record simply because the tonearm spends the least amount of time "out" there. You'll want to address it and make sure before you go ahead and start using a nice cart/stylus.
 
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eyewanders said:
I believe so, but don't quote me on that particular one.



Have you cleaned/lubed the tonearm rail and related gears on it as of yet? Even doing what can be easily reached might be helpful if it looks dirty. If the travel of the arm gets stuck on these (which is common if they've sat for a long time) from dried grease/dust/debris/etc it doesn't prevent the actual stylus from continuing to travel in the groove away from the cart, which if repeated again and again might possibly bend the cantilever. On the linears I've had that were dirty it was usually most common at the end of record simply because the tonearm spends the least amount of time "out" there. You'll want to address it and make sure before you go ahead and start using a nice cart/stylus.
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So the guy who sold it to me about 4 months ago said that it was service right before he sold it, my guess is it was serviced but the cart/needle wasn't changed.

I will check the Youtube videos on serving the SL-J2 and do everything I can.

My guess is I don't have to be an expert to Lube it?
 
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