P Mount Cartridge Recomendation
- Thread starter bigtigmn
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jancumps
iRock
My personal favorite is the Shure M92E
Different styluses (needles) are shaped differently. You want an eliptical shape which is a tapered cone that will get all the way down in your record grooves for utmost quality playback, whereas a simple cone shaped stylus can't get down in there like that. Some cheap needles will also ruin your records being that the shape does not conform well to the grooves of your vinyl. I am not an engineer, but hope this helps you to get better sound out of your turntable.
This is a good choice as well. Just subtle sonic differences, the AT might be a bit brighter, and the Shure might be a bit warmer, but very comparable. Not a bad choice either way.
avanti1960
Well-Known Member
I have an At122Lp p-mount with a new At152 stylus (boron cantilever w/ shibata tip) and it sounds amazing.
right now it's useless since I upgraded to a VPI table. let me know if you are interested.
right now it's useless since I upgraded to a VPI table. let me know if you are interested.
I think your P228 must be a Technics cartridge. Does it look like this?bigtigmn said:
It's a very capable cartridge, and good styli are available for it. Do you have a budget for this upgrade?
The Audio-Technica AT152LP is another very capable cartridge.
Both cartridges-- all p-mount cartridges, really, though not all of the styli to fit them-- have been out of production for awhile, so finding the really good cartridges and styli is a matter of luck.
Lots of ways to go with this, so let us know what you want to accomplish and how much money there is to accomplish it.
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Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
Are you sure what you have is an Audio Technica cartridge? The QX-200 came with a rather high quality Technics cartridge. I would consider replacing the stylus instead of the entire cartridge. Although the AT-92E and M92E cartridges previously recommended are "good" cartridges and represent an excellent value, they are not really an "upgrade", so to speak. I would recommend that you do a little research (and you will get plenty of help) on a suitable upgrade for your SL-QX200. Personally, I believe the quality and performance level of the QX200, which is excellent by the way, warrants a cartridge/stylus with a higher level of performance than the AT-92 or M92E.
My SL-QX300 came from the factory with a Technics P28 cartridge. I am pretty certain, that is what you have currently (or very similar). The replacement stylus for this cartridge is the EPS-28ES which has an elliptical diamond. The original manufacturer replacement, like most high performance vintage styli, are hard to find. However, there are aftermarket replacements of very high quality available for reasonable cost. An elliptical replacement can be found here:
http://www.lpgear.com/product/PAS028ES.html
An upgraded stylus would be either a hyperelliptical or Super Analogue Stylus (SAS) (examples on the following links):
http://www.lpgear.com/product/PAS028HE.html
http://www.lpgear.com/product/PAS023ESSAS.html
As you can see, the more you upgrade, the more you have to spend. The hyperelliptical is an excellent performer and would be a significant upgrade from the standard elliptical. I would respectfully suggest that you do a little research on different stylus types so that you have at least a basic understanding of the differences as it is not really practical to try to explain it here. I have seen some really good explanations on the web and discussions here on AK. I will try to find some links for you and post them later.
David
Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
Looks like wualta and I were typing at the same time. 
Here is a link to a good discussion on stylus types.
http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=22894
This site is a good reference for cartridges and turntables in the "database" sections. Members of vinylengine have access to manuals and other data that have been posted (sign up is free). Highly recommended.
David
Here is a link to a good discussion on stylus types.
http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=22894
This site is a good reference for cartridges and turntables in the "database" sections. Members of vinylengine have access to manuals and other data that have been posted (sign up is free). Highly recommended.
David
I think your P228 must be a Technics cartridge. Does it look like this?
It's a very capable cartridge, and good styli are available for it. Do you have a budget for this upgrade?
The Audio-Technica AT152LP is another very capable cartridge.
Both cartridges-- all p-mount cartridges, really, though not all of the styli to fit them-- have been out of production for awhile, so finding the really good cartridges and styli is a matter of luck.
Lots of ways to go with this, so let us know what you want to accomplish and how much money there is to accomplish it.
This is definitely my cartridge.
So how long will the cartridge last? I'm getting some scratchiness out of one side of the table. I switched the rca's on the receiver and the sound moved to the other speaker so I know it's not in the receiver. I pulled the cartridge and cleaned both the cartridge and stylus and the sound was largely gone but there is still a faint hint of it.
Here's an example of the noise heard in the right channel:
Left Channel: https://app.box.com/s/5ftqpjvtscx8jah2js0lcujj6rp0utoe
Right Channel: https://app.box.com/s/6vbwjgyaoj7wbl76oxv9py5rfnzkr7w0
Left Channel: https://app.box.com/s/5ftqpjvtscx8jah2js0lcujj6rp0utoe
Right Channel: https://app.box.com/s/6vbwjgyaoj7wbl76oxv9py5rfnzkr7w0
It does sound like an electrical connection that's not solid, but do you hear it only when a record is being played? I can at least tell you that the chances of the cartridge being at fault are extremely low.
Cartridge bodies, given environments and treatment suitable for humans, last indefinitely. Diamond styli do wear out, but that takes some time. Dust and dirt accelerate the wear greatly.
I'd go over every electrical connection with some good contact cleaner. Sometimes simply removing and replacing a slip-on type connector will wipe it clean, or at least cleaner.
I'm sure others will have further ideas. In the meantime, I'm with Decibel 116-- you already have a very good cartridge, and any upgrading will be strictly how good a stylus you can afford to plug into it.
Try this site as a guide to why there's a need for a diamond stylus that looks more complex than a very fine pencil point: http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/HFN/LP3/aroundthebend.html
If you want to to merely see what an elliptical stylus is, the first page of the site D116 linked to will do that very well. Buzz front and back planes off a pencil point with emery paper and you'll have it.
Cartridge bodies, given environments and treatment suitable for humans, last indefinitely. Diamond styli do wear out, but that takes some time. Dust and dirt accelerate the wear greatly.
I'd go over every electrical connection with some good contact cleaner. Sometimes simply removing and replacing a slip-on type connector will wipe it clean, or at least cleaner.
I'm sure others will have further ideas. In the meantime, I'm with Decibel 116-- you already have a very good cartridge, and any upgrading will be strictly how good a stylus you can afford to plug into it.
Try this site as a guide to why there's a need for a diamond stylus that looks more complex than a very fine pencil point: http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/HFN/LP3/aroundthebend.html
If you want to to merely see what an elliptical stylus is, the first page of the site D116 linked to will do that very well. Buzz front and back planes off a pencil point with emery paper and you'll have it.
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The noise ends when the record ends.
Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
I would suspect the stylus is either dirty or worn.
buckeye56
Active Member
Hey, I have the P228 for my Technics SL-D35 turntable, a unit that I purchased around 1982. I cleaned my old Technics receiver yesterday, went to try an LP today and no sound came out. I checked the stylus and there was nothing there! Only the two parts of the cartridge remain! I have no clue how it broke or was jogged loose. So I am looking for a replacement. My budget is definitely less than $50. I really want to play my LPs. I am a pretty casual user and don't have such a fine tuned ear that I would notice a lot of sound variations that many of you might have. And by the way, why would I need to keep the two pieces below if there is no stylus? Thanks for your help.
Attachments
jancumps
iRock
This one is a plug-and-play replacement: https://www.amazon.com/Durpower-Phonograph-Record-Turntable-TECHNICS/dp/B0174UO1YY
Freddymac2
Super Member
I am in the same place exactly, and the general consensus is the AT 92ECD complete cart for $27 on Amazon. The Shure may be a bit warmer but it is a $50 cartridge.
