Pickering/Stanton recommendations for Garrard Lab 80

[sberger]

I've really been enjoying a Pickering V15 Micro IV cartridge with a D IV AM stylus that I got from Pickering in the UK. And I recently acquired a Stanton 600EE cart. I know that these 2 carts are essentially the same. I have no idea how used the Stanton is, but upon a brief listen it too sounded very nice with the Lab 80. I've previously only used Shure carts with the table, so being introduced to the the Pickering/Stanton line has been a nice surprise.

So even though I realize that getting vintage Pickering/Stanton carts/styli is no small task, I'd welcome recommendations from others as to what I should look out for that might equal or better these carts that I own.

Thanks.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Stanton 680 EL or Stanton 680 AL. But styli are very expensive today. Retips the only way to keep their performance. Shure M35x what I'd install in this arm. Most of the practical cartridges in this arm in MM will be more DJ geared. And I don't think I'd want to use an MC in one of these. Though it is my favorite Garrard changer.

 

[sberger]

Thanks Kent! Thanks for the recommendations. I've read good things about the Shure, but since I have so many others including the 44, 55, 91, 93, all good fits for the Lab 80, I thought looking for a different flavor all together would be fun. Still, for $40 might be worth a try.

 

[gadget73]

One of mine has some flavor of Pickering V15 on it. I couldn't tell you the number, other than its a tan body with a gold stylus carrier. It came with it, and actually seems to play well. The other one runs an Empire 66E/X. I've run a Stanton 680e.v3 "DJ" cartridge, a 680EE body with a D6800SE stylus, and a 680EE body with a D6807a stylus on it before with good results. It seemed happier with the D6800SE, which is I believe a 2-4 gram elliptical stylus. The DJ one did a pretty good job too, and it has similar specs to the D6800SE.