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Pickering XV-15 cartridge fans and users, spout for a while!

gary7 said:
I have a XV-15/625 I busted the tip on. :oops:
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What PhxJohn said. Also, there are Genuine N890E styli being sold on ebay for an economy price and it works really well. I bought one on recommendation and it is pleasing. It looks odd, but...:rolleyes: Also tracks at 3 grams, which doesn't bother me at all, but be aware if you don't like higher tracking forces. It's a 0.4 x 0.7.
 
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My father gave me a small box of some old cartridges he had.

An Audio Technica AT10, a grey Grado cartridge without any model number on it that I can recognize and a Stanton 680EE.

I’m thinking the Stanton may be the only one worth messing with and even then I’m not sure.

I’m pretty sure it needs a new stylus. Is it worth trying to find one? Are they still available?

I’m currently using an AT VM95E on a 1200 mk2. Would the Stanton work well on that table?
 
Yes, it’s a very good cartridge.

Anystylus for the 681EE or EEE will work fine, as will styli for the XV15’s.

I like the EVG Swiss nude elliptical styli. They’re inexpensive and really sound good!
 
johnjhazel said:
No. That is a bonded elliptical. Use either the 4606-DEM or 4606-DEX. Nude ellipticals are clearly marked.
https://thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog...=MfgNameNeedles&MfgName=Pickering&Categories=

FYI Pfanstiehl does not sell nude ellipticals.
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Ok, thanks for the link. I did look at those but I’m a little confused because the picture of the stylus on that page looks very different from the page I linked to with the 4824-DE and that picture looks identical to what I have.

https://thevoiceofmusic.com/popup_pics.asp?FOLDER=PhonoNeedle&FILE=824--b.jpg&TITLE=Pfanstiehl 824

edit: I did a little google image searching and see that it should work. Thanks!
 
dfinn said:
Ok, thanks for the link. I did look at those but I’m a little confused because the picture of the stylus on that page looks very different from the page I linked to with the 4824-DE and that picture looks identical to what I have.

https://thevoiceofmusic.com/popup_pics.asp?FOLDER=PhonoNeedle&FILE=824--b.jpg&TITLE=Pfanstiehl 824

edit: I did a little google image searching and see that it should work. Thanks!
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The grip is different but the Stanton 680/681 and Pickering XV-15 cartridges are the same. So styli are interchangeable. I prefer the brush on the Pickering style over the Stanton. The Stanton brush looks cooler but it can interfere more with tracking if one is not familiar with what to do with it. stereoneedleslady on eBay has the PM4212DE nude elliptical which has the Stanton grip. I had the labels changed on mine. It should track fine at 1.25-1.75 grams.
 
Thanks. I ended up ordering 4606-DEX. What’s a good tracking force to start with when it gets here?

Also, I’m running a standard generic Technics head shell. Anything special needed to mount the Stanton cart to that?
 
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dfinn said:
Thanks. I ended up ordering 4606-DEX. What’s a good tracking force to start with when it gets here?

Also, I’m running a standard generic Technics head shell. Anything special needed to mount the Stanton cart to that?
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The DEX should be very compliant. IMO 1.0 grams. I cannot think of anything special for the Technics headshell. POSSIBLY using nylon/plastic washers if there should be a hum problem. Maybe someone else can be more definite on the headshell prep.
 
dfinn said:
Thanks. I ended up ordering 4606-DEX. What’s a good tracking force to start with when it gets here?

Also, I’m running a standard generic Technics head shell. Anything special needed to mount the Stanton cart to that?
Click to expand...

The 4606-DEX I have tracks best at 1.7 grams stylus force, 2.7 grams total (1.7 + 1.0 brush). But try at 1.0 gram stylus force first (1.0 + 1.0 = 2.0 grams total). Adjust as needed for clearest sound. Stylus force is a minor issue anyway, unless you have an ultra-low mass arm.
 
Wolfie62 said:
The 4606-DEX I have tracks best at 1.7 grams stylus force, 2.7 grams total (1.7 + 1.0 brush). But try at 1.0 gram stylus force first (1.0 + 1.0 = 2.0 grams total). Adjust as needed for clearest sound. Stylus force is a minor issue anyway, unless you have an ultra-low mass arm.
Click to expand...

Good to mention about the brush. I forgot about that.
 
Got my 4606-DEX mounted up today. Initial impressions are really good. Very lush sounding. I started at 2.0 with brush and will try adding a little more once I listen to it for a bit. Currently enjoying some wish you were here on it.
 

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I had issues with the cantilever breaking on my 4606-DEX. Switched to a 4606-DEM, which is much beefier, but has some irritating silibance issues no matter what I track it at. Must be luck of the draw, I guess. Wonder how the JICO styli compare?
 
Is the XV-15 the same as the XSV 3000?
I've got XSV 3000's I run and like..
Never had the XV..

What's the difference between them? :dunno:
 
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