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

bangsezmax said:
Not that I'm doubting you, but what's your source for this info? FWIW, I always thought Pfanstiehl was just a reseller as well, especially as they sell/sold OEM styli in Pfanstiehl packaging.

All of the EVGs I've seen appear to be from Japan and most Pfastiehls are Swiss.
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Pfanstiehl both sold OEM styli in their own packaging (three digit part numbers), or their own Swiss-made styli (4xxx part numbers). I don't think they do any OEM resales these days. I've seen EVGs that say something like "Made in Switzerland" on eBay, and the only styli manufacturer that I've ever heard of there is Pfanstiehl. The only sources I have for the info are personal observation and a few comments that I've seen here.

AFAIK, there are three or four stylus manufacturers still operating in Japan, with JICO being the best known on the general market (I'm not counting cartridge manufacturers like Audio-Technica). I've seen pictures of some EVGs that didn't have the distinctive look of JICO but were labeled as "Made in Japan," so Russell has to be getting some of their supply from somewhere else. That said, I'm pretty sure all of their Japan-sourced Shure styli are JICOs. I have seen a couple of EVG Shure styli that were clearly repackaged Pfanstiehl.
 
Sam Cogley said:
I have seen a couple of EVG Shure styli that were clearly repackaged Pfanstiehl.
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Which ones were those, Sam? I've only been able to examine the N75ED and N91ED and, as far as I could tell, those were JICO. I suspect that the brown N75ES might be Pfanstiehl.

John
 
When I got back into turntables a couple of years ago I picked up a NOS XV15 with a D400 stylus and ran it on a Pioneer PL41. I later picked up another XV15 with a D625 on Bartertown.Both are the gold bodies but seem to hang at slightly different angles. I was concerned that the D625 would be too light a tracker for the PL41's heavier arm and it did in fact have a little trouble on records with even slight warp issues, particularly at the lead in. The D400 on that Pioneer arm works much better although the D625 sounds better.
I moved a Technics SL-Q202 into my main Wreckord room to do maintenance on the Pioneer and put the D625 on it and it is great with no tracking issues. I bought a generic D400 back then as a backup but have not really considered trying it out since I have the two originals.I have noted the availability of new original D625's from across the pond and would likely stick with those for any future replacements. I have heard that the D1200 stylus is sweet but mostly in regards to the originals.

In an attempt to try something "modern" and more available, I considered the AT95E with either a HE/or SA upgrade but was also looking at the AT120E from Audio Technica.
While scratching my head over which one, I picked up a bargain NOS AT110E at an estate sale to sample the Audio Technica sound, I put it on the Technics and it was not near the cart as the Pickering. It however is opening up nicely now after about 3 weeks of playing it. The Pickering sits in the little spare head shell spot on the Technics, calling to me.. raring to go. I'll likely try out the AT110e on the Pioneer and put the D625 back on the Technics. It's nice to have options.... I just need more shelf space to connect multiple TT's in one room.

I would have no hesitation recommending the XV-15 with the appropriate stylus for their application to anyone as IMHO everyone should sample some moving iron in their lifetime.:thmbsp:
 
boreas said:
Which ones were those, Sam? I've only been able to examine the N75ED and N91ED and, as far as I could tell, those were JICO. I suspect that the brown N75ES might be Pfanstiehl.

John
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I honestly don't remember. Just ones on eBay that were visually identical to Pfanstiehl parts, and I think said "made in Switzerland" on the package. Maybe a Stanton 68x?
 
boreas said:
It should be noted that any JICO made EVG elliptical will be a 0.3 x 0.7 mil since that's the only elliptical profile they make. So, if you're ordering a replacement for, say, a D1200E or a D6800EEE, it will not be a 0.2 x 0.7 mil elliptical like the original.

John
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Yes, that is understood. I did contact Gary (VOM) and he did clarify that the 4606-DEX , is EVG from Japan.

Kevin at KAB, same and when the D6800EEE stylus arrived, it was in a EVG, Russells Industries plastic container, from Japan.
 
Sometime back, I ordered a Pickering replacement from Carolesneedles on fleabay and is to was from Switzerland. I think I paid $10. The cantilever was crooked. Rather than spend more money to mail it back, I went to KABUSA and talked with Kevin. I'm quit happy with the EVG stylus. Since then, I will only buy my stylus from KAB or VOM.
 
asterion said:
When I got back into turntables a couple of years ago I picked up a NOS XV15 with a D400 stylus and ran it on a Pioneer PL41. I later picked up another XV15 with a D625 on Bartertown.....I would have no hesitation recommending the XV-15 with the appropriate stylus for their application to anyone as IMHO everyone should sample some moving iron in their lifetime.:thmbsp:
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asterion,
Great posting! Thanks.

Japan vs Switzerland discussants,
It sounds like if I order an EVG stylus from VMs listing that says clearly online that it is from Japan, and it arrives in a package that says "made in Switzerland," I wouldn't have any trouble returning it. I'm cool with that.
 
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The Astatic version of the D625 stylus is a good one.

I took the brushes off all of my Pickering/Stanton cartridges after I found that the brush affected the tracking of my XUV on CD-4 records.

Doug
 
The mailman dropped off my EVG 4606-DEX from VOM. Out of the box, I like it. It seems to have a crispness, that the Stanton EVG PM4216DE, doesn't have. It is a noticeably more crisp, than my Shure M97xE. This is still a warm cartridge. The 4606DEX has a nice punchy bass. I think I'm going to like it more than my M97xE. Capacitance on this table is set at 265pf. VTF is 0.5-1.25. I have it set at 1.0gr. and anti-skate, adjusted by ear, is about 0.5 .

The test record is Azymuth:Before We Forget. Detail is on par with the Stanton stylus and the M97xE.

The nice mellow mids and detail of my Grado+8MZ are not there, but that is a whole different animal, on another table.
Overall, this is a nice, fun stylus for the XV-15. I think this stylus (it must be a EVG) is better suited to the XV-15 than the Stanton replacement. I will continue to play this stylus more and report back if I detect any changes over time.
 
You're getting good tracking at 1.0g? Wow. I was VTFing my 4606-DEX-from-VOM at 1.5g. But I'm glad you agree it's a good stylus. Different from the original without seeming worse.
 
wualta said:
You're getting good tracking at 1.0g? Wow. I was VTFing my 4606-DEX-from-VOM at 1.5g. But I'm glad you agree it's a good stylus. Different from the original without seeming worse.
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Well I was going to, until I read the specs, at VOM's website. It shows, .5-1.25, with the mid range at .88. I always go a little past, towards the upper end. So far , not IDG or mis-tracking. My test records sound great. I don't believe in light taking. Should I question Gary, about the spec's ? I'm I missing something ????:scratch2:

Edit: Using no brush.
 
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kcblair said:
Well I was going to, until I read the specs, at VOM's website. It shows, .5-1.25, with the mid range at .88. I always go a little past, towards the upper end. So far , not IDG or mis-tracking. My test records sound great. I don't believe in light taking. Should I question Gary, about the spec's ? I'm I missing something ????:scratch2:
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Perhaps not. Different arms respond differently to different VTFs, even when fitted with the same cartridge/stylus. I can also envisage some slight variation in compliance from one example of a particular stylus to the next.

John
 
From what I have seen of stylus specs, the recommended VTF is usually somewhere around 2/3rds to 3/4s up in the posted VTF range. Obviously, some TT setups or some records may permit or demand a different setting.

I think some people try to always get by with the lowest VFT, thinking that is safer for the record, but if the needle isn't setting down in the groove firmly enough to pick up all of the sound fully, then it is probably wobbling around in the groove which is more potentially damaging. I usually try a few VTFs, usually stepping up or down by 1/4 grams. I certainly don't worry much about it if I have to use the top of the recommended range. Sometimes it's only certain records that require that, when the normal is a bit lower.
 
illinoisteve said:
From what I have seen of stylus specs, the recommended VTF is usually somewhere around 2/3rds to 3/4s up in the posted VTF range. Obviously, some TT setups or some records may permit or demand a different setting.

I think some people try to always get by with the lowest VFT, thinking that is safer for the record, but if the needle isn't setting down in the groove firmly enough to pick up all of the sound fully, then it is probably wobbling around in the groove which is more potentially damaging. I usually try a few VTFs, usually stepping up or down by 1/4 grams. I certainly don't worry much about it if I have to use the top of the recommended range. Sometimes it's only certain records that require that, when the normal is a bit lower.
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Yes, I agree. I'm in the 2/3 - 3/4 of the top end on all my stylus. If the top end on this stylus is 1.25, I'm in that range.

I just tortured this stylus, playing my copy of the 1812 Overture, Boston Pops Orchestra. Only complaint I had, was "TURN IT DOWN, DAMMIT", I didn't hear my wife come back from an errand. She just left again, now playing Jeff Beck's - Guitar Shop.

It did past the 1812 Overture test. So, is 1.25 the top end ? Should I go past ?
 
If 1.5 is top end, then 75% would put me at 1.13, still under the printed spec of 1.25. So is anyone else tracking at 1.5 on this stylus ?
 
kcblair said:
Yes, I agree. I'm in the 2/3 - 3/4 of the top end on all my stylus. If the top end on this stylus is 1.25, I'm in that range.

I just tortured this stylus, playing my copy of the 1812 Overture, Boston Pops Orchestra. Only complaint I had, was "TURN IT DOWN, DAMMIT", I didn't hear my wife come back from an errand. She just left again, now playing Jeff Beck's - Guitar Shop.

It did past the 1812 Overture test. So, is 1.25 the top end ? Should I go past ?
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I may have to get one of these stylii soon. Your posts make it sound too good to wait until my current one needs to be replaced.
 
illinoisteve said:
I may have to get one of these stylii soon. Your posts make it sound too good to wait until my current one needs to be replaced.
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$17, is nothing. Playing a variety of records until I get told to turn it off. Beck sounds great. Still tracking at 1.0gr. Maybe tomorrow, I'll bump up the VTF a little. I'm mostly enjoying the slight increase in crispness, but still remaining warm.

I did like to know how this sounds compared to the original (D625E ??).
 
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Removed an original Pickering brush from a D400e stylus of unknown condition. Still sounds very nice and detailed. The after market brush is quit stiff compared to the original brush. So , I'm going to leave that brush on for a while.
 
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