Pickering XV 15 D750

[mrb3]

I have this old Pickering XV 15, D750 stylus on a Dual 1019 turntable... which will soon need to be changed.

What is the -best- replacement stylus there is for this cartridge ?

 

[ke4jhj]

Lpgear sells a replacement shibata stylus (D6800EEE-2-S) for the Stanton 680 cartridge. Since the Stanton 680 and Pickering XV-15 cartridges are virtually identical, the styli are interchangable. That would be the stylus I would go with.

 

[jrtrent]

Stanton's 680 series cartridge bodies have a v-shaped protrusion up near the mounting ears that fits into a corresponding notch on the stylus assembly. Most Pickering bodies had this, too, but I've had one or two Pickerings that didn't, making it impossible to properly seat a Stanton stylus on it. You can see the notch on the part that wraps up and over the stylus body on LPGear's picture of their Stanton replacement stylus at this link:
http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=STAD6800EEES

You can see a corresponding protrusion on a Pickering body on this picture:
http://www.hollywooddj.com/625dj.html

LPGear also sells a hyperelliptical replacement stylus for the Pickering series in the form of their D1200 stylus, which would be compatible with your body. http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=PICSD1200

I have no personal experience with LPGear's after-market styli for Pickering and Stanton cartridges. They might be highly satisfactory. You could also simply replace the Pickering with the current Stanton 681EEE Mk III, which is still being made and for which factory original styli are still being produced.

 

[ke4jhj]

I also have no personal experience with lpgear, but the stylus I mentioned is a Jico replacement and is highly regarded here.

 

[mrb3]

Lpgear sells a replacement shibata stylus (D6800EEE-2-S) for the Stanton 680 cartridge. Since the Stanton 680 and Pickering XV-15 cartridges are virtually identical, the styli are interchangable. That would be the stylus I would go with.

Wow, what a great suggestion ! I didn't knew the Stanton 680 cartridge and the Pickering XV 15 were "stylus-switchable".

Stanton's 680 series cartridge bodies have a v-shaped protrusion up near the mounting ears that fits into a corresponding notch on the stylus assembly. Most Pickering bodies had this, too, but I've had one or two Pickerings that didn't

After reading your advice, I plugged a Stanton 681EEE Mk III stylus from my other turntable into the Pickering cartridge and very good music has been played. That's pretty good news.

LPGear also sells a hyperelliptical replacement stylus for the Pickering series in the form of their D1200 stylus, which would be compatible with your body.

How does the Pickering D1200 rate compared to the Shibata D6800EEE-2-S ?

You could also simply replace the Pickering with the current Stanton 681EEE Mk III.

I like pretty much the Stanton 681EEE Mk III as it's what's on my Pioneer PL-630... though sometimes I think it's a bit "bright"... but not in an unpleasant way. I was thinking it may be the speakers' fault... Perhaps playing with another cartridge will validate or invalidate this theory.