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Pioneer 5MC new stylus or...?

swissvalemac

swissvalemac

Active Member
Folks,
I'm running a Pioneer PL-530 TT into a Marantz 2330B out to A/D/S L1530 speakers.

I just came across a Pioneer 5MC moving-coil (replaceable stylus) cart in need of a new stylus (attached to a second-hand headshell). I can find an original Pioneer replacement for $80 or the LP Gear "superlative made-in-Japan" replacement for $60.

My question is: Should I give the Pioneer 5MC a try on the PL-530 or save my $$$ for a future HOMC purchase? I've never owned a MC cartridge and figure that the Pioneer 5MC might be a low-threshold introduction, especially if it mates well with the Pioneer table. Does anyone have experience with this cart?

I'm concerned about throwing money away on the Pioneer 5MC if it would be easily bested by something like the Denon DL110.

Your thoughts on this experiment are appreciated!
 
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Don't throw money at this cartridge. I had the 3MC which is almost identical, and it was nothing to write home about. Harsh sounding.
 
The stylus on both the 3MC and 5MC are conical and I'm inclined to agree with flavio. Used to be able to upgrade the 3MC to an eliptical with a significant improvement in sound but the elip upgrade is no longer avail.
 
beej said:
The stylus on both the 3MC and 5MC are conical and I'm inclined to agree with flavio. Used to be able to upgrade the 3MC to an eliptical with a significant improvement in sound but the elip upgrade is no longer avail.
Click to expand...

In this case the problem is not on the tip but on the moving parts. The cantilever is too thick, the coils too massive; i bet they're resonating in the audible band. The cartridge body (which is actually the stylus body) too flimsy,also.
 
flavio81 said:
In this case the problem is not on the tip but on the moving parts. The cantilever is too thick, the coils too massive; i bet they're resonating in the audible band. The cartridge body (which is actually the stylus body) too flimsy,also.
Click to expand...

I've read similar comments in other forums as well. I have a 4MC (elip stylus) and a 3MC with the elip upgrade and find them to be quite pleasing to my ears. This, of course, may very well be more a commentary on my ear as opposed to the cart/stylus.
 
beej said:
I've read similar comments in other forums as well. I have a 4MC (elip stylus) and a 3MC with the elip upgrade and find them to be quite pleasing to my ears. This, of course, may very well be more a commentary on my ear as opposed to the cart/stylus.
Click to expand...

Well, my ears could be wrong. After all, i didn't auditioned the cartridge extensively. I replaced quickly with the ADC XLM II Improved which was a fantastic cartridge.
 
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