Pioneer pl 530 needle
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benricci
Super Member
Hard to say what replacement stylus to get if you don't tell us what cartridge is on there now (turntable model is irrelevant). That said, you can put any standard-mount cartridge you want on that Pioneer -- don't feel like you have to find a replacement needle for what's on there now unless you're particularly fond of that cart.
There are tons of options available. What's your budget?
There are tons of options available. What's your budget?
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Looks like an Audio Technica stylus you've got there - should be easy to replace. We just need a photo of your cartridge (the part that stylus snaps onto) in order to tell you what kind of stylus you need. Be sure to include markings like number/letters in the photo if you can.
It looks like one of these (but don't buy that until you confirm what kind of cart you have!): https://www.turntableneedles.com/AT...ica-AT12XE-etc--our-needle-201-DEX_p_918.html
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
In the USA and Canada, this turntable was not sold with a pre-installed cartridge. It was the dealer's and buyer's choice about what was installed. In Japan, they came with a Pioneer PC series cartridge.
Well here's the Audio Technica stylus chart, but to be honest you might be better off just getting a new cartridge / stylus and starting fresh. Sometimes the A-T styli in those particular family groups can be hard to identify and easy to get wrong because they look so similar. It might be from group B or group D but you have to know what the cartridge number is to figure that out. Then again it might be a "Technicraft" cartridge in which case none of the AT styli will fit at all even though they look very similar, and with a Technicraft cartridge your options will be very limited and pretty expensive.
Unfortunately you will have to remove the cartridge from the headshell and look at the top to get the number then you'll have to re-install and align it anyway, so why not just get a whole new cartridge and stylus and be done with it. If you go that route I'd recommend something nice and simple that gets along well with arms like the one in your Pioneer turntable like an Audio Technica AT-95E. It's around 40 bucks shipped to your door and it does everything pretty well plus there are some very decent upgrades for it if you ever decide to go that way. Also if you accidentally break the stylus new ones are cheap and easy to find for it, no mystery surrounding which model it is or what fits.
Unfortunately you will have to remove the cartridge from the headshell and look at the top to get the number then you'll have to re-install and align it anyway, so why not just get a whole new cartridge and stylus and be done with it. If you go that route I'd recommend something nice and simple that gets along well with arms like the one in your Pioneer turntable like an Audio Technica AT-95E. It's around 40 bucks shipped to your door and it does everything pretty well plus there are some very decent upgrades for it if you ever decide to go that way. Also if you accidentally break the stylus new ones are cheap and easy to find for it, no mystery surrounding which model it is or what fits.
Gretsch6120
Active Member
That is absolutely an ATN12Xe stylus. Not difficult to find originals in the $50 to $60 range- they are not nearly as rare as their higher end offerings
That's exactly what I thought when I came across a Technicraft TC-2000 cartridge. Had to be a Group B stylus, after all I own 4 of them and several from Group D not to mention a bunch from the mass produced group A, so it seemed very cut and dried. Guess what, it wasn't!
Do not assume it's a Group B stylus until you see the actual number on top of the cartridge. If it turns out to be a Technicraft cartridge then a standard Audio Technica stylus will not work in it even though it looks just like a Group B stylus. You can't cut the plastic grip and make a standard AT stylus work either, the cantilever will jam up into the body and it won't work even if you do manage to get it to fit.
Technicraft TC-2000:
boreas
"If it sounds good, it IS good." E.K.E.
Rather than get sidetracked by the squabbles, turn the stylus over so we can see any markings that might be there and give us an idea of what you want to spend. We can guide you from there.
John
boreas
"If it sounds good, it IS good." E.K.E.
The Technicraft stylus actually looks quite different from the ATn12Xe.
Technicraft TCN2000
Audio Technica ATN12Xe
Judging by the photo, the OP would appear to have the ATN12Xe.
John
Absolutely no squabbling here as far as I'm concerned, just trying to help the OP. Rather than guessing by looking at the stylus why not read the actual cartridge number and get the facts. Who knows if the stylus pictured is even the correct one for the cartridge in the OP's headshell? Could be any stylus jammed into any cartridge body as far as we know, or the stylus may not have even been attached to the cartridge at all and just come with the turntable. IMO it would be wise to get a cartridge number IF the OP wants to buy a stylus for this cart.
BTW the Technicraft was similar enough in appearance to the Audio Technica group B line to fool a stylus vendor. Fortunately he refunded the cost of the stylus and return shipping since he claimed it would fit and work in the Technicraft body.
Gretsch6120
Active Member
No "squabbles" intended. I've been in the audio biz since 1969 (I'm older than dirt) and have extensive experience with these. Therefore no guessing was involved-I knew exactly which stylus it was at first glance. Of course, the cartridge itself could be one of the 12Xe clones such as the AT96.
