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Please help with cartridges

J

jdurr3

Member
I will be restoring a Heybrook TT2 turntable with a Linn Basik LVX tonearm

Please help rate these cartridges from best to worst

1 - Shure M75E with stylus
2 - Shure M95ED no stylus
3 - Stanton 981 HZS with stylus
4 - Audio Technica AT8008 with stylus
5 - Audio Technica AT140 ML no stylus
6 - Linn K5 no stylus

I would ask for some help deciding which to start with.

Thank you
John
 
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jdurr3 said:
(...) 5 - Audio Technica AT140 ML no stylus (...)
Click to expand...

That would be the easiest one of the "no stylus" group (provided it actually is an AT140ML and not an AT-ML140(/OCC)), if you'd like to equip it with a new, original needle, as you could simply equip it with a new VMN40ML. And the Linn could be upgraded with AT-VM95 family needles, with which it would also look fairly good. Whereas for the two Shures you'd rather have to go for 3rd party replacements - which are available up to very high quality level (Jico SAS), though.

Ranking is somewhat difficult, however, as that would depend on which needles one would put on the ones, that currently don't have one. If all six were equipped with their original, stock needles, I'd see 5 and 3 at the top, 4, 2 and 1 in between and 6 at the bottom - from a technical point of view. But in practice it's of course also a matter of taste and system synergy, so you might as well for example prefer one of the two Shures with a Jico nude elliptical to the Linn with an AT-VMN95SH.

Personally I'd probably simply start with the Stanton, unless I'd have a good reason to suspect, that its needle is already rather worn.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
For the money I suggest that you replace the whole cartridge with a AT-VM95. Get only the nude type stylus. There are 3 different ones with the nude stylus.
The reason for the whole cartridge is because it doesn't cost much more than just the stylus.
 
lini said:
Personally I'd probably simply start with the Stanton, unless I'd have a good reason to suspect, that its needle is already rather worn.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree, Stanton if it has original D98S stylus (Shibata, not elliptical or 78rpm) in good condition, would be the best of them.
However Audio Technica AT-VM95ML for $169 will outperform it because of better tracing.
I have 881S and use it with 78rpm stylus, original Stereohedron is gone more than 20 years ago.
So maybe consider to buy new cartridge not try to restore used. New ML tip will not cost less than complete cartridge.
However I am not compared them, because I use MM cartridges only for 78rpm.
Stylus shape anyway is "neck of the bottle" for cartridge, so in this class you may consider this:

www.audio-technica.com

AT-VM95ML

This VM95 Series cartridge with 2.2 x 0.12 mil Microlinear stylus fits half-inch mount turntables. The cartridge offers excellent channel separation and low distortion for outstanding tonal qualit ...
www.audio-technica.com www.audio-technica.com
 
jdurr3 said:
I will be restoring a Heybrook TT2 turntable with a Linn Basik LVX tonearm

Please help rate these cartridges from best to worst

1 - Shure M75E with stylus
2 - Shure M85ED no stylus
3 - Stanton 981 HZS with stylus
4 - Audio Technica AT8008 with stylus
5 - Audio Technica AT140 ML no stylus
6 - Linn K5 no stylus

I would ask for some help deciding which to start with.

Thank you
John
Click to expand...
Can't do a ranking because we don't know if the styli on those cartridges are original, and if they are in good shape.

Regarding the cartridge body itself and its potential, i would rank them like that:

1. Stanton 981HZS
...
3. AT-140ML
...
5. AT8008
6. M95ED and M75ED (are you sure you don't mean M95 instead of M85?)
7. Linn K5

But to turn this ranking into a real life ranking, this assumes the original brand new original brand stylus is fitted !
 
lini said:
That would be the easiest one of the "no stylus" group (provided it actually is an AT140ML and not an AT-ML140(/OCC)), if you'd like to equip it with a new, original needle, as you could simply equip it with a new VMN40ML. And the Linn could be upgraded with AT-VM95 family needles, with which it would also look fairly good. Whereas for the two Shures you'd rather have to go for 3rd party replacements - which are available up to very high quality level (Jico SAS), though.

Ranking is somewhat difficult, however, as that would depend on which needles one would put on the ones, that currently don't have one. If all six were equipped with their original, stock needles, I'd see 5 and 3 at the top, 4, 2 and 1 in between and 6 at the bottom - from a techeybt
Click to expand...
lini said:
H
Click to expand...

flavio81 said:
Can't do a ranking because we don't know if the styli on those cartridges are original, and if they are in good shape.

Regarding the cartridge body itself and its potential, i would rank them like that:

1. Stanton 981HZS
...
3. AT-140ML
...
5. AT8008
6. M95ED and M75ED (are you sure you don't mean M95 instead of M85?)
7. Linn K5

But to turn this ranking into a real life ranking, this assumes the original brand new original brand stylus is fitted !
Click to expand...
Ha! Yes, M95ED Sorry about that! Thanks
 
The AT are the most supportable just because the company is still around and making things, but the Stanton is probably the best of the group. If the stylus wears out though, you're a bit SOL.
 
The Linn Basik tonearm will have the Stanton installed, so that will be my first to try.
I have two Heybrooks now and will be use the best parts of each to end up with one good turntable.
I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks for all of your post replies. They have been very helpful.
Please feel free to send more ideas for upgrading.
 
lini said:
That would be the easiest one of the "no stylus" group (provided it actually is an AT140ML and not an AT-ML140(/OCC)), if you'd like to equip it with a new, original needle, as you could simply equip it with a new VMN40ML. And the Linn could be upgraded with AT-VM95 family needles, with which it would also look fairly good. Whereas for the two Shures you'd rather have to go for 3rd party replacements - which are available up to very high quality level (Jico SAS), though.

Ranking is somewhat difficult, however, as that would depend on which needles one would put on the ones, that currently don't have one. If all six were equipped with their original, stock needles, I'd see 5 and 3 at the top, 4, 2 and 1 in between and 6 at the bottom - from a technical point of view. But in practice it's of course also a matter of taste and system synergy, so you might as well for example prefer one of the two Shures with a Jico nude elliptical to the Linn with an AT-VMN95SH.

Personally I'd probably simply start with the Stanton, unless I'd have a good reason to suspect, that its needle is already rather worn.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
Click to expand...
While I am a Stanton/Pickering fanatic, those with good original styli when worn are, get them re-tipped. I have yet to find generic styli I am 100% happy with in all aspects. A-T oldies which can accept current genuine styli are excellent potential choices. For Shure better models, Jico is excellent if the options you need, and can afford are available. Food for thought.
 
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