LoudRealLoud
New Member
I just got this Realistic Lab 400 turntable and was wondering what cartridge I could upgrade to or is the Shure 8X OK.
Thanks in Advance.
Thanks in Advance.
Realistic Lab 400/Shure 8X Cart. Help
- Thread starter LoudRealLoud
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Balifly
Listening
Welcome to the AK turn table forum.
The Realistic Lab 400 turn table originally came with the Realistic/Shure model R-1000E cartridge.
That is a rebadged Shure M 91E cartridge.
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/realistic/lab-400.shtml
Is that the cartridge presently on the turn table? :scratch2:
tubewade
Super Member
Should have been an R1000ED which originally used an RS8E stylus, essentially an EDT2 stylus. If it has an 8x stylus, that is an NDC stylus for the later V bottom carts. It is bonded and has a huge cantilever and is not in the same class as the RS8E in my opinion. These cartridges are good quality and there are several options for replacement styli.
LoudRealLoud
New Member
Shure 8X
Yes it says 8X on the front of cartridge. Do you think this is a pretty decent cartridge or do you know of any that might be better.
Yes it says 8X on the front of cartridge. Do you think this is a pretty decent cartridge or do you know of any that might be better.
Balifly
Listening
Shure 8X is the stylus, there are several cartridges that can use it.
Not sure which cartridge you actually have. :scratch2:
Could you post some close up pictures of the cartridge?
mythless
Looking for projects!?
Black plastic and silver body? R47XT style body, or Me95 body, if the stylus was designed for it. Granted, it can fit on many M75 styled bodies like the R47EDT or R1000EDT, etc. The 8x is a pretty good stylus too, if it's functional. If I am not mistaken the 8x is a hyper ellipical stylus.
Looking at the 1978 and 1979 Radio Shack catalogs, it appears the cartridge that came with the LAB-400 was the R-1000ED, a bright red clone of Shure's M91ED.
The R8X stylus was meant for a later Radio Shack cartridge, the sonic equivalent of Shure's M95ED, but it will fit and work in the R-1000ED. It's not a bad stylus, though it's "only" a 2x7 elliptical and only a slight step up from the M91ED's stylus.
Many decent styli can fit the R-1000ED/M91ED, but it sounds best with its own stylus. In Radio Shack speak, this was the RS8E. In Shure-speak this was the N91ED, good and inexpensive aftermarket versions of which are still available from a distributor called EVG. Do a search for EVG and M91ED in this forum (or on eBay) and you should find some encouraging suggestions.
The R8X stylus was meant for a later Radio Shack cartridge, the sonic equivalent of Shure's M95ED, but it will fit and work in the R-1000ED. It's not a bad stylus, though it's "only" a 2x7 elliptical and only a slight step up from the M91ED's stylus.
Many decent styli can fit the R-1000ED/M91ED, but it sounds best with its own stylus. In Radio Shack speak, this was the RS8E. In Shure-speak this was the N91ED, good and inexpensive aftermarket versions of which are still available from a distributor called EVG. Do a search for EVG and M91ED in this forum (or on eBay) and you should find some encouraging suggestions.
LoudRealLoud
New Member
Realistic Lab 400
Hey, thanks for all the great info. You guys really know your stuff.
Hey, thanks for all the great info. You guys really know your stuff.
Nah, we just have a good resource: http://radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html
