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Replace stylus or new cartridge?

whoaru99

whoaru99

Epic Member
I have a Pioneer PL-707 turntable using a p-mount Shure M111HE cartridge. I do not have the standard cartridge headshell so p-mount it pretty much has to be.

Anyway, if I need a new stylus would the suggestion be to get one from, say, LP Gear et al., and seem to range from about $150 for a house brand to $350, maybe more for a fancy JICO variant.

Or, just better off to get a whole replacement cartridge, Grado maybe?

I'm not big into records but I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest option, nor probably the most expensive either.

Looks like I should been more on the game when there were more new p-mount options than I'm seeing.

Suggestions?
 
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Yeah, it would be.

One thing I run into is all the information claiming stylus from others fit and work fine or better too, like those for M97 and even some for V15V versions.
 
What is it that you liked best about the Shure? Look at the P-mount thread for cartridge options to the M111HE, and keep an eye out for a NOS stylus, including some of the lesser Realistic P Mounts that fit the M111 series, like the RXT6, which is also P Mount.
 
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sound hound said:
What is it that you liked best about the Shure?
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It's all I've ever had for a "real" TT and cartridge so no other reference to what I may or may not like. I bought it like 40 years ago and selected the M111HE more or less on price point. It wasn't the most expensive, but some notches above the cheapest one. At the time I seem to recall they may have offered Grado but I wasn't in the know so went with a brand I had at least heard of before, LOL.
 
That's insane pricing. How about one of the AT TP4 carts? Maybe an AT81CP? The ATs are super good quality and IME, channels are perfectly balanced, unlike anything from Shure Bros.

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Sure, is an option. As mentioned all I've ever had was the M111HE and recollect it was one of Shure's higher, albeit not highest, tier cartridges at the time, like'm or not.

I'm certainly not adverse to spending less than $150+, but I'd not want to step backwards understanding that is likely at least in part subjective.
 
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whoaru99 said:
Sure, is an option. As mentioned all I've ever had was the M111HE and recollect it was one of Shure's higher, albeit not highest, tier cartridges at the time, like'm or not.

I'm certainly not adverse to spending less than $150+, but I'd not want to step backwards understanding that is likely at least in part subjective.
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Hard not to step back from a he stylus with today's options... Luckily the pmount styli are more commonly available in the fancy cuts. Minimal patience may snag you another m111he. Definitely watch for aftermarket packaged.

AT imho did pmount better than shure.
 
I would recommend buying a few used cartridges (cheap!) to find out more of what you like, eg ADC PSX series, Audio Technica 102p or 132p, used Grado p mount, Technics P series, and maybe Ortofon, too. There are others, but you need to watch out for stylus availability. If you look on the auction site, you will find many possibilities at varied prices. Carts can last forever for most of us, though you might need a new stylus. If you have access to a microscope you can probably safely buy a cart with a used stylus and use it on good records.
 
Well, for ~$30 certainly that AT one listed could be a buy and try regardless. At the very least a backup, even if not necessarily primary.
 
If I was seriously into records going to the effort of a design of experiments would be a very wise plan. But, I probably have less than 50 albums and possible some of them shouldn't even be played.
 
1) your turntable doesn't require a P-Mount cartridge

2) any after-market stylus will be a downgrade from the original Shure N111HE unless it's a JICO

Get a new standard mount cartridge like a Audio Technica VM95E for under $100, it will sound better than any cheap after-market needle you put in the Shure cartridge body

www.audio-technica.com

AT-VM95E

This VM95 Series cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus fits half-inch mount turntables. The cartridge’s special coil design delivers a powerful output level of 4.0 mV. It also offer ...
www.audio-technica.com www.audio-technica.com
 
whoaru99 said:
It does unless someone will provide the proper non p-mount headshell. ;) Or, can at least point me to one that's actually in stock/available. The parts book lists it as PXB-564.

There is no 1/2" to p-mount adapter here.
View attachment 3865030
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Oh my what a nice can of worms to open...

That is indeed a pmount headshell. Those are uncommon and worth keeping around. You can get a standard headshell for not too much on the bay (likely far less than what it would to get another pmount headshell).
 
whoaru99 said:
It does unless someone will provide the proper non p-mount headshell. ;) Or, can at least point me to one that's actually in stock/available. The parts book lists it as PXB-564.

There is no 1/2" to p-mount adapter here.
Click to expand...
I re-read your post and now see that you stated it has a p-mount headshell. When I googled your turntable and clicked on the "images" button, every PL-707 I saw had a standard head-shell.

There are so many PL 707's out there, I wonder if you could swap that headshell for a standard mount
 
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whoaru99 said:
(...) I bought it like 40 years ago and selected the M111HE more or less on price point. It wasn't the most expensive, but some notches above the cheapest one. (...)
Click to expand...

Solid choice. The M111HE was a pretty good one - and pretty much the same would also go for the M110HE and the M97LT, which also were eqipped with Shure's hyperelliptical tip, but didn't sport the damper brush.

I'd suggest to try the replacement linked to by Mr. Boochie - or that one from Turntableneedles: https://www.turntableneedles.com/VN...1HE-Cartridges-etc-Stock-77x3-DHE_p_4183.html

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
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