Shure R1000XT

[Flabio]

Does anyone have direct experience with this cartridge? A Pioneer pl-518 I recently picked up came with one equipped with an original Shure 8x stylus. I've tested it on some old vinyl I'm not worrying about, and found the sound to be pretty harsh, especially in the treble. Likely needs a new stylus of course, but it also has a surprisingly high output level and sounds downright microphonic when handling the headshell. Is something wrong with it electrically? I checked Vinyl Engine for output specs, but it wasn't listed. As best I can tell, it has the same body as my M95, so I am surprised by the differences. Any ideas? The M95 has a new Jico HE stylus I'm very happy with, btw.

I am endlessly fascinated reading about these old cartridges! I also was given an RXT-4 in need of a stylus. I was thinking of saving up and putting an SAS on that and maybe getting a cheap EVG for the R1000xt for spinning 45s and whatnot. Or maybe getting an original 8x stylus, which are pricey but still available. Or how about an OEM Me95ed, which are still available for a reasonable price, putting it on the M95 and putting the HE on my RXT-4? Thanks for any input and sorry for the lunatic ramble, getting very late here.

 

[Flabio]

Some things are better for the light of day and others for the wee small hours. Re-seated the stylus, headshell and wires, microphonics and weird output all vanished. In the future I'll try to keep my activities diurnally aligned. :drunk:

 

[marcmorin]

Or maybe getting an original 8x stylus, which are pricey but still available. Or how about an OEM Me95ed, which are still available for a reasonable price, putting it on the M95 and putting the HE on my RXT-4? Thanks for any input and sorry for the lunatic ramble, getting very late here.

The Me95ed is (in my experience) the better stylus.

glad you got the other issues sorted out.