Sony XL-55 and Sony XL-55 Pro cartridge

[JP]

I don't think the 160ML is beryllium....

Beryllium:

 

[Plato65]

Sorry, that pic is so small I can't read it.

Edit: Really squinting my eyes, I think I can make out: "Gold-plated beryllium cantilever".

 

[JP]

Yep.

 

[belyin]

Who did your retips? Did they replace the cantilever? I have one that appears intact, minus the stylus. I would like to preserve the fancy (beryllium, aluminium and carbon) cantilever, but Andy at Needleclinic says it would have to be replaced–so naturally I am looking for a second opinion!

To get back to the title subject, Expert Stylus were able to attach their Paratrace stylus to the existing composite cantilever, and the result is quite stunning. I have never heard a cartridge that captured the texture and tone of real instruments as convincingly. An no, it is not at all bright, loaded at 100 Ohms via a Lentek battery powered step-up. For the moment, I am using it on an Ortofon AS-212 tonearm, modified by Alfred Bokrand to a 309 length, which might be slightly off in it's geometry since it is designed for the SPU G mount standard (52mm from needle to mounting collar) which (as I have read but haven't yet measured) Sony did not use. Nonetheless, I have heard no mistracking or inner groove distortion despite my casual set-up.