rooster18
Active Member
No, but it's a nice sounding stylus, or at least mine was. I just got a touch of sibilance and it isn't as "precise" sounding to my ears. And I don't have great ears (20 years of guitar playing).
rooster.
Stanton 681EEE
- Thread starter majick47
- Start date
No, but it's a nice sounding stylus, or at least mine was. I just got a touch of sibilance and it isn't as "precise" sounding to my ears. And I don't have great ears (20 years of guitar playing).
rooster.
Thanks, Rooster. I hear ya on the "great ears" part. My wife thinks I'm going deaf but I prefer denial! I think I'll opt out for a sibata when I decide to replace mine. Right now I have a white "6800SL" I'm told is a higher end stylus on my 681EE but I dont have the magnification to see if it's worn. Sure magnifies the clicks/pops on not-so-perfect lps.
Jfall
Member
The 2M black has a Shibata sylus. It sounds much more refined across the spectrum and does a much better job at delivering low level detail. Of course it should at about 4x the price.
If anything, I would say the Stanton is more forgiving. Really good records sound very, very good with the Ortofon, but just about everything sounds good with the Stanton.
If anything, I would say the Stanton is more forgiving. Really good records sound very, very good with the Ortofon, but just about everything sounds good with the Stanton.
Yankee Dog
Well-Known Member
Just picked up a stanton 680el cart last week, installed a new 681eee stylus with brush. Set at 2.25 grams. Have run about 6 albums through it and it is sounding better with each one. Nice smooth sound, yet plenty of range in the highs and the lows.
I have to admit, this is probably the highest quality cartridge/stylus that I have ever purchased. Not saying it is the best, but it is the best sounding cart that I ever owned. I have never spent more than 40 dollars on a cart/stylus combo before. So that is what I am basing my findings on.
I also noticed that some of my rougher/more abused "party albums" sound better than they are. Less snap crackle and pop, and some of my albums are pretty knarly.
Very happy with this cart/combo. Not sure why my albums sound less abused and clearer, maybe it is because this is the first cartridge I have ever aligned properly as well, but all I know is I can't stay away from spinning vinyl this weekend. YD
I have to admit, this is probably the highest quality cartridge/stylus that I have ever purchased. Not saying it is the best, but it is the best sounding cart that I ever owned. I have never spent more than 40 dollars on a cart/stylus combo before. So that is what I am basing my findings on.
I also noticed that some of my rougher/more abused "party albums" sound better than they are. Less snap crackle and pop, and some of my albums are pretty knarly.
Very happy with this cart/combo. Not sure why my albums sound less abused and clearer, maybe it is because this is the first cartridge I have ever aligned properly as well, but all I know is I can't stay away from spinning vinyl this weekend. YD
illinoisteve
Super Member
This page at the KAB site lists the over 20 stylii that are compatible with your Stanton 681EEE.
http://www.kabusa.com/STANTONX.HTM
Specifications for the ones you might find available would help you figure out whether you certain ones are an adequate replacement for what you have, or whether they are upgrades or downgrades.
http://www.kabusa.com/STANTONX.HTM
Specifications for the ones you might find available would help you figure out whether you certain ones are an adequate replacement for what you have, or whether they are upgrades or downgrades.
inspired
SDA fan since '86
Setting tracking force
I'm ressurecting this old thread as I just replaced my stylus with the 681 EEE Mk III.
The old stylus had no brush and tracked well down to .75 grams. The new 681 EEE Mk III long hair brush exerts a down force, but I can't find any literature to advise how much more tonearm weight needs to be added bot compensate. My stylus gauge indicates the up pressure of the brush cancels out almost 1 gram of downforce, but I'd like to see it in writing from Stanton or have it confirmed by someone who knows.
I find this particular cartidge/stylus setup to sound much better than some of the descriptions above that rate it as only of old FM station broadcast quality.
I'm ressurecting this old thread as I just replaced my stylus with the 681 EEE Mk III.
The old stylus had no brush and tracked well down to .75 grams. The new 681 EEE Mk III long hair brush exerts a down force, but I can't find any literature to advise how much more tonearm weight needs to be added bot compensate. My stylus gauge indicates the up pressure of the brush cancels out almost 1 gram of downforce, but I'd like to see it in writing from Stanton or have it confirmed by someone who knows.
I find this particular cartidge/stylus setup to sound much better than some of the descriptions above that rate it as only of old FM station broadcast quality.
SaSi
Seriously Illogical
If you balance the tonearm with the cart AND brush, you need to add +1g to the VTF.
If you balance the tonearm with the cart and NO brush, then you don't need to readjust VTFF. Adding the brush at any time adds that +1g needed with it's weight.
When I first used that on a Dual 1009 and a no-name TT, I was not impressed to say the least. Testing it again recently on a Technics SL-1210, showed what a good cart it is. (Still noticeably worse than my better Ortofon MCs but good enough fro everyday listening).
If you balance the tonearm with the cart and NO brush, then you don't need to readjust VTFF. Adding the brush at any time adds that +1g needed with it's weight.
When I first used that on a Dual 1009 and a no-name TT, I was not impressed to say the least. Testing it again recently on a Technics SL-1210, showed what a good cart it is. (Still noticeably worse than my better Ortofon MCs but good enough fro everyday listening).
inspired
SDA fan since '86
The +1 gram is my best estimate based upon landing the stylus tip only, long hair brush only, and then both on the correct line of the thin metal balance beam lever of my Shure Stylus gauge.
I would like to hear someone has received paperwork from Stanton with this stylus (mine didn't have any paperwork) stating it is actually 1 gram, or 3/4 grams or whatever.
FWIW, I have the Stanton 681EEEMK2S, Shure V15III, and the AT155LC. They are ALL respectable cartridges with wonderful characteristics and I have a hard time choosing which I like better. They all track exceptionally well, and I'll echo analogman's remark concerning its use on a wide range of musical material. Rock, classical, jazz, vocal, electronic, etc., all sound wonderful (as they do with the other two) even under challenging conditions. These are high-end cartridges, and properly aligned and cared for, provide quite a vinyl experience. :yes:
I believe the S at the end of the model indicates the shibata stylus.
While I don't have the paperwork with me here at the office, I can certainly render my best recollection of the last several times that I've read it for my Stanton 881S, Stanton 681EEE, Pickering XV-15, and Pickering XSV-3000 (Pickering and Stanton are essentially the same company). All of the documentation specifies 1 gram.
Or, you can create a log in at vinylengine.com, go here, and download the instructions, so you can verify and download a copy to keep.
The "S" designation actually stands for "Stereohedron", a proprietary stylus tip design marketed by Stanton. Stereohedron stylus tips are no longer available from Stanton because they are not cheap to produce.
However, Jico makes a Shibata - tipped stylus for the 681 which IS a Shibata. The Shibata tip is not unlike the Sterehedron in terms of how it reaches deeply into the grooves and renders quieter disk playback.
beans
Got arth-a-ritis
Sorry to 'jack the current topic, but I'VE HAD IT with my new 681 (bought from Needle Doc in Sept). This thing is absolutely CHEWING up records. I have done everything to align it except buy one of those $100 Best-Tractors. Got Black Ice during the holidays, which is a CD-length album pressed on 2 LPs with only 3 tracks per side, so the groove spacing is wide and the dynamics/amplitude is high. This 681 completely destroyed it, worse than anything else I've played.
I have a ProJect Debut TT which should be a good match for it, except that I had to futz with the mounting to get the right alignment about the axis passing straight through the sides... IOW, I had to angle it down (to AKer Stanton681EEES, this is the problem I PM'ed you about... I took your advice and straightened it).
I have emailed Needle Doc so we'll see what they say... I'd bet they'll want to first hassle me about the alignment, but we'll see.
I like the sound of it, so I'd hate to find out it's really not good in this arm, and that's the cause. Fred gave me a quick go-ahead when I asked him that, and I have no reason to doubt him, even now.
Has anyone here had a similar experience with the Mark III?
I have a ProJect Debut TT which should be a good match for it, except that I had to futz with the mounting to get the right alignment about the axis passing straight through the sides... IOW, I had to angle it down (to AKer Stanton681EEES, this is the problem I PM'ed you about... I took your advice and straightened it).
I have emailed Needle Doc so we'll see what they say... I'd bet they'll want to first hassle me about the alignment, but we'll see.
I like the sound of it, so I'd hate to find out it's really not good in this arm, and that's the cause. Fred gave me a quick go-ahead when I asked him that, and I have no reason to doubt him, even now.
Has anyone here had a similar experience with the Mark III?
I hate to hear this, but the word on the street is that the Stanton product does have issues on the quality control side. I wouldn't be shocked by the defective build quality that Needle Doctor suggests. Kevin at KAB sells the 681, but inspects every single one before it is sold.
I guess the stunning part of this is that you observed that the damn thing still sounds good!
I guess the stunning part of this is that you observed that the damn thing still sounds good!
inspired
SDA fan since '86
Thanks to all who weighed in to help me.
Well, I had not had any luck prior, but emailed Stanton again this morning and received the reply below.
I'm guessing the force the brush exerts changes (lessens) as it is pushed higher up its pivot point and the angle of LP contact lessens from vertical to about 45 degrees. I measured 1 gram as the brush first touches my scale, but have no good way to dynamically measure while the plater is turning so I will trust the 1/2 gram recommendation Stanton made below is based upon their ability to make a take a more accurate measurement or make a better guess. I was tracking my old 680 EEE brushless stylus below .75 grams (with "The Clamp" brand reflex clamp) so I will set the VTF now at 1.25 grams gross allowing for .5 grams of brush = approx. .75 net and leave my antiskate setting at the (net) .75 gram setting.
##########################################
Hi Greg,
½ gram is what we suggest some people go with a full gram.
Thanks Robert Strachan aka Dj jungle boy
Technical Support Specialist: DJ@StantonDJ.com
954.316.1500 x2257 : 954.316.1590 (fax)
stantongroup.ws :: Cerwin-Vega! : KRK : Stanton
##########################################
Speaking to quality control, I've been hearing this a lot. The good ones are great, and the bad ones problematic.
Well, I had not had any luck prior, but emailed Stanton again this morning and received the reply below.
I'm guessing the force the brush exerts changes (lessens) as it is pushed higher up its pivot point and the angle of LP contact lessens from vertical to about 45 degrees. I measured 1 gram as the brush first touches my scale, but have no good way to dynamically measure while the plater is turning so I will trust the 1/2 gram recommendation Stanton made below is based upon their ability to make a take a more accurate measurement or make a better guess. I was tracking my old 680 EEE brushless stylus below .75 grams (with "The Clamp" brand reflex clamp) so I will set the VTF now at 1.25 grams gross allowing for .5 grams of brush = approx. .75 net and leave my antiskate setting at the (net) .75 gram setting.
##########################################
Hi Greg,
½ gram is what we suggest some people go with a full gram.
Thanks Robert Strachan aka Dj jungle boy
Technical Support Specialist: DJ@StantonDJ.com
954.316.1500 x2257 : 954.316.1590 (fax)
stantongroup.ws :: Cerwin-Vega! : KRK : Stanton
##########################################
Speaking to quality control, I've been hearing this a lot. The good ones are great, and the bad ones problematic.
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beans
Got arth-a-ritis
No, I wasn't being clear. I'm saying it sounds terrible, but I have a lot of experience with this model, and I want one that does sound good. I will say that on some records it works OK and did not seem to do damage, but then we aren't sure about the stylus tip being sideways. Matt said it seems likely. I looked at the tip under a film lupe but I can't really tell much that way. If anything, it looks as though there may be a tiny blob of epoxy that oozed down, but I don't know. I cleaned it with my Discwasher cleaner yet there is still something there, but I can't tell if it's at the groove level. If I thought the damn thing sounded good I wouldn't have struggled for months with it. I just didn't want to believe it could be defective, I guess. But now, I'm all out of other options.
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Sid Hartha
Member
That did it - thanks for clearing that up. I always wondered why they performed so poorly with the brush.
I currently have a 681 with a EEE on my SP-15, and a 680/EEE on my Thorens TD 160, and now enjoy them both with the brush.
beans
Got arth-a-ritis
Guys, you're confusing me. This interests me because I have mine set at about 2.7 grams using the brush, so my effective VTF is 1.7g. I know this is beyond the range but it tracks better this way. I'm just wondering if I'm putting too much stress on the cantilever suspension. OR it could be that the reading (grams) on the counterweight is inaccurate.