Stanton 681EEE

[KentTeffeteller]

The 681 EEE-S Mk II is my main cartridge daily. I use it with the brush disabled, VTF is 1.2 grams on my Technics SL-1200 Mk II. Some notes: Very sensitive to alignment and SRA. Also note that the new ones made in Florida are a little more erratic in quality. If you purchase yours from Kenneth A Barrett (KAB USA). He inspects each cartridge/stylus and returns them until he gets good ones. His service is superb. Jico Japan has a Shibata tipped stylus for the 681 EEE-S. It's as good as having an original Mk II-S Stereohedron stylus made in New York. If you're not getting superb sound out of a 681, you have a setup, loading, or suspension issue.

 

[beans]

I use the brush because it seems to make sense. I have the latest David Gilmour (very nice Dutch pressing) but it has a bad ripple warp in one spot. I had been playing it with my Stanton with no problem but then I played it on a $1400 Rega table and it could not track the first track of the record... it was jumping out of the groove. Just for grins I should try playing it without the brush and see what happens.

 

[sled108]

l have mine..with the Brush, set at 2.0 grams...It Sounds Great..And the way l figure it...If you can walk past it to adjust the Amp without it skipping, then you're running as Light as you can...

 

[Old_Tech]

I have two I run

My Zero 100C came with a 681EEE with a beautiful stylus. I have to say the sound is just golden on that table. The compliance was just right for the Zero's heavier arm and the soundstage is very wide and full of detail. Its a bright and golden sound with rich bass when needed from the source. These were installed by many a dealer on the Zero back in the day. I do not know how old mine is or its history with the table. I love the sound. I have it at 2.5 grams to compensate for the snowplow on the front which I hesitate removing for many reasons. I know not many like the zero but it really is nice with the Stanton. I also have a 681EE that came with my AR table. I have not heard it yet as I still have to put the table together but I have a spec card here for everyone to look at that came with the AR. Apparantly someone was very pleased with it on that table as well.
Enjoy and by the way nice thread thank you!

 

[whell]

I love the sound. I have it at 2.5 grams to compensate for the snowplow on the front which I hesitate removing for many reasons.

Don't remove the brush, would be my $0.02. The 681EEE is a relatively high compliance cartridge. If the Zero 100 has a heavy arm, it is likely the brush that's responsible for the heavier arm and the high compliance stylus making good music together.

 

[Old_Tech]

Don't remove the brush, would be my $0.02. The 681EEE is a relatively high compliance cartridge. If the Zero 100 has a heavy arm, it is likely the brush that's responsible for the heavier arm and the high compliance stylus making good music together.

I wasn't going to remove it as they do work well together; one helps the other.

On the AR table I have the headshell actually has standoffs inside so that the brush will clear the housing. I have not seen how this looks assembled yet but it is strange looking by itself.

 

[Go Giants]

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.

I believe Stereohedron and Shibata are very similar, if not the same.