Suprising Cartridge Find Experience

[Decibel_116]

I apologize for the long post, but I couldn't help sharing tonight's experience with you all.

Anyone familiar with my posts know that I am a huge fan of p-mount cartridges and turntables - especially the Technics SL-7 and SL-10 decks. I have been using Shure cartridges almost exclusively on my p-mount decks. My favorite of all time being the Shure V15LT cartridge - until now. I recently picked up a mint example of a Technics SL-QX200. I noticed it came with an Audio Technica cartridge installed (AT155LC/U). Up till now, I have not been impressed with ANY of the Audio Technica cartridges I have come across. Tonight I decided I would connect the SL-QX200 up and give her a spin. It is worth noting that I just finished listening to a Shure V15 Type IV with a JICO SAS on my new SL1210M5G (I don't have p-mount decks exclusively). I started out with one of my "I don't know about this deck quite yet" records. To my utter shock, there was virtually no noise, clicks or pops. When the music started I was absolutely astonished at the clarity, depth, and width of the soundstage coming from my test system. It sounded better than the Shure V15 Type IV that I just listened to. The QX200 is a fine turntable, but this was all cartridge. I was delighted - until I found out that the replacement styli are all long gone. Most of the Audio Technica cartridges that I have tried in the past have been overly bright and forward sounding. Not this one. I'm a fan. Now if I could only find something that would perform like that for the SL-1210M5G. Maybe I should go ahead and try the Audio-Technica AT-OC9ML/II I have been considering.

Cheers,
David

 

[Mister Pig]

Don't prang the cantilever....and when the diamond wears out have it retipped with a line contact stylus. Yes it is a bit spendy, but there isn't much of an alternative. A good quality diamond will last a long time also, provided its played on clean records.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[wualta]

... a mint example of a Technics SL-QX200 ... came with an Audio Technica cartridge installed (AT155LC/U).
... When the music started I was absolutely astonished at the clarity, depth, and width of the soundstage coming from my test system.

... I was delighted - until I found out that the replacement styli are all long gone. ... Now if I could only find something that would perform like that for the SL-1210M5G.

Congratulations on a very nice score. I would only argue that the replacement styli may not be all long gone, because the stylus you've been listening to is one of a few clones, the original being the ATN152LP, with A-T's Linear Contact stylus and a beryllium-rod cantilever, and I agree, it's excellent.

You might want to check stereoneedles.com to see if he really does have any ATN152LP styli left, as the website claims. Not cheap, but then who else is selling beryllium cantilevers for less than $200 any more? Also be on the lookout for the MicroLine version, the ATN152MLP.

Likewise the half-inch version, the ATN155LC.

 

[dlaloum]

Have you tried the current AT150MLx? It is the direct descendant of the AT155...

 

[Decibel_116]

Thanks! Looks like he does still have them

 

[dlaloum]

Thanks! Looks like he does still have them

THe ATN152 is indentical to the ATN155 with the exception of compliance - the 155 is slightly higher compliance than the 152....

Presumably on the assumption that a 1/2" mount will go for the best of the best in low mass arms (ie: ultra low mass) - where the p-mount vesion will be limited to "merely" low mass T4P arms at around 6.5g...

 

[Grbluen]

I had a very bad experience with Stereoneedles!

 

[cdk99]

Would those styli work on my 200E/U?

 

[wualta]

Would those styli work on my 200E/U?

Yes.
Just so everyone knows which A-T p-mount body we're talking about:

 

[cdk99]

Thank you, wualta, noticed it in an assortment of oldies the other day, no memory of where I bought it or how good it was.

 

[Decibel_116]

I had a very bad experience with Stereoneedles!

OK, I'll bite before I pull the trigger on a ATN152.

 

[wualta]

Thank you, wualta, noticed it in an assortment of oldies the other day, no memory of where I bought it or how good it was.

You're welcome. Both the A-T first-gen p-mounts (like the 200E/U) and second-gen* p-mounts (like the AT92E) are great fun to play with because within a given generation, the bodies are the same**, so the styli can be swapped at will.
*See SA-708's note on this below. I'll relabel my second-gen as final-gen.
**Geek note wrt A-T's first-gen p-mount carts, like the one under discussion: These are not all exactly the same, not quite. A few, like the AT152LP, have a 2-piece laminated magnetic structure. The difference in sound is audible, but it would be extremely difficult to say this makes the sound better. The difference is small, and some may not even like the extra treble, though the cartridge with laminations is technically more linear.

 

[Decibel_116]

THe ATN152 is indentical to the ATN155 with the exception of compliance - the 155 is slightly higher compliance than the 152....

Presumably on the assumption that a 1/2" mount will go for the best of the best in low mass arms (ie: ultra low mass) - where the p-mount vesion will be limited to "merely" low mass T4P arms at around 6.5g...

Will the ATN155LC stylus listed here fit my cartridge?

http://www.stereoneedles.com/audio-technica.html

Or should I use the ATN152LP? I do not know anything about this type of AT body.

 

[wualta]

Will the ATN155LC stylus listed here fit my cartridge?

http://www.stereoneedles.com/audio-technica.html

Or should I use the ATN152LP? I do not know anything about this type of AT body.

You can use either one. But there's an asterisk on the play.
Most close'n'play p-mount tables rely on the cartridge+stylus weighing exactly 6.0g in order to deliver a VTF of 1.25g. As David pointed out awhile back, the standard-mount styli weigh more, which can in some instances cause you to track heavier than you ought. Remove the flip-down stylus guard and you should be tracking at about 1.5g with the 155LC.

A cheap digital scale that reads down to hundredths of a gram is handy to verify the weight of a proposed frankencart.

 

[Decibel_116]

You can use either one. But there's an asterisk on the play.
Most close'n'play p-mount tables rely on the cartridge+stylus weighing exactly 6.0g in order to deliver a VTF of 1.25g. As David pointed out awhile back, the standard-mount styli weigh more, which can in some instances cause you to track heavier than you ought. Remove the flip-down stylus guard and you should be tracking at about 1.5g with the 155LC.

A cheap digital scale that reads down to hundredths of a gram is handy to verify the weight of a proposed frankencart.

The turntable it is on, a Technics SL-QX200, has adjustable VTF and anti-skate. I guess what I am really wanting to know is which one of these is closest in performance to what is on it now. Thanks!

Dave

 

[Grbluen]

OK, I'll bite before I pull the trigger on a ATN152.

I tried to purchase a 140lc stylus. On receipt, I took a look under the microscope and the stylus was visibly chipped. Understandably, the retailer wanted to have the stylus inspected by his "staff". The retailer agreed that the stylus was chipped, and offered to ship me a new stylus. Already put off by the stall tactics, I decided that I'd just take the refund. Long story short, the dispute with PayPal went nowhere, and it was only after the credit card company got involved did I get any response. It only took six months to clear the transaction. I'd suggest caution if the stylus you're seeking is of the rare variety.

 

[Grbluen]

Keep all receipts and records of the transaction!

 

[Decibel_116]

Thanks for the info. Sorry to hear about your experience. I will have to think about it before I spend this amount on NOS parts.

 

[wualta]

...I guess what I am really wanting to know is which one of these is closest in performance to what is on it now. Thanks!

They're all virtually the same, with the small difference(s) dlaloum pointed out.

 

[SA-708]

You're welcome. Both the A-T first-gen p-mounts (like the 200E/U) and second-gen p-mounts (like the AT92E) are great fun to play with because within a given generation, the bodies are the same, so the styli can be swapped at will.
.

So what about the AT231LP and the rest of the "tan body with the big coloured dot on the sides of the stylus" series that came between your first-gen and second-gen? Generation one-and-a-half?