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Technics SL-BD20 replacement cartridge and/or stylus question

A

AgroRhythms

New Member
*Correction on the title* - I have an SL-BD20

I am looking to replace my cartridge on an old Technics SL-BD20. It was gifted to me so I don’t know exactly when it is from. I’ve had it for about 2 years now. Don’t have any experience with upgrading or changing parts on it

I’ve done some looking through the forums and found that it is a p Mount, and doesn’t have adjustable stylus pressure.

Ive seen a lot of recommendations for AT92ECD. When looking into this one it seems to have been replaced by AT85EP. Is this still a good recommendation?

My budget could go higher than that but it seems the consensus (at least for the old AT92) is that it performs above what the price may indicate. Is that still true for the newer AT85EP?

I’ve also seen ortofon p mounts recommended but am not sure they are intended for the 1.25 grams VTF that is factory set and not adjustable on my TT from what I have read. They also are much more expensive and am curious to know if the price difference is justified?

I generally am listening to classic rock. 50s-70s music. In case that helps. Also am open to only replacing the stylus if that is something I am able to do, but I have less info on that.

Thanks for helping!
 
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Which one do you actually have - an SL-B20, as mentioned in the thread title, or an SL-BD20, as mentioned in the text of you post? Because the former still sports both tracking force and antiskating (fine-)adjustment, whereas the latter doesn't.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
I have that same turntable, and I just completed my search for a replacement cartridge. Yes it is confusing at first with all the AT cartridges, isn't it? I ended up going with one from a different manufacturer because I couldn't figure them out. I hope someone can shed some light on the question, because I have it too.

I might add that a Grado cartridge didn't work perfectly for me on this turntable, because it added a "hum" sound.

With very rare exception though, all P-Mount Cartridges are compatible, and essentially similar, so they should all work, at least.

In the end, I found an Andante P-76. It had good specs on paper, I found one unused, and it has a finer needle, which helps with some of my records. I think it sounds great! Better than the one that came with the turntable when it was new, and without the so-called "Grado hum".
 
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dylan_k said:
@malden can you put any stylus on any cartridge, or how do you know what's compatible?
Click to expand...
you have to match the stylus to the cartridge body. I am not familiar with National/Technics cartridges, but most manufacturers use one cartridge body design for several different stylus types.
 
@dylan_k ,

For instance, the following styli share the same grip design so I'm assuming they can all be used in one particular cartridge body

@lini would be the one to ask if these are compatible

www.jico-stylus.com

EPS-23CS SD

Manufacturer : National/Technics
www.jico-stylus.com www.jico-stylus.com

www.jico-stylus.com

EPS-24CS NUDE

Manufacturer : NATIONAL/TECHNICS NUDE Tip is used for this product: The entire tip of a NUDE Stylus is composed of diamond, as opposed to bonded tips. The tip angle and round shape are identical to those of a standard bonded tip, while the diameter size is similar in comparison to the SAS...
www.jico-stylus.com www.jico-stylus.com

www.jico-stylus.com

EPS-23CS NUDE

Manufacturer : NATIONAL/TECHNICS NUDE Tip is used for this product: The entire tip of a NUDE Stylus is composed of diamond, as opposed to bonded tips. The tip angle and round shape are identical to those of a standard bonded tip, while the diameter size is similar in comparison to the SAS...
www.jico-stylus.com www.jico-stylus.com

www.jico-stylus.com

EPS-25ES NUDE

JICO
www.jico-stylus.com www.jico-stylus.com

www.jico-stylus.com

EPS-24ES NUDE

JICO
www.jico-stylus.com www.jico-stylus.com
 
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AgroRhythms said:
EPC-P24S
Click to expand...

That would seem most likely, as the first gen. SL-BD20 typically used to come with that (while the second gen. (with additional suffix D) came with the EPC-P34CS instead). The original needles for that were transpararent orange, though, so the needle on your exemplar was probably already swapped for a compatible replacement some time ago.

malden said:
@lini would be the one to ask if these are compatible
Click to expand...

All of these would be compatible, but I'd suggest one of the latter two.


Oh, and for completeness sake:

AgroRhythms said:
It’s the SL-bd20 fixed at 1.25g
Click to expand...

While that value is factory-set, it's not set in stone, one could say. I.e., if you'd take a look at the rear end of the counterweight, you should be able to spot a little screw inside, via which the factory-setting of the tracking force can be altered within certain limits - but of course you'd need a tracking force scale to check what you're doing, 'cause unlike the counterweight variant with tracking force (fine-)adjustment (= +/- 0.25 g) that counterweight variant does not only not sport the usual thumb screw for moving the actual counterweight within its cage, but also the corresponding scale and indicator.


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
malden said:
you have to match the stylus to the cartridge body. I am not familiar with National/Technics cartridges, but most manufacturers use one cartridge body design for several different stylus types.
Click to expand...
This. The AT line for example is one generator with a dozen or so model numbers depending on the stylus. They interchange fine, but for unclear reasons it costs about the same to buy a complete cartridge as it does to buy just the stylus at the entry level point. I usually just change the whole thing, the old ones have that plastic yellowing issue anyway so a fresh one looks nicer.
 
Probably, but when it costs 5 bucks extra to not have to look at it, its hard to justify keeping it.
dylan_k said:
That's for sure. The old one I have looks super gross! It probably works? I just don't like the sight of it.
Click to expand...

malden said:
you're referring to the stylus assembly, right?


View attachment 3068301
Click to expand...
I think he means the Audio Technica ones, the white bodies turn that ugly butterscotch color of old computers. Thats what i meant anyway.
 
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