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Technics SL-D1 or Dual 604

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OldRay

New Member
I have 2 old turntables and I'm wondering which one I should upgrade with new stylus. Both seem to work fine. Both direct drive tt.
Technics SL-D1 has a shure M70ej cart and stylus (fully manual). Not sure of upgrade path.
Dual 604 has a OM10 cart (semi-automatic). I'm thinking OM 20 if worth it.
I'm not an audiofile, but I like good sounding music. I listen mainly to progressive rock, but also a bit of everything. I recently dusted off my turntables and old records. Bought a couple of new heavy vinyls too. So, thought I should at least get new stylus, whether same one or upgrade.
Thank you for any input.
 
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Both turntables will perform well with most cartridges. Both the current ones are sort of entry level but of the two the Shure tracks and sounds (IMO) better. Therefore, the Ortofon would be my choice for the upgrade.

If you are set on a stylus (rather than cartridge) a higher end OM20 will improve things. I am not sure if an OM20 body has the same innards as the OM10 though - if so improvement will be limited.

Would you consider a cartridge upgrade instead? The AT VM95 line is terrific and even the top of the line is cheaper than an OM20 stylus alone. I have the Shibata (~$180) and it is a killer. I think you will notice an immediate improvement over either current cartridge.

Just as an aside, I am a Technics fan but the Dual is a beauty and way way cooler looking than the Technics. You have some excellent gear there.
 
OldRay said:
I have 2 old turntables and I'm wondering which one I should upgrade with new stylus. Both seem to work fine. Both direct drive tt.
Technics SL-D1 has a shure M70ej cart and stylus (fully manual).
Click to expand...

You are in luck, there is an original Shure stylus for your cartridge at Voice of Music. It's a N70B (conical tip) but every bit as good as the N70EJ you currently have, plus, it is NEW

https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/cat...Type=MfgNameNeedles&MfgName=Shure&Categories=
 
OldRay said:
I have 2 old turntables and I'm wondering which one I should upgrade with new stylus. Both seem to work fine. Both direct drive tt.
Technics SL-D1 has a shure M70ej cart and stylus (fully manual). Not sure of upgrade path.
Dual 604 has a OM10 cart (semi-automatic). I'm thinking OM 20 if worth it.
I'm not an audiofile, but I like good sounding music. I listen mainly to progressive rock, but also a bit of everything. I recently dusted off my turntables and old records. Bought a couple of new heavy vinyls too. So, thought I should at least get new stylus, whether same one or upgrade.
Thank you for any input.
Click to expand...

I would bet the 604 sounds better. It has a better tonearm.
 
malden said:
It's a N70B (conical tip) but every bit as good as the N70EJ you currently have, plus, it is NEW
Click to expand...

IMO that's a downgrade if the old one is not worn. As I read it the OP is looking to get a better stylus for his existing cart body, not just a replacement stylus.
 
C Hart said:
Both turntables will perform well with most cartridges. Both the current ones are sort of entry level but of the two the Shure tracks and sounds (IMO) better. Therefore, the Ortofon would be my choice for the upgrade.

If you are set on a stylus (rather than cartridge) a higher end OM20 will improve things. I am not sure if an OM20 body has the same innards as the OM10 though - if so improvement will be limited.

Would you consider a cartridge upgrade instead? The AT VM95 line is terrific and even the top of the line is cheaper than an OM20 stylus alone. I have the Shibata (~$180) and it is a killer. I think you will notice an immediate improvement over either current cartridge.

Just as an aside, I am a Technics fan but the Dual is a beauty and way way cooler looking than the Technics. You have some excellent gear there.
Click to expand...
I would consider any upgrade. Trying to consider if any are worth it or too subtle for the cost. Eg. Is a om20 a big enough upgrade in sound to justify cost which is 3x om10. I'll have a look at the AT vm95.
 
malden said:
The best research is to buy and listen
Click to expand...
I would love to try them all. Unfortunately, don't have the funds. This is my first upgrade. I'm connecting to a modest a/V Onkyo receiver with a phono input.
 
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@OldRay, you just need to try one at a time. Styli do not last forever so at some point you will have to buy another.

That Shure N70B stylus I linked is a top quality stylus, I know this because I have several. You can use the Shure M70EJ in either turntable.

Take notes documenting which records sound good to you and which records don't. When that stylus wears out, buy an elliptical and listen to the same records and refer to your notes. Is there a change in sound?
 
The thread has taken a couple of left turns. But I believe posters agree the M70EJ is a nice cartridge. If it needs a new stylus, so be it - choose the one you think would be best. But if it doesn't, the OM10 is the underperformer here and would benefit from an upgrade more than the Shure.
 
malden said:
@OldRay, you just need to try one at a time. Styli do not last forever so at some point you will have to buy another.

That Shure N70B stylus I linked is a top quality stylus, I know this because I have several. You can use the Shure M70EJ in either turntable.

Take notes documenting which records sound good to you and which records don't. When that stylus wears out, buy an elliptical and listen to the same records and refer to your notes. Is there a change in sound?
Click to expand...
Yes. I'm definitely going to try the N70B. The price is right.
 
C Hart said:
The thread has taken a couple of left turns. But I believe posters agree the M70EJ is a nice cartridge. If it needs a new stylus, so be it - choose the one you think would be best. But if it doesn't, the OM10 is the underperformer here and would benefit from an upgrade more than the Shure.
Click to expand...

I'll be devil's advocate here. The 604 could really use a better cartridge, and so equipped would likely outperform the SL-D1/Shure combo. The Dual really is that much better, IMO. The only drawback is the dreadful sled setup on the Dual. Get that sussed and slap on a better cart and enjoy.

If funds are really limited, then I'd stick with the Shure with a better stylus. An OM20 isn't a dramatic difference over a 10.

As always, just my opinion, YMMV.
 
C Hart said:
The thread has taken a couple of left turns. But I believe posters agree the M70EJ is a nice cartridge. If it needs a new stylus, so be it - choose the one you think would be best. But if it doesn't, the OM10 is the underperformer here and would benefit from an upgrade more than the Shure.
Click to expand...
I think I will upgrade both. I will get the om20stylus. And I saw there is a replacement for the m70ej stylus that claims to be an improved version. I don't recall the brand right now.
Question... Would both cartridges work on either Dual or Technics tt? Are they the same mass arm, if that matters for these cartridges? I would like to try both cartridges on each tt.
 
1tumbleweed said:
I'll be devil's advocate here. The 604 could really use a better cartridge, and so equipped would likely outperform the SL-D1/Shure combo. The Dual really is that much better, IMO. The only drawback is the dreadful sled setup on the Dual. Get that sussed and slap on a better cart and enjoy.

If funds are really limited, then I'd stick with the Shure with a better stylus. An OM20 isn't a dramatic difference over a 10.

As always, just my opinion, YMMV.
Click to expand...
Would the Shure be good on the dual 604? And would it be better than the om20 on the dual? I don't see many upgrade stylus for the Shure other than the N70B suggested to me.
 
OldRay said:
Would the Shure be good on the dual 604? And would it be better than the om20 on the dual? I don't see many upgrade stylus for the Shure other than the N70B suggested to me.
Click to expand...

You are overthinking this. Why the "upgrade-itis" ?

Go with what you have for a while, you will learn much more by listening.

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, but you are looking for opinions from members here who have not seen or heard your system, which includes your amp, receiver or whatever and speakers in your particular room with your particular recordings.
 
malden said:
You are overthinking this. Why the "upgrade-itis" ?

Go with what you have for a while, you will learn much more by listening.

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, but you are looking for opinions from members here who have not seen or heard your system, which includes your amp, receiver or whatever and speakers in your particular room with your particular recordings.
Click to expand...
Ya. Probably right. I've never upgraded before and didn't know where to start.
 
OldRay said:
Would the Shure be good on the dual 604? And would it be better than the om20 on the dual? I don't see many upgrade stylus for the Shure other than the N70B suggested to me.
Click to expand...

A bit difficult to answer, as I'm not a real Shure fan. That said, for $70-ish a decent elliptical stylus is available for the Shure. Depending on budget, I'd be tempted to put my dollars towards the Dual....but it might require more $$$.
 
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