What Do We Have Here?

[freddyfred82]

Hello all,

Picked up a sony turn table with an Audio Technica cart: AT-212EX.

I cant find any info on it. Would like to know its specs and such.

Anyone out there have a clue as to where this cart ranks?

Thank you in advance to anyone who should respond.

 

[ronaldw441]

Download an old Pfanstiehl stylus catalog at:
http://www.gyyv.net/turntable/pfacat.pdf
Section IV lists most of the weird model numbers used by some of the popular manufacturers. The AT212EX can be found on page 43. According to the listing, a Pfanstiehl 200DET stylus should be used. Now go to the Audio Technica listings in Section II and find which standard model cartridge uses a 200DET stylus. In this case, an Audio Technica AT12E is listed (see page 8) and is probably what you have. If your cartridge still has the original stylus the color should match. I don't know how accurate all of this is but it's worked for me on at least a half dozen cartridges..

 

[freddyfred82]

Download an old Pfanstiehl stylus catalog at:
http://www.gyyv.net/turntable/pfacat.pdf
Section IV lists most of the weird model numbers used by some of the popular manufacturers. The AT212EX can be found on page 43. According to the listing, a Pfanstiehl 200DET stylus should be used. Now go to the Audio Technica listings in Section II and find which standard model cartridge uses a 200DET stylus. In this case, an Audio Technica AT12E is listed (see page 8) and is probably what you have. If your cartridge still has the original stylus the color should match. I don't know how accurate all of this is but it's worked for me on at least a half dozen cartridges..

Oh, wow! Ronald, thank you so much for your time and suggestion. I truly appreciate it!

 

[lini]

(...) I cant find any info on it. (...)

Found two pics of the 212EX via Google's picture search - and in both cases it was equipped with the caramel-coloured needle of the AT12XE, i.e. the ATN12XE. While that's not a definitive proof (as the body as such can use all AT10 to AT12 family and also all AT-VM3 and -VM8 famly needles), that would make it pretty likely, that the 212XE was one of the numerous renames of the AT12XE (= highest quality elliptical variant of the AT10 to AT12 family with nude, usually rectangular-shanked diamond with 0.3 x 0.7 mil tip).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[freddyfred82]

Greetings!

Very interesting! Thank you for taking the time to identify this cart. If it all checks out, it might be worth getting a replacement stylus.

I was going to throw this out. LOL. If a replica stylus is not too expensive, I'll tinker with with it.

I'll report how it sounds!

Thanks again

Found two pics of the 212EX via Google's picture search - and in both cases it was equipped with the caramel-coloured needle of the AT12XE, i.e. the ATN12XE. While that's not a definitive proof (as the body as such can use all AT10 to AT12 family and also all AT-VM3 and -VM8 famly needles), that would make it pretty likely, that the 212XE was one of the numerous renames of the AT12XE (= highest quality elliptical variant of the AT10 to AT12 family with nude, usually rectangular-shanked diamond with 0.3 x 0.7 mil tip).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[ronaldw441]

in both cases it was equipped with the caramel-coloured needle of the AT12XE, i.e. the ATN12XE

I thought of that possibility. That's why I mentioned stylus color. Good cartridge series. I used one of my AT12Sa's to rip a few records earlier this week. Very good sound.

freddyfred82: So..... what color stylus do you have? Also, what model turntable did you pick up? I really like Sony turntables. Have a few myself.

 

[freddyfred82]

I thought of that possibility. That's why I mentioned stylus color. Good cartridge series. I used one of my AT12Sa's to rip a few records earlier this week. Very good sound.

freddyfred82: So..... what color stylus do you have? Also, what model turntable did you pick up? I really like Sony turntables. Have a few myself.

Hey Ronald!

The cart has an orange stylus with a white Audio-Technica logo; the turntable is a PS-X30. The mid to late 70's Sony's have done well by me. The purchase an impulse buy for 40 buks for a smaller second bookshelf system, but it's looking like the cart is the star of the show

I'll post of picture by today.

 

[ronaldw441]

The cart has an orange stylus

Orange is good. It may indicate that the cartridge is an AT13Ea. I wonder is your cartridge started life as an AT12XE then had the stylus replaced with an ATN13 stylus?


Your Sony PS-X30 was made in 1979. $40 for a good turntable & cartridge is a steal. The mid to late 70's were good years for Sony tables. I own 3 from 1976. A PS-2350, a PS-3300 and a PS-4300. The 4300 is my favorite & is my only turntable that I bought new. Still love it after 47 years. Not a bad investment.

 

[lini]

I wonder is your cartridge started life as an AT12XE then had the stylus replaced with an ATN13 stylus?

No chance. An ATN13 wouldn't fit on an AT212EX body - and neither would an ATS13.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[ronaldw441]

Manfred,
Judging from many of your other posts you know a lot more about AT cartridges that I do so I'm sure you're right. So what's your guess on freddyfred82's cartridge?

 

[lini]

So what's your guess on freddyfred82's cartridge?

Most likely an AT12XE, the colour of which one could also call a kind of orange - just an orange, that goes more to the yellow-brownish side (especially compared to the orange of the AT13E (and also of the ATS13), which goes more to the red side...).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini