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What do you think of the Pickering XV-15, V-15 cartridge, very very long list...

S

spn_ai

Active Member
Hi,

What do you think of the Pickering XV-15, V-15 cartridge? Is it really worth to get, or replacement stylus, but which one to get very very long list...

UV15/2000Q cartridge
UV15/2400Q cartridge

V-15-1 cartridge
V-15/101E cartridge
V-15-2 cartridge
V-15/202E cartridge
V-15/220E cartridge
V-15/303E cartridge
V-15/380E Improved cartridge
V-15/440E cartridge
V-15/480E Improved cartridge
V-15/510E cartridge
V-15/605E cartridge
V-15/610E cartridge
V-15/615E cartridge
V-15/630E cartridge
V-15/660E cartridge
V-15/710E cartridge
V-15/725E cartridge
V-15/800E cartridge
V-15/810E cartridge
V-15/900E cartridge
V-15/AC-3 cartridge
V-15/AM 3 V-15/AM3 cartridge
V-15/AME-3 V-15/AME3 cartridge
V-15/AT-1 cartridge
V-15/AT-2 cartridge
V-15/AT-3 cartridge
V-15/ATE 3 V-15/ATE3
V-15/ATE-4 cartridge
V15/FG V15FG cartridge
V-15HB/AT2C cartridge
V-15/IV-AC cartridge
V-15/IV-ACE cartridge
V-15/IV-AM cartridge
V-15/IV-AME cartridge
V-15/IV-AT cartridge
V-15/IV-ATE cartridge
V-15/M-3 cartridge
V-15/Mic5 cartridge
V-15/Ser4 cartridge

XV-15/100 cartridge
XV-15/1200E XV-15 1200E cartridge
XV-15/140E XV-15 140E cartridge
XV-15/150 XV-15 150 cartridge
XV-15/1800S XV-15 1800S cartridge
XV-15/200E XV-15 200E cartridge
XV-15/350 XV-15 350 cartridge
XV-15/400E XV-15 400E cartridge
XV-15/625 DJ XV-15 625DJ cartridge
XV-15/625E XV-15 625E cartridge
XV-15/750E XV-15 750E cartridge
XV-15/DCF 400 XV-15 DCF 400 cartridge


Thaanks
 
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I have the XV-15/625E and the 750E. Both are very sweet carts.
 
Note that the V-15 and the XV-15 are two quite different cartridges. The V-15 is the equivalent of the Stanton 500, and the XV-15 is the Stanton 681 counterpart. I prefer the XV-15, and give a +1 to beej's comment.
 
Both are very good cartridges with better styli installed. The XV-15 is the best of the pair. With a broadcast conical, an elliptical, or a Stereohedron, a superb cartridge. I use it's Stanton counterpart daily at home and at work. :tresbon:
 
I've just purchased an XV-15/150 DCF series from an estate sale, and it doesn't look like it's ever been installed. My Realistic LAB 440 has the EDT 1000R shure cartridge and since it's an automatic TT, I'm hopeing it will be an improvement. The EDT 1000R isn't a bad sounding cart, but I'm getting a faint audio crackle/static in the last few months and can't locate the problem. I read a few threads saying the Pickering XV-15 series was very nice with good separation of instruments and began looking for one. I will install it as soon as it arrives and follow up with sound comments.
 
I put an XV-15 on my Pioneer PL-41 and like it a lot. I picked it up NOS with a 400E and a 200E I put on the 400E. I never really could figure out the compliance thing with Pickering so I just went with the recommended tracking specs but if what I gather here on AK it just seems the higher up the ladder you go stylus wise the better sounding it gets.
I have read some concerns about the replacement styli that are available all not being exactly right in terms of matching original Pickerings as far as how the cantilever is attached ( a little wire ) or some such.
Anyway I don't really think that there are many that would argue that it's not a quality cart and well worth a listen to rather than not.
 
I agree with all the posters above. In my experience the XV-15/625E and XV-15/1200E are excellent; If you find a 1200E, JICO has a stylus for it, (not sure about the 625E).
 
+ a dozen or so on the XV15/625E combination. Gold cartridge. If I remember right, they also come in black, silver, and white? Color denotes how well they did in testing, similar to what AMD does with their CPUs ...

I looked into a replacement stylus a while back when mine went south and lucked into a new old stock, signed and sealed in Pleasantville NY, at a reasonable price. I've got several cartridges, but that's my favorite.

One thing to remember ... if you do run it with the brush (and I highly recommend that) add an extra gram to your tracking force. That's to compensate for the "lift" of the brush itself as it tracks the groove ahead of the stylus.

Here's a nice thread that discusses all the options for that series ...

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=405437
 
As you may know, your long list covers only four actual cartridges, the V-25, V-15 IV, XV-15 and UV-15. In every case, the combination of numbers and letters after the "/" describes the stylus that was fitted at the factory.

As was mentioned, these and their Stanton counterparts are all quite good cartridges and are among my favorites. I currently own a fair number of them and like them a lot. Below is a list of Pickerings with their Stanton counterparts.

Pickering V-15 & Stanton 500 (and 400)
Pickering V-15 IV & Stanton 600
Pickering XV-15 & Stanton 680 and 681
Pickering UV-15 & Stanton 780????

(You forgot the Pickering XUV & XSV and the Stanton 881 & 981. :))

Now, within these groups, as I said, the only distinction is the stylus and, since the styli are all interchangeable between all the different cartridges in each group and also between a Pickering cartridge and its Stanton counterpart. So, you will want to do some research to find out the specs for all those different styli you listed: what type of tip and what compliance as revealed by the recommended tracking weight.

John
 
Mine is a V15/AC3 in powder blue. I had whatever V15 variant lives on the KLH machines in a cream/tan color. I've seen XV-15's in a gold color as well. My Stanton 681's are mostly bare silver, except the 680e.v3 which is a very dark blue.

Personally I prefer the sound of the 680 and XV-15 family over the V15. They have a more full sounding midrange, though the sound of both carts depends quite a bit on the stylus.
 
One thing is for sure, the sheer number of Pickering/Stanton variations on the 500 sure is daunting.

Add to the above list the Pickering NP/AC, NP/AT, etc.
 
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