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Which cartridges deserve a new stylus?

J

Junknewbian

Well-Known Member
I have collective several vintage cartridges over the years and I would like to treat a few of them to a new stylus. Which of the following are the best ones to preserve?

Shure V 15 Type IV - I know this one is a keeper.
Shure M55E
Shure M44-7 - the old brown one - is it very different from the new DJ version?
Shure M75ED Type 2
Shure M75 Type D
Empire 2000E
Empire 909E/X
Empire 808E
Empire 90 EE/X
Audio-Technica AT11E
Realistic R47XT

Thanks for any and all opinions.
 
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The Empire 2000E is a superior cart, although good stylii are getting hard to find.

The humble AT11E sounds great with a Shibata stylus, I know because I have one. They're also getting pricey too...
 
Junknewbian said:
I have collective several vintage cartridges over the years and I would like to treat a few of them to a new stylus. Which of the following are the best ones to preserve?

Shure V 15 Type IV - I know this one is a keeper.
Shure M55E
Shure M44-7 - the old brown one - is it very different from the new DJ version?
Shure M75ED Type 2
Shure M75 Type D
Empire 2000E
Empire 909E/X
Empire 808E
Empire 90 EE/X
Audio-Technica AT11E
Realistic R47XT

Thanks for any and all opinions.
Click to expand...

The R47XT needs the Ne95ED stylus. Will play close to the V15-lV
original 5X stylus is phitttttttt'
the empire(s) 909, 808, 90 is a waste of time and money
the M75s need only the Type 2 ED styli
empire 2000E is nice, better styli from empire will fit.
 
Put a $25 light-tracking conical N44-G stylus on either the Shure M55E or Shure M44-7 body and use it for vintage mono LPs or 45s.

I'm very fond of the M75/M91 family as well. You can put a $14 EVG on it and get good results or go all the way with a JICO SAS. Very full-bodied and punchy.
 
Original Empire stylii don't seem to be around much anymore. This replacement is for the top of the 2000 series, except for the "Z":

http://www.lpgear.com/product/EMS2000E3.html

There's also one for the "Z" at $10 more, with unspecified dimensions, or for another $10 ($20 total) there's the one for the "X", a 2x7 elliptical.

If it was me, I'd stick with the 2000E/III for $40.
 
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