Replace the stylus or replace the cart?

orange

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#1
I have a Pioneer PC-11 with no stylus on the cantilever, it has come off.

There is one replacement on eBay, in Canada http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUOTONE-STY...EER-PC-10-PC-11-PN-10-PN-11-NEW-/130662946386

This is the one I got from one of you on a Victor head shell. The needle is just over $20.

I mounted the AT-?? on a newer Stanton head shell I got from Larry, have to look it up in my files. I also have a Stanton 500 DJ model and a Pickering V-15/AT-3 and apparently an AT-10 as I have a new needle in the package? the Stanton 500 is missing a black spacer nut that got lost when I took it off the shell and it needs a needle, as I related last year.

MVC-009S.JPG MVC-005S.JPG MVC-006S.JPG
 

mlucitt

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#2
I would say the RCA Victor cartridge is not worth buying a needle for. Sorry about the tip, if I knew it was that lame I would have sent another. I have a naked Stanton Z-1 cartridge with an OK needle or a headshell-mounted Technics 442C with a brand new needle, if you are interested.

How much is the Stanton 500 needle go for in your parts? Around here it is $20. Those Stantons are workhorses but not made to the highest audiophile standards, more so rugged for DJ use.

Mark
 

orange

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#3
I would say the RCA Victor cartridge is not worth buying a needle for. Sorry about the tip, if I knew it was that lame I would have sent another. I have a naked Stanton Z-1 cartridge with an OK needle or a headshell-mounted Technics 442C with a brand new needle, if you are interested.

How much is the Stanton 500 needle go for in your parts? Around here it is $20. Those Stantons are workhorses but not made to the highest audiophile standards, more so rugged for DJ use.

Mark
Considering that the only place to get needles I know of around here is 30 miles away and Radio Shack closed this spring, either needledaddy1 or garage-a-records, etc would be the place I'd have to go.

I wish I hadn't lost the other little black plastic spacer nut the bracket mounts to on the headshell when I took it off trying to ID it...it's not even attached due to that.
 

orange

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#4
PS I have others around here, Shure M91ED needing a needle after the cantilever snagged for one and another AT (34xx).
 

stuwee

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#5
Get thee to the Needle Doc, up Web and FF's way, Mpls MN, http://www.needledoctor.com/ , very helpful folks will set ya on the analog path rightly :smilebox:

Steven, even if we don't have much moolah, myself included...it's well worth throwing as money as you can at the cartridge/stylus as long as it's a match for your tonearm, this is where synergy rears it's ugly head. The AT, the Shure and the Pickering should work very nicely on your rig, they were designed for that workhorse!!

While ya talk to someone at the Needle Doc, ask about a new Grado Black, probably the best low cost cart out there, very, very smooth sound, unreal mid-range, very solid bass
 

speakerman1

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#6
Get thee to the Needle Doc, up Web and FF's way, Mpls MN, http://www.needledoctor.com/ , very helpful folks will set ya on the analog path rightly :smilebox:

Steven, even if we don't have much moolah, myself included...it's well worth throwing as money as you can at the cartridge/stylus as long as it's a match for your tonearm, this is where synergy rears it's ugly head. The AT, the Shure and the Pickering should work very nicely on your rig, they were designed for that workhorse!!

While ya talk to someone at the Needle Doc, ask about a new Grado Black, probably the best low cost cart out there, very, very smooth sound, unreal mid-range, very solid bass
Just read a bunch of reviews on the Black. 99% had hum mentioned. Not the lack of. You may get lucky and it won't. Your money not mine. I remember being scared to set a cart up. Borrowed the Geo disc from FF. Have you listened to the carts that are broke before they were. I do mess up at times. So I will try different weights and speeds on the table. I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree. I will make this offer to you. Joe has my Shure and my MH carts. He may let you try them. The setting up of the cart I do it about 3 times. Will play then check it. Will play then check it. By the 3rd time I get it the way I want. This is my advice. You can take it or leave it. Shop till you drop read everything you can about it. Chloba didn't like the Goldring 2400. I love it. We all have beliefs about TTs. I like straight low mass arms. Just because I own it doesn't make it the greatest or the best. Just do your research.
 

Pure_Brew

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#7
If I could combine the sound of this Shure M97xe with the tracking of the AT440mla microline, I would be a happy dude. Thats why im leaning toward the JICO SAS. By itself the Shure is a good deal with good sound IMHO.
 

jbeckva

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#8
Just read a bunch of reviews on the Black. 99% had hum mentioned.
Ah, but I have encountered it first hand and know what the real problem was - I thought my ground wire had come loose, but after confirming it was the grado by swapping it for an AT I started looking elsewhere. Thing was - up until that incident I had NO issues with hum, at all.

Simple explanation and fix - get the turntable away from amps (err.. like that ole PLWO 1000 I gots with it's big transformer steekin' out the back), and any other possible RFI source. Soon as I separated the two better BINGO - hum's gone.

They're just more sensitive to RFI/magnetic interference. As long as you're not placing them on top of or right besides the source, no problems.
 

speakerman1

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#9
Ah, but I have encountered it first hand and know what the real problem was - I thought my ground wire had come loose, but after confirming it was the grado by swapping it for an AT I started looking elsewhere. Thing was - up until that incident I had NO issues with hum, at all.

Simple explanation and fix - get the turntable away from amps (err.. like that ole PLWO 1000 I gots with it's big transformer steekin' out the back), and any other possible RFI source. Soon as I separated the two better BINGO - hum's gone.

They're just more sensitive to RFI/magnetic interference. As long as you're not placing them on top of or right besides the source, no problems.
What are you using as a phono amp?
 

speakerman1

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OK Here's the the deal. Joe has 2 carts. M97xe and the red MH. If Joe will do it. They can get passed around. Try to keep the stylus clean. It makes a world of difference. Jerry do you have the P mount adapter? Speak now or forever keep your peace or piece which ever seems appropriate. Try them out. Both are very affordable. See I'm getting hum in the Creek I think. May just eed cleacing up. Has awhile since I did maintenance. If you want to take part. ad your name to the list. Could you use a stethasope to listen to the trans and other components that have a chance of humming.
 

jbeckva

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#12
OK Here's the the deal. Joe has 2 carts. M97xe and the red MH. If Joe will do it. They can get passed around. Try to keep the stylus clean. It makes a world of difference. Jerry do you have the P mount adapter? Speak now or forever keep your peace or piece which ever seems appropriate. Try them out. Both are very affordable. See I'm getting hum in the Creek I think. May just eed cleacing up. Has awhile since I did maintenance. If you want to take part. ad your name to the list. Could you use a stethasope to listen to the trans and other components that have a chance of humming.
Why would I need an adapter - the SL-Q5 I have is already a P.. :)

Stethoscope wouldn't work, but if you can have the hum occurring you may be able to move the TT around until it disappears. I think simply by breaking the plane (the TT and amp are now no longer on the same vertical level) makes a difference, but it all depends on where them magnetic lines o flux are coming from.
 

orange

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#13
Why would I need an adapter - the SL-Q5 I have is already a P.. :)

Stethoscope wouldn't work, but if you can have the hum occurring you may be able to move the TT around until it disappears. I think simply by breaking the plane (the TT and amp are now no longer on the same vertical level) makes a difference, but it all depends on where them magnetic lines o flux are coming from.
What are we passing around carts for? I always wondered about the Musical Youth, passing the duchie on the left-hand side?

MAD SKILLS MAD SKILLS
 

orange

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#14
Ah, but I have encountered it first hand and know what the real problem was - I thought my ground wire had come loose, but after confirming it was the grado by swapping it for an AT I started looking elsewhere. Thing was - up until that incident I had NO issues with hum, at all.

Simple explanation and fix - get the turntable away from amps (err.. like that ole PLWO 1000 I gots with it's big transformer steekin' out the back), and any other possible RFI source. Soon as I separated the two better BINGO - hum's gone.

They're just more sensitive to RFI/magnetic interference. As long as you're not placing them on top of or right besides the source, no problems.
Having the spade end on the stinking wire and hooked to the doohickie screw on the back is a good thing too.
 

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Having the spade end on the stinking wire and hooked to the doohickie screw on the back is a good thing too.
Ya think? :shock:

Well before I swapped in another cartridge I took THAT concept ya pointed out a bit more.. opened up the TT and soldered a ground wire right in place of the typical Technics "connector". That's what tipped me off that there was something else fishy going on, when it didn't help.
 

speakerman1

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Why would I need an adapter - the SL-Q5 I have is already a P.. :)

Stethoscope wouldn't work, but if you can have the hum occurring you may be able to move the TT around until it disappears. I think simply by breaking the plane (the TT and amp are now no longer on the same vertical level) makes a difference, but it all depends on where them magnetic lines o flux are coming from.
With an adapter you can run non P mount carts.
 

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#18
I was at Innovative Audio this past Thursday, and I spoke to Gordon at length about some audio topics. I asked him about a recommended cartridge for my 70's vintage Pioneer PL-570. It presently has an ADC QLM cartridge on it. He said at first, a Shure V-15, then said, but if you want a true "sleeper" in terms of great sound at a small expense, to try the Shure M97XE. He recommended it to a friend, Paul, who I have met on several occassions, and Paul was astounded by this "sleeper." So, I think I may buy one.

Nando.
 

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#19
Nando, that's the cart Larrt supplied with the MH table he gifted me. In all aspects it sounded as good as the ADC Astrion I had on the Denon years ago.
 

Elite-ist

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#20
More confirmation about the quality of the Shure M97XE cartridge. Thanks Lee.

Nando.
 
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