wraub Posted April 9, 2022 Share Posted April 9, 2022 I've been using my trusty 1200 Mk 2 with an old Stanton cartridge and two styli that are equally old- I need to replace the lot and start enjoying my records again. Price range- probably around $100 or so, possibly a bit more. Suggestions? I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted April 9, 2022 Share Posted April 9, 2022 A fine topic - I’m coming up on needing to replace mine as well….and I wanna upgrade. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Failed Muso Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 I can thoroughly recommend the Audio Technica AT-VM95E which delivers stunning performance for a super low price (£49.99 here in the UK). Better still, it supports a range of styli including Nude, Microlinear and Shibata varieties. There's even an option for a 78rpm stylus!https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/at-vm95ehttps://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/cartridges/styli-accessories/a-t-moving-magnet-styli 3 Rob Puricelli Music Technologist, Writer, Podcaster, Instructional Designer Failed Muso Sound On SoundPro Synth Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 20 hours ago, Failed Muso said: I can thoroughly recommend the Audio Technica AT-VM95E which delivers stunning performance for a super low price (£49.99 here in the UK). Better still, it supports a range of styli including Nude, Microlinear and Shibata varieties. There's even an option for a 78rpm stylus!https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/at-vm95ehttps://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/cartridges/styli-accessories/a-t-moving-magnet-styli I am also using the same Audio-Technica and can strongly advocate for this as well! I liked it so much that I went ahead and bought a spare one to have on hand the next time I need one. Sad and expensive story here - a few years ago I needed a new cartridge for my turntable, a Pioneer PL-510. My dad bought this new back in the early '70s and it is where I learned to carefully play albums and enjoy a lifetime of collecting. My dad gave it to me about 20 years ago and I hadn't used it much until I set up my music room about a decade ago. It had an Empire brand cartridge that worked fine until it wore out a couple of years ago. I did extensive research and ended up ordering a Denon DL-110 as the replacement, after reading a bunch of reviews etc. This was a really nice one and I think near $300 at the time. It was also difficult to install. Anyways, back around the holidays I accidentally left the needle spinning on the record overnight and it ran into the paper middle of the album, basically disintegrating the needle on a perfectly functioning DL-110 that probably had many years of life ahead of it. I was super bummed, and also wanting to quickly replace it. So I ordered another one just like it and it was over $400 this time! Wow. It was also on a delayed order process and I was impatient. Somehow I found the Audio-Technica and went ahead and ordered it. At something like 20% of the cost of the Denon cartridge, I was extremely satisfied. Plus, it was a true plug and play item that didn't require me to do anything intricate with tiny screws or wires. Also no rebalancing of the stylus...just plug and play! Very happy camper here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted April 27, 2022 Author Share Posted April 27, 2022 Thanks for the replies. I'm still looking, no decisions as yet. There's a lot of options out there. I've had generally good luck with AT products, and tbh I think my current head shell was made by them anyway. The AT-VM95E is on my list. 1 I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spokenward Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 On 4/24/2022 at 1:50 PM, Failed Muso said: I can thoroughly recommend the Audio Technica AT-VM95E which delivers stunning performance for a super low price (£49.99 here in the UK). Better still, it supports a range of styli including Nude, Microlinear and Shibata varieties. There's even an option for a 78rpm stylus!https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/at-vm95ehttps://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/cartridges/styli-accessories/a-t-moving-magnet-styli This reminds me that the audio-technica sites for the English speaking world are different. Here are two more links to illustrate: The GB site lists compatible replacement styli for vintage / legacy carts. I don't find this info in the US site. AT was always silent about form factors but some resellers, especially non-authorized resellers, used to list alternative replacements for discontinued models. I have not tried these replacements myself, but I do have two older AT carts that could use a stylus. https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/support/which-stylus-can-i-use-to-replace-my-discontinued-model/ The US AT site has this more recent chart for modern carts and stylus replacements and upgrades. https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/support/audio-solutions-question-of-the-week-how-do-i-select-a-replacement-or-upgrade-stylus-for-my-audio-technica-vm-series-phono-cartridge/ Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 I have 2 Shure M97XE's, one which is 5 years old. It's fine right now, but since Shure is out of that end of the business, I too am researching a backup/replacement that won't break the bank, Perhaps Ortofon or Grado? "I cried when I wrote this song Sue me if I play too long" Walter Becker Donald Fagan 1977 Deacon Blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spokenward Posted July 28, 2022 Share Posted July 28, 2022 4 hours ago, Michael Wright said: I have 2 Shure M97XE's, one which is 5 years old. It's fine right now, but since Shure is out of that end of the business, I too am researching a backup/replacement that won't break the bank, Perhaps Ortofon or Grado? I have the Shure M97XE as well. I like it well enough to consider the Japanese third party replacement stylus - search "m97xe jico" for hours of highly opinionated fun. I am thinking that I will probably get one when I replace the stylus that I have. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 I have a Rega Elys2 on my (Rega) turntable. It’s about $300 retail. They also have one that fits that costs more than double. I’m not clear on what you get for the extra $. I also find myself wondering how easy it is to just replace the stylus. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Just replaced my Elys2 with a new cartridge. I easily had over 1000 hours on the old one. Gotta say - worth the effort and expense. Definite improvement in the overall sound. dB 1 ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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