User:Mjb/Phono stylus

Here are some notes about some turntable cartridges and styluses (stylii) of interest to me. These notes are just for myself, but maybe you will find them useful, too.

Please be aware that I'm not an expert and can't answer any questions. The forum at http://www.vinylengine.com/ is the place to ask.

Audio Technica DR500LC, LS500, AT14Sa replacement stylus options
I have an Audio Technica DR500LC phonograph cartridge, which is a 1980s high-end model compatible with "CD-4" quadrophonic LPs, although I've only ever used it on ordinary stereo records. It has a worn but still usable ATN14 stylus on it (#3 below).

I got the ATN14 stylus new in the mid-'90s, and it was great while it lasted. It actually doesn't perfectly fit in the cartridge; it rocks back and forth slightly. After many years of just rocking it into the right position by hand, I eventually used some tacky putty on it, and it has been fine ever since.

The only real symptom of wear is that sibilants, especially hi-hats, are sometimes distorted. Part of the distortion was due to crud on the needle, but some remains even after I've cleaned it with both a Magic Eraser and with alcohol & a Q-Tip. I also ruled out tracking force and alignment to the best of my ability; nothing makes the distortion go away, so I'm pretty sure it's damage to the needle. In the past, I've dropped the needle on the strobe dots around the edge of my Technics turntable platter a few times...accidents happen!

Here are some stylus replacement options I've found.

Best fit: an original Audio Technica line-contact or shibata stylus

 * 1. new or lightly used authentic Audio Technica DRN500 line-contact stylus (originally for the DR500LC cartridge)
 * 2. new or lightly used authentic Audio Technica LSN500 line-contact stylus (orig. for the LS500 cartridge)
 * 3. new or lightly used authentic Audio Technica ATN14 nude shibata stylus (orig. for the AT14Sa cartridge)

These are all made with different materials and the line contact tip is slightly different in shape to the shibata, but visually they're otherwise identical, with an Audio Technica logo on a burgundy-colored plastic body. They're long-discontinued and increasingly hard to find by themselves, but if you search for secondhand cartridges, usually the original stylus will come with it.

IMHO, you shouldn't pay more than $80 (US) for any of these vintage items, even if they come with a cartridge.

Example of a search result for DR500LC:
 * old eBay listing with nice photos - DR500LC & DRN500 stylus (identifiable by "DR500LC" on the clear plastic guard), sold for $57 in 2011.

Example of a search result for AT14Sa:
 * old eBay listing - AT14Sa & ATN14 stylus, sold for $152 in 2013 but included original box and an extra stylus.

Second best: a new JICO bonded shibata stylus
The Japanese company JICO still makes high-quality stylii using diamonds polished by the Namiki company.


 * 4. a new JICO-brand ATN14-compatible bonded shibata stylus
 * Example: $144 direct from JICO's website at stylus.export-japan.com
 * Example: $118 from turntableneedles.com

I would not buy one of these secondhand, since they can be ordered brand-new. My understanding, from their website, is that they make them to-order.

Third-best: any other ATN14-compatible bonded shibata stylus
If you just do a web or eBay search for ATN14, you can find aftermarket replacement options, although some vendors are perpetually sold out (they just want you to visit their website).

Beware of deceptive ads for ATN14-compatible stylii. The tip must shibata, not elliptical. Some ads will say stylus is ATN14 or ATN14-compatible, and the price may be very nice, but in the fine print they say the tip is elliptical. Elliptical doesn't necessarily mean trash, but why risk it? The point of these DR500LC, LS500, and AT14Sa cartridges was to use non-elliptical stylii for their excellent high-frequency response and lower tracing distortion; these characteristics are necessary for quad LP playback, and nice to have for stereo LPs.


 * 5. a new ATN14-compatible bonded shibata stylus
 * Example: ~$74 on eBay

IMHO, don't pay more than $80 for one of these, and I wouldn't bother with one that has been used.

Best alternatives
If keeping your old cartridge alive is not in the cards, you could invest in a good, brand-new microline or elliptical stylus and cartridge combo. These are very highly rated:

Audio Technica AT440MLa cartridge & microline stylus
These are still made and are highly rated. I've heard rips people have done with these, and the sound is quite nice. I haven't tried one myself.


 * Best price I found: $188 on Amazon

Shure M97xE cartridge & elliptical stylus
The M97xE runs about $70 new (try Amazon or B&H Photo), and it comes with its own N97xE stylus. This is an extremely popular option because it's so affordable and sounds very good. I have two of these and am happy with their sound, although they weren't quite as impressive as my DR500LC + ATN14-compatible.

The N97xE stylus runs $44 to $50 by itself. Don't pay more than $70, obviously, because you could buy the cartridge with it for the same price!

Even more highly rated than the stock N97xE stylus is JICO's SAS replacement stylus.


 * Example: ~$167 direct from JICO
 * Example: ~$179 from lpgear.com

This price is just for the replacement stylus!

I haven't tried the JICO SAS N97xE myself, because it's not cheap, but it's supposedly comparable to the much acclaimed Shure V-15, which is no longer made but is generally considered the best of the Shure line.

Stanton Groovemaster II RM
Two pieces of advice:
 * Stay away from Stanton.
 * Don't use "DJ" cartridges/stylii for home listening.

If your turntable is experiencing a lot of vibration due to massive bass bins at a rave or in a noisy club, then you do want a "DJ" stylus that performs well with a high tracking force. And if you are a hip-hop DJ doing a lot of scratching and back-cueing, you also want the heavier construction that a "DJ" stylus offers, like a cantilever that can handle the backward motion.

Thinking I might still play out sometimes, I bought a pair of Groovemaster IIs when I got my Technics SL1200M3D turntables back in 2000. The sound was fine at first, but within weeks of ordinary use at home, they were shot, with terrible distortion. I can only guess that they were poorly made. I read somewhere that sudden stylus death can be a result of poor mounting, like the diamond tip actually rotates a bit...don't know if that's really true, though, or if it's what happened to me. All I can say is I was pretty disappointed in the Groovemasters.

And they're not adjustable at all, as you can see by looking at them. They're meant to be no-brainer plug-'n'-play options for DJs. They look cool, but that's about it. When I switched to using the Shure M97xE, I was amazed at the improvement in sound.

However, the one good thing about the DJ cartridges I've tried is that they all plow right through dust and dirt in the groove; you won't hear nearly as much noise with them as you will with the audiophile cartridges & stylii, at least the ones I've tried.