Anyone Using Vintage Phono Cartridges?

A few that get trotted out here now and again: Stanton 981ee, AT-13ea (presently in the loft system), Shure V-15III, Empire 7000z. The AT does a pretty decent imitation of a modern cart, the others have a vintage sort of sound of one sort or another that pairs with my 70s rock collection.
 
fiddlefye;n28425 said:
A few that get trotted out here now and again: Stanton 981ee, AT-13ea (presently in the loft system), Shure V-15III, Empire 7000z. The AT does a pretty decent imitation of a modern cart, the others have a vintage sort of sound of one sort or another that pairs with my 70s rock collection.

I really like my original V15.

Because I'm a luddite ( ;) ), the V15III-G has always been my preferred version of the III.
 
Messing with the Technics table recently and tried the M91ED good original stylus not the heavy later model, the AT15SA, Stanton 680EE and a last listen to the B&O MMC4. Sometimes I have too many cartridges and the 4 went to an RX-2 to bring it back to life. Gotta keep old gear working.
 
Prime Minister;n18361 said:
Considering how cartridges have rubber parts that like to get old and hard, and awfully tiny wires, and considering how many wonderful new cartridge are available, I guess I am missing the appeal.

For me the joy comes in finding something interesting at little or no cost. The only one of my "classic" carts that cost me anything is the Ortophon MC-20 Super and that cost me a total of about $20.
 
The appeal to me has simply been that many of the older MM carts I've tried, have been as good or better than newer MM carts I've tried. My Shure V-15vmr was simply more musically entertaining than my AT-150mlx, for example. The Signet TK-5se that I put an AT line contact stylus on sounds as good or better than the AT-150 as well, and it didn't cost me anything...I was given both the cart body and the stylus at separate times. It's good cheap fun. Which is refreshing to me, given how much fun usually costs in this hobby.
 
Bumping again! Recently discovered an Empire 108 and 888 in an antique store and am now intrigued by vintage mm. Can you elaborate a bit on the 108 and m3d?

Some will find their sound quite dated.

However, they match up nicely with my Jazz and Classical records from the 1950s and 1960s.

Big sound. Solid low end. Not the last word in HF extension or detail.

Overall, a musical sound.

Low compliance so use a high mass arm.

Fun cartridges, but I'd rather listen to my DL103. ;)

Just my opinion. :)
 
If you don't like 70's cartridges. you don't like LPs. Sorry, it's just that simple. You don't get to pick and choose your poison. It's just that simple. It's of it's time.

Ray
 
If you don't like 70's cartridges. you don't like LPs. Sorry, it's just that simple. You don't get to pick and choose your poison. It's just that simple. It's of it's time.

Ray
Anyone have suggestions for my late 70's Luxman ? The arm seems to be in the spot between low and medium mass.
 
I was visiting the family over Thanksgiving and my dad handed me a Dual-branded NOS/in-box Shure M91ed he'd picked up at a thrift store in Amish country for $3. I'll give it a whirl sometime over the holidays if I'm ever home long enough. I think I have another M91 body somewhere but I've never heard it, as I've never had a stylus for it. I've never heard an elliptical cart that I've loved, but I'm keeping an open mind... and am not sure what I'd use it on long term but that's why God made switchable headshells.
 
I was visiting the family over Thanksgiving and my dad handed me a Dual-branded NOS/in-box Shure M91ed he'd picked up at a thrift store in Amish country for $3. I'll give it a whirl sometime over the holidays if I'm ever home long enough. I think I have another M91 body somewhere but I've never heard it, as I've never had a stylus for it. I've never heard an elliptical cart that I've loved, but I'm keeping an open mind... and am not sure what I'd use it on long term but that's why God made switchable headshells.

The M91ED was my first "real" phono cartridge. :)
 
I was visiting the family over Thanksgiving and my dad handed me a Dual-branded NOS/in-box Shure M91ed he'd picked up at a thrift store in Amish country for $3. I'll give it a whirl sometime over the holidays if I'm ever home long enough. I think I have another M91 body somewhere but I've never heard it, as I've never had a stylus for it. I've never heard an elliptical cart that I've loved, but I'm keeping an open mind... and am not sure what I'd use it on long term but that's why God made switchable headshells.
Shure M-91 - the sound of the 70s. I have one, but have never heard it. I'm thinking I might mount it on the back arm now and again just for a bit of nostalgia should the mood strike. To be honest it was never a sound I was crazy about.
 
I have a Signet tk7su with an AT20ss stylus on a TD160, a Sure v15rs on a new model Planar 3, a Stanton 681eee on a sl1200 on loan to my father in law, a Pickering xv15 1200e on another sl1200 on loan to my brother in law, and an Audioquest aq-t5 homc on a JVC ql-y66f.

They are all pretty good performers but my Rega Ania/Planar 6 easily outperforms them. Maybe it’s the cart or more likely synergy with the arm/table seeing as they were designed to work together.
 
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