Matching Cartridges to Vintage Turntables

aprazer402

I need your help matching cartridges to turntables. I have the following turntables: Denon DP-47F, Denon DP-37F, a first version Pioneer PL-550 manual TT with wood base, Sansui SR-838, Sony PS-X70, Technics SL-5200 and Technics SL-Q2. I have two new unopened cartridges I bought a couple of years ago, a Denon DL-160 and a Audio-Technica MLa-440. I also have two Ortofon X3-MC, both with bent styluses. I read previously where Soundsmith will re-tip the X3-MC, not sure if that’s a good option, might be cost prohibitive. I still have two original Stanton 681EEE cartridges from the late 70’s that would need new styluses as well. I’ve read there are several different selections for those 681EEE styluses, some are better than others. Right now just looking for a good match with the two new carts. I would probably put these two on the Sony PS-X70 and the Sansui SR-838. Which of my two new cartridges would work best? All tables have the stock tonearms. Thanks.

nooshinjohn

Cant help here as I have zero experience with the gear you listed, but damn dude do you have a lot of gear. Some picks and a list might be helpful so the rest of us can drool...

aprazer402

I will be glad to post pics when all are up and running. My avatar photo (taken today) shows my actual SDA SRS 1.2TL's resting comfortably in their original boxes on my family room floor. I bought them local a couple of years ago locally from the original owner, he even delivered them free. Can't beat that with a stick.

MrBuhl

I also don't have experience with your gear but that Denon 160 is supposed to be pretty nice, wish I could have one sitting around unused for a couple years!

skrol

I also have several cartridges to choose from that I would use on a Pioneer PL-530. I just picked up a few headshells and plan to give each a try to see what works best. In your case I imagine that you would like to have an idea ahead of spending coin for new stylus. I have always heard good things about the Denon and have recently been looking at the Stanton 681EEE as a possibility. I have a Stanton P-mount that I use on a Technics linear tracking TT and it sounds great.

aprazer402

Thanks Stan. I would really like to get the Technic SL-5200 going with a new cart. too, after the Sansui SR-838 and the Sony PS-X70. The Technics has an old burgundy Empire cart. on it with a small nub of a tip left. I'd like to maybe try a low-end Grado on it, but have read of hum on some DD TT's with the Grado budget Prestige line. I could try it there and if it hums I could put it on the Denon DP-37F, but that's a DD TT also.

nooshinjohn

Very true Mike... How have you been anyway?

aprazer402

So these are my two new cartridges and old turntables. Which table would either of the two new cartridges, the Denon DL-160 or AT-440MLa, possibly work better on? Or would it not even make a difference? Better choices out there? It's been a very long time since I've installed one and can't remember all the compliance lingo. Both cartridges are fairly light weight. I know there are analog guys out there. Thank you all again as I was very glad to have a received such a warm welcome here yesterday.

aprazer402

Sorry, new kid here. I'm trying to post photos so they show in the body of a post rather than showing only as attachments. I read mrh's reply to a post in the Testing section. It says the photos could also come from a web site like Flickr. I originally just added them from the PC. But I think the reason they were not showing in the body is that after I uploaded them, I deleted all the URL's that were created in the body by Vanilla after I uploaded each one so I could type here. Hope this works, I'll try from the PC again. I tried to copy an URL from Flickr and inserted it into the bottom line of the pull down for images but it did not load (waited 30 seconds), it was only a 147KB photo. So I tried to upload the same photos again from my PC and it said they are already in the discussion and will not be uploaded. So I'll just try and add one different photo to see if it works. I think I figured it out, leave the URL in the body and type above it. Thanks.

skrol

He said cartridge not carperage!

aprazer402

Stan, I know you were making a pun. To others it's "not a carp", small walleye being filleted. Old photo, poor camera, poor thing looks pale. But very tasty. Small fish is a Northern Pike aka "hammer handles". Too small for me to keep. Need about a 4lb. minimum one in order to get the Y-bones out nice and neat and waste not any meat. From NW MN about 2006.

gudnoyez

Lots of nice tables you got there. Where at in North West MN? Grew up North of Brainerd and have Freinds and family in Park Rapids, Bemidji, Pretty much all over the North Woods.

aprazer402

Thanks on the TT comment, I need to get back into playing more vinyl. I believe that fish photo was at Dead Lake, near Dent, MN fished there for years. I really like that lake, it's nice that there are very few residences around it compared to many of the others, almost feels like Canada. We also went a few years ago to Lake Marion nearby, I did not that as much, no coves, too open. Then one of our group member's sons bought a very nice large home on an acreage right on Lake Alexander just west of Camp Ripley south and east of the other two lakes. I've only fished this lake twice and want to go back again this summer. This lake supposedly has Muskie. It would be nice to land one of them, I would photo it and release it. Love to crappie fish.

gudnoyez

Camp Ripley, Little Falls, old stomping grounds, are you from Minnesota? If you like to Muskie Fish my Sister has a resort in Nevis Minnesota on Mantrap lake probably one of the best Muskie Lakes in Minnesota very secluded lake and full of Muskie.

aprazer402

I'm from Nebraska. I just really enjoy fishing, relaxing away from it all, maybe a couple of times a year up north. I never caught a Muskie yet. Lake Alexander would be the first lake I fished in MN recently that supposedly has them. It takes patience and hours, would be different if I had all summer. When I was young our families went to Birch Lake near Hackensack, MN in the early 1960's, good Crappie fishing then. One of the older guys in our group, since deceased, he actually had a heart attack about 6-7 years ago at Dead Lake and died in a Fargo hospital a day later. He always said his father ran a resort on Little Mantrap in the 1940's.

gudnoyez

http://www.fremontspoint.com/

Here is my sisters place the original cabin is a state landmark and the original owners were from Omaha Nebraska small world isn't it. The fish of a thousand casts, every one that rents cabins there are after the elusive Muskie. If you look through the pictures you will see plenty of muskies and my sister is the one holding up that big bass on the end of the dock I get up in that area a couple of times a year I was in Hackensack last November. Good audio gear and fishing don't get much better.

aprazer402

Your sister has a lovely place, she should be very proud. It looks very undeveloped there too, nice. I'm not ready (or willing) for 1,000 casts, but we know the way enthusiasts of anything (audio, cars, boats...) are, we're on a mission. And there's nothing wrong with that at all, life is too short. On a hot summer day fishing for panfish around reeds in middle of the lake, sipping a beer, whack to my line. What I battle, we did not weight it but it was a good seven-eight pounds around 18" long. A dogfish.... ugliest looking thing with a mouthful of tiny razor-sharp teeth. Heck of a fight. Put it right back were I found it.