Turntable stylus vs cartridge reddit.
68K subscribers in the turntables community.
Turntable stylus vs cartridge reddit. OM20 - stylus upgrade around 200 bucks.
Turntable stylus vs cartridge reddit If you must get the T1 for some reason then you can upgrade just the stylus to the OM10 stylus that is just as good as changing cartridges to the 2M Red cartridge and you wouldn't need to do a cartridge alignment with just the stylus upgrade. To me, that sounded like it could be important. 5g which covers about everything. Unfortunately end of the road for upgrades. Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now Ortofon cartridge vs stylus . I currently own an OM-10 and im due to a change. It could even be a cheaper cartridge that perhaps wouldn't sound like a complete downgrade. Have an RT80 and deciding whether to upgrade to the VM95E cartridge, or just replace the conical stylus on the AT91 cart with an elliptical one. Generally Nagaoka prices go up and up! Good choice of cartridge! Happy listening! Yes to the first question. My Technics SL 2000 is equipped with a Audio Technica AT91 cartridge of which the stylus is broken. Measurably, no. Use the stylus and cartridge the turntable includes then when the stylus wears out and it's time to replace it consider an The stylus they matched is for the AT112EP cartridge, ATN112EP. There are benefits and MC cartridges can sound great but investment in turntable and preamp makes them “next level” really, with possibly mediocre results vs MM. Oct 22, 2023 · In summary, whether to replace the cartridge or just the stylus depends on the condition of your components, your budget, your audio goals, and the compatibility between your turntable and the replacement components. your Shure cartridge has an elliptical stylus and a fair amount of channel separation at 25dB. I have many stylii for it including the white ATN3600L (carbon cantilever) the red ATN91 (carbon cantilever) and the also red ATN91R (aluminium cantilever). There is no hard and fast rule that once a force is crossed it'll start damaging records. The cartridge is a Shure HA95E which takes the N104E stylus. It’s in a very good condition, except for the cover and the stylus of the P33 cartridge missing. But then there are far too many options and I'm stymied. 7 mil conical. I tried a piece of magic eraser when I replaced my stylus with a ortofon 2mm blue and started noticing it didn't really remove the dust as well as the brush did. Most of the rest of the cartridge can be made by machines, but the stylus requires microscopic precision and quality control which is still labour If you are already thinking about upgrading the cartridge and stylus on a turntable you don't even have yet then consider using the stylus or cartridge upgrade budget to start with a better turntable than the AT-LP120X. Pass on Get the RT85 and then get a Nagaoka MP-110H cartridge and headshell combo, or just the MP-110 and another Fluance headshell. Having said that I do have a Denon DL103 which I enjoy but I’ve spent more money on preamps than the cartridge. Looking for recommendations regarding upgrading cartridges or stylus. As for other cartridges pretty much anything goes, but get them with headshells (either as a combo or order a headshell along with the cartridge) and learn how to properly align a cartridge. Or a common solution is to have a 2nd turntable for playing 78s. However, if you swapped that out for an elliptical stylus thats meant to track at a gram or two without adjusting the tracking force, then you might start having issues The build quality on those older direct drive turntables is unmatched at the price range and the right model will easily hold up against a new turntable in the $1k+ range. I don't want to throw away this cart, since I basically got it for free and I'm interested on listening how it sounds compared to my two other carts. If you've had it for awhile it may be time to replace it. When it first happened to mine in the middle of this year I thought the suspension in the stylus was going bad, so I got a new stylus but kept the old one. At $80-95, I’m wondering if I should go this route or buy a different cartridge. 25 grams which is the standard. Especially since there are now more advanced styli shapes available. You can then use the cartridge models listed there to find other stylus options. The OM10 body can be upgraded with the Stylus 20 (nude elliptical, equivalent to the Blue), 30 (nude fine line, equivalent to the Bronze), or 40 (an exotic FG70 type stylus, more advanced than the Black which uses a Shibata tip). The basic cartridge is very similar across the Z1/MD1025 line (it is different from the earlier Z1 shibata cart/stylus combo designed for CD4 playback). I am interested in a decent cart that is durable - it does not need to be the 2M Black. The RT82’s OM cartridge can accept the OM10, OM20, OM30, or OM40 styli. I bought a new stylus and that fixed my problem. Dead giveaway was me playing records I know are pretty quiet and hearing noise I didn't usually hear. It has been a tank with solid sound and I didn’t think it needed anything. Post by themisto462 » 15 Nov 2018 10:39 I think that, since the new AT-VM cartridges were introduced, many of the owners of the AT95E would like to know, whether it is possible to upgrade their cartridge with a new stylus of the VM95 series. The RT83, RT84, and RT85’s 2M cartridge can accept the 2M Red, 2M Blue, 2M Bronze, or 2M Black styli. The 1E is a half in standard mount cartridge that fits on better turntables with half in standard mount head shells. A lot of people love the blue and has an upgraded cartridge over the OM series. A bunch of people here have told me to go with the AT-VM95ML, so that's what I'm going with. Nice setup. My turntable: A Music Hall mmf-2. Very lightweight and high compliance. Also, stylus changes on the VM95 line are super easy so you could get a cheaper stylus for some genres and keep the ML stylus for when you really want the detail. . I am not looking for a massive upgrade so wouldn't like to spend more than £100. I have both the MicroLine and the Shibata from this series. Look it up. I currently have a T4P cartridge on it with a cheapie Amazon special stylus that claims to be diamond tipped, . Then also a phono stage preamp upgrade to a Pluto 2 $99 to get more out of the stylus upgrade. I am currently running a Hitachi DM cartridge (also have a shure m72B on a different head) on my Hitachi PS-58 turntable. Tracking force is all dependent on the cartridge/stylus. Best with a low or medium mass tonearm. I think a Nagaoka stylus can go 1000 hours (ballpark estimate) with no problem. The Reddit poster put a VMN40ML stylus on his AT440MLA cartridge, and it sounded bad. I took the ellipse because I wanted to make sure I liked the soundscape. I understand that I may not be able to buy an OEM replacement once that needs to be replaced because of inventory. That's some very key information you left out. It has a OM-10 on it and I was curious if it was better to replace the stylus ($79) or just buy the 2M Red for $99? If getting the Pluto preamp, ideally external outside of the turntable. Since all three have the exact same conical tip I thought they would sound exactly the same or that the one with the aluminium cantilever would sound a bit 68K subscribers in the turntables community. 5-2. Started with a pro-ject audio stylus brush with my turntable. With that very good setup spending more than $200 for a cartridge on a $400 turntable you may as well upgrade the turntable which may already have an upgraded cartridge. If it is the stylus, is there an advantage to replacing the entire cartridge rather than just the stylus? Buy an AT-VM95C cartridge, buy an AT-VM95ML stylus for it, and buy an AT-VM95ML cartridge and compare the two cartridges. It's essentially a matter of taste and of which cartridge generator you prefer and is better matched with your tonearm. The AT has stylus upgrade options. If you want a nicer turntable with a solid MDF plinth and an upgraded cartridge: I have only replaced the stylus on the cartridge that came with my table as not to mess the alignment up, and if I get a new cartridge I will likely buy a second headshell to make sure I have an aligned back up cart. Some track at higher forces but most P mount turntables without adjustments have the force set to 1. I don’t know if it’s the actual cartridge itself, or the stylus itself that is crappy, but the needle on this thing has gotten bent and broken each time after a few weeks. The closest current Ortofon to the VMS 30 is the 2M Bronze, but of course the styluses are not compatible between the two. I’m currently looking at 4500AME from the same manufacturer. If you just want the stylus from the AT-VM95 series, you add an N to the name after the M, so the ML without the cartridge would be the AT-VMN95ML. Am up for chaning just stylus or both stylus and cartridge but want the best combo for that amount. I’m open to suggestions and can spend up to $200 on a cartridge with stylus. Given the problems you mentioned about the turntable itself and your anxiety about the cartridge, I'd say give the whole thing a pass. Replace the stylus and have fun. And its stock cartridge, the OM 5E, is worse than what comes on the A-T or the Fluance. If you are going spend more than $150 on a stylus or cartridge upgrade then you may also want to upgrade the speakers to get the most out of the upgrade since speaker often make the most difference in sound quality improvement. It's the same with the Ortofon 2M Red / 2M Blue / 2M Bronze / 2M Black series. 2M carts are a more modern cartridge design that weigh a lot more and are slightly lower compliance. So it will not damage your records -- at least not any more than any other turntable does. I read the P-mount it has is not desirable because of the lack of available cartridges… however, I found it’s still a long list I don’t know what to choose from. OR this model for a new budget cartridge (I have a 1/2" mount headshell): AT85EP. 0 as should be/instructed. an older turntable can perform just as well, if not better, than a new ones depending on the quality of manufacture. The MT100E cartridge and RS-85 replacement stylus (RS = Replacement Stylus perhaps?) might be an Akai-specific OEM model; we made hundreds of 'private label' variations of standard cartridges for all the different turntable manufacturers. This was the only cartridge/stylus combo I had on hand that I knew was in good shape, so it’s been what I’ve been using. Fluance RT82 has the OM10 elliptical stylus. I have replaced the needle of course, it's ATN91 which has a conical stylus. Stylus profiles across both ranges are, I believe, the same. Suggestions on suitable replacements for this cartridge would be appreciated. Get the Reddit app Stanton generic stylus vs. I'd stay away from Orto generally there are better performing cartridges. The specs on that stylus look good. Or get a turntable with a removable head shell so you can just swap head shells, a cart with a 33/45 stylus and a cart with a 78 stylus. Not until you upgrade your speakers. You could pick up the the Conical (C) with the cartridge and just buy the ML stylus on its own and swap them out or vice versa. One thing to look for - if your turntable doesn't have a tracking force adjustment then you'd likely want to stick with P mount cartridges that track at 1. I want to get a new stylus/cartridge for my AT lp120xusb. To fit on your current cartridge, yes. Not that the assembly isn't fragile, it is, but a diamond tracking thru a vinyl record in poor shape won't be hurt. I listen to records daily and I've had the turntable for 7 years. I have a Nikko TRM-600 amp with Micca MB42X speakers. Cartridges come and go. It's a very fine turntable with great price/performance, but once you get to AT-VM95 with a N/ML/S stylus - you can just go to a better turntable. I have a 681 which I'm still waiting on a replacement Pfansteihl stylus to show up in the mail for, so this particular model is pretty fresh in my working It’s my go-to cartridge for most thrift store turntables that have older cartridges not worth reusing. Diamond vs vinyl? Diamond wins, every time :) Hello, I’m hoping to get some insight on what cartridge to compliment a VM95SH as I have acquired a 2nd turntable that comes with same cartridge. That last consideration is matching Tonarms mass with the right cartridge. The OM is an older style cartridge. Just swapping out my 2M Red stylus for the Blue could maximize my investment. Yes, the boron cantilever is part of the stylus. It's the same with the Goldring 1000 and 2000 series. cartridge replacement? Hello everyone! So, I have a Pioneer PL-335A turntable that probably still has the original cartridge. Great speakers! Instead of the cartridge upgrade a Pro-ject Debut Carbon EVO or look for a good $300 vintage turntable that compares to new turntables costing twice as much. Both tables are good performers and the cartridge does dictate a good portion of what you hear. The Pro-ject has the ability to become a really good table with it's upgrade options. For cartridges the Nagaoka MP line and Audio Technica's VM line are very good deals for the price. Thanks for the suggestion. Recent years records are sounding a bit more scratchy (maybe consistent light popping is a better word) and I saw a post where you all recommended a new cartridge and stylus. And it can be I should mention that I've heard the cartridges that come with the ML cartridge/stylus package are made in Japan, and the E is made in China can't confirm or deny this, but some people say the ML cart sounds better than the E cart. Turntable noobie here… it possible to “hot rod” the soundburger by installing a better cartridge / tone arm components or should I just get a 1:1 replacement stylus and accept it ? Share Add a Comment It has an at71 cartridge. In your opinions, which would be the better move? Sep 1, 2023 · I can upgrade the TC4000 from turntable needles for around 220 bucks. Yes, I have a Z1EB; it was standard on some very nice JVC turntables like the QL-Y3 and QL-Y5; the latter is what I use mine on. Stylus would sit a little forward of 90 degrees at 1. The adapter looks like this (the black bit the cartridge mounting screws go through): This came up recently on Reddit. Unknown Generic. Though yeah the Denon may be a bit better choice of the 2 options and it would be better to put any money towards a significant stylus upgrade towards a better turntable. Sure, I've bought about a thousand second hand. As a newbie, is it safe to assume that cartridges and styluses (stylii?) are 1:1 compatible? Or does it vary? I noticed Shark had suggested an LP gear OM20-replacement stylus for someone who broke their OM-10 on an RT-82. The cartridge is not removable on the Sony PS-LX310BT, it's fixed to the tonearm, same as on the AT-LP60X. Would you suggest that the 95ML is “overkill” due to “tonearm sensitivity”? AT-LPW30TK includes a stock conical tip stylus on the upgraded AT cartridge that also has stylus upgrades to E elliptical tip or EN or ML. Fluance RT82 here with an OM-10 cart and stylus. It’s a sidegrade with both pros and cons compared to the A-T, not an upgrade. It was the cartridge that was on the turntable when I had it shipped. AT-LP3XBT you can easily upgrade to the E elliptical stylus. If the cartridge is mounted via two screws to a plastic piece that is then attached to the headshell via that center screw, you have the 1/2" adapter. You accuse the LP60 of causing "accelerated groove damage" -- despite lacking any documented proof of it -- and skipping on perfectly good records, and then tell the OP to buy a turntable with the same cartridge and stylus as the LP60, same non-easily-adjustable tracking force, same non-adjustable anti-skating, and similar reports of problems with skipping on perfectly good records. Stylus compatibility AT95E / AT-VM95. Jan 30, 2009 · It has an Audio Technica AT-11 cartridge (ATS-11 stylus) which is what came with these turntables, so it's probably original but I'm not positive on that. The Black uses a Shibata stylus which (due to its very narrow shape) contacts the groove in a very different way if Well, doorbell rings right as I'm cleaning my stylus with a stylus brush, startles me because it's a pretty foreign sound to me, I jump a little and in the process jam the brush back into the stylus bending the cantilever. I have an old AT3601 cartridge. To put it into perspective, the difference between the 2M Blue and the 2M Bronze is the stylus profile and the wiring used in the cartridge body. Anyone know if I would notice much difference between these options? My two cents: When I first started getting into turntables I would just use whatever vintage cartridges came with the turntable and swap them out as I bought/sold more vintage turntables. Thanks in advance. Plenty of fantastic p-mount cartridges out there, but you don’t need to use one. It really depends on what turntable you have. OM20 - stylus upgrade around 200 bucks. The Rega Carbon is a fine cartridge as a bundle with the Rega turntables. The cartridge and stylus (like most) are moving magnet types (as opposed to moving coil). 3. The cartridge is an AT33ML MC, which seems to be pretty well regarded. JBL studio 530 speakers with an Onkyo TX-8220 AVR. NOS pop up on eBay from time to time but you'll probably pay around $200+ for one. 76K subscribers in the turntables community. But, should I just get the vm95ml stylus or should I get the vmn95ml cartridge? So, I'm looking at these options for the D71EE stylus replacement: Pickering DTL-1. With similar quailty stylus they will sound similar enough. The cartridge (along with its attached stylus) is the part of the turntable that actually tracks the record and generates sound. The rabbit hole of turntables/audiophile, of course, has led me to considering getting a new cartridge. Currently looking at the following carts but open to other suggestions as well. It’s highly likely you can only upgrade within the Ortofon OM series of cartridges. That one was fine. However, LP Gear's "OM20 Improved Replacement Stylus" goes for around $109. No. That means you could just pop on the Audio-Technica VMN95EN stylus (A-T's equivalent to the 2M Blue, a nude elliptical model) and get equivalent quality for less money. If you end up liking the LPW50 or LPW40 buying a 2M Blue is not a smart path with those, because they include an Audio-Technica VM95 cartridge. The turntable is the thing to judge. This is my first turntable and im a complete beginner. 5g is fine for the 3600L. If you are going to be spending $1,000 for a cartridge, Grace F9 is probably the most amazing Moving Magnet cartridge you'll put your ears on. Already have an AT-VM95 with the ML stylus, great cartridge. The 740ML is an excellent cartridge and in that case the ML stylus is way superior over the EN stylus on the MCi have no idea why people always assume the MC has to sound better than a MM, especially when there is a top stylus on the MM. It goes back in the reverse of how it comes off. Or get the better value Fluance RT82 that includes the cue lever, adds adjustable anti-skate, adds auto stop, adds an optical sensor speed controlled motor for lower wow and flutter and includes the OM10 cartridge which is just as good as the newer version 2M Red. They’ll be easier to pair with a wider variety of tonearms. If you look at the item page you will find an Applications section where it tells you what other cartridge this stylus fits. Got the Onzow a few years ago. I currently have a generic cheap conical stylus in it. Thanks! The Audio Technica AT3600 and AT-VM95E are decent inexpensive carts that would likely work well. Replacing stylus vs cartridge for Technics SL-DD22 Hello everyone, I recently bought a Technics SL-DD22 with a broken needle on its p-mount cartridge. Any suggested buys, preferably in fast shipping and amazon? Both the styluses you link are substantial downgrades from the VMS30 mkII stylus, which has a fine line nude stylus. The turntable manual for the 1012 isn't very helpful, it just recommends 1. I’d just replace the stylus for the M44-7 with a JICO aftermarket one and get the VM95 and a second headshell, that way you can compare the two for yourself. It's all marketing bullshit. What the title says! Looking to upgrade my OM10 cartridge with an OM20 stylus- Ortofon branded, the OM20 costs about $200. Should I try to find a replacement stylus for the cartridge on it (AT PT600, apparently part of 3472 series), or should I just replace it with a new cartridge, something like AT85EP? Pro Ject P1. I got a technics sl-b500 recently and im having trouble finding an affordable p mount cartridge or stylus for the VS215EP cartridge. I found on my own system (LP120X, Arcam AVR300, Tannoy vintage speakers) that switching the stylus on the VM95E to the VMN95ML made a bigger improvement than switching from the turntable’s built in phono stage to a Rega Fono Mini a2d. Audio Technica does it, too. Replace stylus on Ortofon OM-10 or buy 2M Red Cartridge? Managed to snag a Pro-ject Essential 3 off Facebook marketplace for 50 bucks today with a missing needle from the stylus. My old premium cartridge was an ADC TRX-1 with induced magnet and a line contact but that one started to lose it after decades of loyalty. I am looking for recommendations on fixing this. This would cause the bass to get louder and boomier and the midrange to be reduced. Reply reply I recently got a Pioneer turntable that has a Shure M91ED cartridge with a Shure 3X stylus on it. That stylus is most likely a diamond. The anti-skate and counter weight are both set to 2. The $150 Edifier R1280 speakers are the sound quailty bottleneck to the $350 turntable, it's not the E stylus. 2 with a broken belt and a cooked stylus. it was ok for a while until i bent my cantilever with it. I was always chasing down aftermarket styli and reading reviews about Swiss vs Japanese, EVG or JICO decoding origins based on paint dots on the cantilever. 75g, until I broke it accidentally. 55 votes, 44 comments. The Bronze is a nude line contact stylus that isn’t too dissimilar to the ML stylus used by AT on the VM95 line. I'm looking at spending roughly 50 for a bliss elliptical stylus. To your point about the cartridges, he’s willing to sell the system no cartridge for $500 and add the DM 103 M-E for an extra $50 with the n91 stylus. old or new, a decent cartridge is a wise investment. Maybe try the warm MP-110 instead of another 2M stylus. And afaik the stylus is interchangeable between all of them, so you could just get a replacemebt stylus higher in the model range and not need to replace the entire cartridge. The Audio-Technica cartridges all use the same body and the stylus can be replaced/upgraded very easily. This is the best advice: Don't invest in a new cartridge, not on that table. I am looking for a replacement stylus/ cartridge for my Audio Technica LP120XUSB that currently has the stock setup - AT-VM95E. Or the EN elliptical nude stylus may be at least a bit better than the OM10 stylus. AT-LP3XBT has a good ATVMN95C conical stylus. I'm looking at the Black Diamond OM stylus, nude elliptical. Sounds great but would like to explore an upgrade. It works great for me So figure 150-200 hours for a MP-110 stylus where, if properly cared for and properly aligned, you can figure on 800-1000 out of the VM95ML's stylus. Swap between then depending on the music and what you like. You're looking at at least a new stylus ($40) or cartridge ($50-170), plus now the seller reveals something is wrong with the turntable itself. We will also look at the reasons to improve one of these components over the other, in case you do not have the budget to replace them both. 25 grams I appreciate and agree with the analogy haha. I have Audio Technica LP3 with AT91R cartridge and it seems like it only fits ATN91R stylus which is nowhere to be found, at least nowhere where I can get it, so it seems like a cheaper option to finde nice affordable cartridge that fits wide range of styluses I'm in desperate need of a new stylus, at a minimum. Easy to do and cheapest option, but not sure sound quality is as good as the other options. I’ve observed that the VM95C sounds just as clear as the M44g, at 1/3 the cost. AT does NOT list the VMN40ML as compatible with the AT440MLA cartridge, even though they redirect to it, and it is mentioned in the Q&A, where they cite LP Gear as a source for the AT440MLA replacement stylus. That is almost three years at one hour a day. The cartridge and stylus that are currently in it are a Pickering XSV 3000 and D3000 respectively. What would make most sense? I’m looking to replace my shibata D1800S stylus (pickering xv15 cartridge) with a new one from the same price category. If the cartridge is mounted to the headshell with a single screw, you have the original ULM-55e with no adapter. So I guess my main questions is- are LP Gear's in-house stylus replacements good or up to par wit Ort's? You’re right on. The Blue uses an elliptical stylus which will tolerate some amount of alignment imperfection without giving you obvious tracking errors. is the stylus the most expensive part of production? Yes. I want to swap out the stylus since I have no idea how old and worn it is, but I'm not sure what options would be best for this particular setup. it does look like, IMO, a lot of new turntable are of dubious build quality. I bought this Technics SL-QD33 to replace my Audio Technica LP60XBT. I also need to get a DAC. The difference in the bodies of the 110 vs the 200 is that the 200 body is made from a harder plastic than the 110, and the 200 has a dual lamination magnetic circuit vs a single lamination magnetic circuit on the 110. Not sure what stylus is mounted on it, but if you have a "Stereohedron" needle, you're in luck. The good thing is there are several levels of performance above the stock OM5E. You have a 1/2” mount arm, but the cartridge is a p-mount with adapter. Thanks! I just purchased a Marantz 6150 turntable that has a broken stylus. 2 Receiver: Onkyo something, Pre-amp: Cambridge audio, speakers: klipsch bookshelf I’m sorry , you are right. If you’ve never aligned a cartridge before, I’d recommend just swapping out the stylus on the assumption that somebody in the past had already properly aligned that cartridge. Grado Timbre Series is stunning, for $400-$1,000 gives you several options that you'd love having around. The Debut III or Debut Carbon or Debut Carbon EVO are the better Project turntables to buy. Advice: Buy a replacement stylus for the MP-110 now, anyway. A replacement stylus for the cartridge that’s on there seems to run anywhere between $40-$70US, a lot cheaper than the VM95ML/SH. Do you have any experience or thoughts on that specific cartridge or recommend something better for the price? How long have you had the stylus? I just replaced my stylus after two years because I was getting more noise than usual. As you can see I, while trying to dust off my turntable, accidentally kicked a tonearm, stylus fell onto the platter and naw it is bent. It's a decent price and I was wondering how it compares to the stylus 10, 20 or even 30? Any owners? I'm also planning to pick up a Super OM, for further enhancing the sound quality. Let's talk about turntables. Dec 31, 2023 · We are going to compare the turntable stylus vs cartridge below, to clear up any confusion once and for all. I bought the VM520EB a while ago for my Technics SL-D3. I've been thinking of replacing the current old cartridge with a new AT95E cartridge which has an elliptical stylus. They recently released an "upgraded" version of their RT81 model, the RT81+, which has three screw feet for balancing, an acrylic mat instead of a rubber mat, and a different cartridge: the RT81 has an AT95E Elliptical Stylus, and the RT81+ has an AT-VM95E Elliptical Stylus. By all accounts this is a very good cartridge, but I'm sure my stylus is somewhat worn out as I've been listening to this turntable for a couple years now and I don't know when it was last replaced, if ever. It's a nice, advanced stylus shape something like a shibata which should perform quite well. I've tried aligning the cartridge to no avail. I am really impressed with the Harman phonostage, but I do like the idea of trying a tube amp. Wrong. I personally bought the ML package and an E stylus on its own to swap out. If things are working well and you get the itch both have upgrade styluses that would allow you to get better sound without having to buy a whole new cart. But the Sumiko cartridges are really good and better balanced IMO vs the slightly forward character of the Ortofon cartridges. It shouldn’t matter what the separate price is for the Carbon. With the cartridges that come supplied on Fluance’s turntables, you can upgrade, or downgrade, to any stylus within each of the lines. Slip the cover onto the stylus and then pull the stylus downward off the cartridge. The price on Amazon is very reasonable, $10 less than I paid. The Dark Side of the Moon limited edition turntable. I'm not butchering the stylus or LPs. It has the Audio-Technica AT3600L magnetic cartridge with a diamond stylus. It sounds ok on newish albums, but when I play old worn in classic rock stuff, I consistently get lots of distortion and static in the left channel. The 82 is the better deal if you’re interested in really investing in stylus upgrades. As a hobbyist, am I better off getting a new stylus for the AT33 or getting a whole new cartridge? My turntable needs are modest and am mostly looking for an inexpensive way to get the Pro-Ject up and running. After this 520 stylus wears out I'll get the VMN540ML replacement stylus as well. P-mount tables tended to be lower budget, beginner-friendly models with fixed tracking force, but the cartridges themselves are perfectly capable of great sound. You are correct, it is the stylus that needs replacing. Outsourced manufacturing is entirely normal. They'll sound the same. The tonearm is counterbalanced and tracks at exactly the recommended weight for the cartridge. Or there are many other cartridges that also have 33/45 and 78 stylus options. I could replace with the same AT91 stylus model, or (potentially) keep the cartridge body and upgrade the stylus to something else, or change the complete cartridge. lmywzndwupbasvmkmgogycndrusvaeowamnrjcnhurtkfogxxn