Turntable stylus question

[aquariuscsm]

I was looking around at turntable styli for one of my turntables. The replacement stylus is an Audio Technica ATN-3401. This particular turntable has an incredibly crisp sound and I'd like to replace the stylus. Is that company even still around anymore,and if so,where could I find the name brand oem replacement? I see a ton of aftermarket replicas. There's also a replica in Australia on Ebay called Stanfield (never heard of those,wondering how close they are to oem?). Are there any specific replica bands that are oem quality,and are there some to avoid?

Would there be any difference between an Ebay $7 replica and a Needle Doctor replica for $25? Would the Ebay one be cheap junk?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Trav]

http://www.turntableneedles.com/ATN95E-T...0-DE_p_651.html

Has option for original needle.

 

[Quest]

The company Audio Technica is still around, and doesn't seem to go away (just like Ortofon, Benz Micro, Koetsu,etc.)

Your cart may just be too "old" to get OE replacement needle, so you may have no choice but to try out aftermarket ones.

Good luck. I only buy fresh new replacement needles these days. I don't care much about NOS stuff, rubber suspension will dry out/harden over time, making it sound hard and brittle.

Q.

 

[BrocLuno]

There is a lot to a stylus. In fact it is 1/2 of teh sound equation of the cartridge. The suspension is very important for tracking. But the cut of the diamond and the bond (nude or glued) is also very important.

If you like the sound you have, I'd stay in the Audio Technica line. They are all pretty neutral, but you might step up a notch in the food chain...

Will there be a difference between a $7 copy and and a better copy - Yes. A company in Japan (Jico) makes first class replacement styli. In some cases they are better than OEM. But, I'd start out at AT and see what you can find ...

http://www.lpgear.com/

http://www.needledoctor.com/

Use this site to see which physical styli carrier you use: http://stereoneedles.com/audio-technica.html

 

[Hermann]

Any of the companies listed in previous posts will most likely have replacement in stock in various levels of performance. A decent stylus will be at least $20 but you could spend a couple hundred for a line contact type stylus. Just depends on how much sound quality you are willing to pay for. IME $20 - $50 Audio Technica styli sound quite nice. The $7 E-bay is NOT what you want. On Ebay look for Carole's Needles, she is also listed as stereo needle lady.

 

[CT8]

What is a turntable? Just kidding!!!

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
There is a lot to a stylus. In fact it is 1/2 of teh sound equation of the cartridge. The suspension is very important for tracking. But the cut of the diamond and the bond (nude or glued) is also very important.

If you like the sound you have, I'd stay in the Audio Technica line. They are all pretty neutral, but you might step up a notch in the food chain...

Will there be a difference between a $7 copy and and a better copy - Yes. A company in Japan (Jico) makes first class replacement styli. In some cases they are better than OEM. But, I'd start out at AT and see what you can find ...

http://www.lpgear.com/

http://www.needledoctor.com/

Use this site to see which physical styli carrier you use: http://stereoneedles.com/audio-technica.html



The Jico looks to be a very good one. Got excellent reviews.

I compared my two turntables side by side playing the same record,a mono pressing of The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band Vol 2 (US Reprise mono). One turntable has a Shure and the other has the Audio Technica. The Audio Technica sounds more clear and sharp,and I heard cymbals in the music that were not present with the Shure,almost as if I was hearing "more of the band". Also less vinyl noise as well. I'm guessing maybe the Audio Technica either tracks better,or has better frequency response. Both turntables are set at the exact same tracking force too. Stylus on the Shure is an elliptical whereas the Audio Technica is a conical.

 

[dlayman]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
There is a lot to a stylus. In fact it is 1/2 of teh sound equation of the cartridge. The suspension is very important for tracking. But the cut of the diamond and the bond (nude or glued) is also very important.

If you like the sound you have, I'd stay in the Audio Technica line. They are all pretty neutral, but you might step up a notch in the food chain...

Will there be a difference between a $7 copy and and a better copy - Yes. A company in Japan (Jico) makes first class replacement styli. In some cases they are better than OEM. But, I'd start out at AT and see what you can find ...

http://www.lpgear.com/

http://www.needledoctor.com/

Use this site to see which physical styli carrier you use: http://stereoneedles.com/audio-technica.html



The Jico looks to be a very good one. Got excellent reviews.

I compared my two turntables side by side playing the same record,a mono pressing of The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band Vol 2 (US Reprise mono). One turntable has a Shure and the other has the Audio Technica. The Audio Technica sounds more clear and sharp,and I heard cymbals in the music that were not present with the Shure,almost as if I was hearing "more of the band". Also less vinyl noise as well. I'm guessing maybe the Audio Technica either tracks better,or has better frequency response. Both turntables are set at the exact same tracking force too. Stylus on the Shure is an elliptical whereas the Audio Technica is a conical.



In general Audio Technica tends to have a brighter, crisper sound. The Shure house sound is warmer and a little rolled off at the top end. Interestingly, both companies also follow this trend through their lines of headphones. Generally, audiophiles usually don't like both brands, but prefer one over the other. I'm a big AT fan myself,Shure products generally sound dull to me.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: dlayman
I'm a big AT fan myself,Shure products generally sound dull to me.


I'm old enough to have regularly used turntables for years and I always preferred the sound quality of AT. They are a bit more expensive, but I feel the extra is worth it. I still use my old
1984 Akai direct drive turntable often and it has a AT cartridge from the mid 80s in it. I bought plenty of replacement styli back then and they were very inexpensive back then.

 

[Lubener]

I felt Pickering beat them all in sound quality.

 

[dlayman]

Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
Originally Posted By: dlayman
I'm a big AT fan myself,Shure products generally sound dull to me.


I'm old enough to have regularly used turntables for years and I always preferred the sound quality of AT. They are a bit more expensive, but I feel the extra is worth it. I still use my old
1984 Akai direct drive turntable often and it has a AT cartridge from the mid 80s in it. I bought plenty of replacement styli back then and they were very inexpensive back then.


I have a 1984 Pioneer direct drive turntable that used to see a lot of use, but hasn't been used in years now. I originally bought a Shure for it but changed it out for an AT. Akai used to make good stuff, I really liked the Akai cassette player I bought at the same time. Now they just license the name to some generic Chinese company that puts out cheap junk.

 

[dlayman]

Originally Posted By: Lubener
I felt Pickering beat them all in sound quality.


Pickering is probably the most neutral house sound. I always have bought speakers that are a bit on the warm side, so the AT cartridge helped to balance that out.