Cartridge recommendations for a Sony ps-1350

[swampdog]

Hi Guys, I have just purchased a Sony ps-1350 in beautiful condition but it does need a new cartridge. I have not been involved in vinyal for years now so i`ve lost touch with what is going on in the world of turntables so any recommendations would be much appreciated....cheers :thumbsup:

[DSJR]

Any chance of a piccie or two, as I can't remember this particular one..

If the headshell is solid, a Pickering V15/VE (£30 on fleabay) should be ideal, as the related Stanton 500EE sounded so funky in the distantly related 4750 model. The 500V3 and higher output brethren are a bit punchy and "obvious," with little real subtley but huge fun nonetheless in a deck like this. The XV15/625 should also be a very safe option I think.

The AT95e will work in almost any tonearm of this type. I dare not suggest an ancient Goldring G800, as styli vary - even originals in diamond quality - although a Jico replacement should be ok I think.

The rather more refined Shure M97XE used with damper brush should be fine at 1.5g if the arm allows this at side end (it may not if it's auto-return, I don't know). I think the arm would be too massy for a Nagaoka, but despite this caution, the sound may appeal.

The Grado Black may work too at 1.5g. Smoooooth if not as bland (to me) as the Gold.

Please note that the stuff above is how I see things at present and others may not share these views.......

[swampdog]

Hi Dave, thanks for the recommendations, I will check them out, in the meantime here is a piccy of the ps-1350....

[DSJR]

The supplied cartridge looks to be an Audio Technica variant made for Sony, so shouldn't be as dire as one would imagine.

At this moment in time, I'd probably either get a new stylus for what's there (see if there's an elliptical version somewhere), or get the Pickering V15/VE, track at around 2g or whatever sounds better and maybe invest in a better headshell (the Sumiko now costs more than I suspect the Sony's worth, but an ADC magnesium one may still be available used for under £20 if you're lucky and that's fine too in this instance).

It looks like the deck is auto return. Please check the auto end-of-side trip linkages to make sure they're free pivoting and sliding. DON'T lubricate them is the general advice, as this causes unnecessary excess drag, just keep them clean and dry and free to move.

[Beobloke]

Hang on a sec, let me just go back and have a read of Dave's first post...


...The AT95e...

Ah - there we are. I knew he mentioned the correct answer in there somewhere! ;)

[DSJR]

But the best baby Stanton/Pickering's kick so much ass :lolsign: