I try a Stanton 681EEE on my Techy

[Macca]

This is a follow up to my previous thread about the Stanton 520V3 which I was mucking about with a few months back - here http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12993 if you're interested.

Although the 520 was a lot of fun with bass power and slam to die for it showed itself up on more demanding material where there was no escaping a sort of 'wedding disco' taint to the sound.

So I figured moving to the top of the Stanton range might mean I could keep what I like about the 520 (the bass, the sure-footedness) and have a little more subtelty and , yes, sparkle in the sound. Bear in mind my overall aim is to find a cartridge that is truly a good match for the stock Technics arm.

So, at a penny shy of £110 delivered, I aquire a brand new 'triple E'. Figuring it would be sacrilaege to mount it in the £5 OEM headshell I was using for the 520 I also aquired a Sumiko headshell.

Here's how it looks on the deck:

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/Macca_photos_2009/004-2.jpg

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/Macca_photos_2009/003-3.jpg

Those of you with eagle eyes will notice I have mounted the finger lift at the back of the headshell instead of the front. Why? I have no idea but it does mean I now cannot line up the front off the cart to the front of the headshell:doh: so I have a slight protrusion - will this effect tracking? Should I redo this - I have to have the finger lift as I hate lift/lower devices and never use them.

The combination of headshell and cart is pretty heavy and I had to add the little additional weight to the back of the arm to get it to balance out.

Anyway, on to the sound - It is petty far removed from the 520, that is to say we are certainly back in real hi-fi territory here folks. This really is a sweet -sounding cartridge - guitars and brass sound especially rich. The upper mid is spotlight without being bright, mid is dark and rich, bass is full but not as full as the 520 which is a bit of a shame, but timbre is much improved.

Drawbacks? - A little excessive sibilance on vocals, male and female, recording dependant and not enough to really spoil the fun but not 'right'. Also there is some slight splash to cymbals - I am wondereing if this is related to the not especialy correct set up described above? Comments and suggestions welcome, cheers all.

[DSJR]

Much as I like and admire the Sumiko shell and wires, I really do wonder if an SME S2 shell (with black-tac to fill the void betwixt tilted cartridge top and shell) might not sound a little better here. I don't know how different the Series 3 styli are, but my mk1 EEE from the late 70's seems to prefer a lower mass arm. having typed this, I did use this stylus in a Garrard SL95B back in the day, and it tracked and sounded very secure in the rather massy arm, tracking at 1.25g or thereabouts. It also sounds very sweet in the Dual 701...

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/DSJR_photos/DSCF0546.jpg

[icehockeyboy]

You mention the 681 EEE as being back in hifi territory, I used them on my pair of trusty 1210's in many a club situation, as I believe that is what they were originally intended for..........

[Macca]

You mention the 681 EEE as being back in hifi territory, I used them on my pair of trusty 1210's in many a club situation, as I believe that is what they were originally intended for..........

Stanton's literature rate the 681 EEE as their poorest cart for scratching and their highest for sound quality - no reason why you could not DJ with it if you are not scratching but then the same is true of any cartridge that is robust and a good tracker.

I stand by my hi-fi territory comment :) especially as I spent some more time yesterday fettling and now have a great sound - reminiscent of my long departed and much mourned Nagaoka MP30, as it happens.

[jandl100]

Those of you with eagle eyes will notice I have mounted the finger lift at the back of the headshell instead of the front. Why? I have no idea but it does mean I now cannot line up the front off the cart to the front of the headshell:doh: so I have a slight protrusion - will this effect tracking? Should I redo this - I have to have the finger lift as I hate lift/lower devices and never use them.

:scratch:

Why not use the cartridge screws to attach the finger lift? That way the cart can go anywhere within the slots! ;)

... and yes you should use a cart alignment guage to position the cart in the headshell. You can download these free from Vinyl Engine. :)

[Macca]

Cheers Jerry - I had a day off Monday and spent an hour or two sorting this out so the cart is now properly aligned and sounding wonderful.

[DSJR]

The 681 series goes back forty years or so to the early 70's. I believe the AL conical was the most durable, the EE not calibrated and the EEE the calibrated top model for some years until the 881S came along (Shibata tip and possibly different internals, I can't remember..) I think the DJ market of the early 70's was as much ceramic cartridges in single-play Collaro and Garrard decks I think as G800's etc and 401's etc were broadcast and enthusiast decks rather than "DJ" back then.

By the early 80's, the 681EEE and V15 III were regarded as totally old hat and very old fashioned, the only "survivor" from this period on the UK market being recommended I remember being the ADC XLM III in later form (Phase 4 in UK terms) and even that didn't last long..

Interesting thing is, today, with better decks and arms away from the old fruitbox, which all but ruined the UK turntable market for many years with its involving but hideously coloured presentation, affecting arm and cartridge reviews. Now we're free of this stranglehold and the widespread acceptance of digital in all its forms, it's amaing how some of these vintage cartridges are being regarded with fresh enthusiasm :)

[icehockeyboy]

Stanton's literature rate the 681 EEE as their poorest cart for scratching and their highest for sound quality - no reason why you could not DJ with it if you are not scratching but then the same is true of any cartridge that is robust and a good tracker.

I stand by my hi-fi territory comment :) especially as I spent some more time yesterday fettling and now have a great sound - reminiscent of my long departed and much mourned Nagaoka MP30, as it happens.


No no noooo! I wasn't knocking your findings, just pointing out what I used them for "back in the day" ! :)

[WOStantonCS100]

Just got my retipped 681EEE back from SoundSmith yesterday. Needless to say I was up into the wee morning hours listening to music.

Here's a tip though. You might want to pay attention so as to not hook up 3 out of 4 headshell leads completely wrong leading to playback horrendously out of phase. :doh: It took me almost a full song to realize my blunder. I am getting old. :lol:

[Macca]

By the early 80's, the 681EEE and V15 III were regarded as totally old hat and very old fashioned, the only "survivor" from this period on the UK market being recommended I remember being the ADC XLM III in later form (Phase 4 in UK terms) and even that didn't last long..

Interesting thing is, today, with better decks and arms away from the old fruitbox, which all but ruined the UK turntable market for many years with its involving but hideously coloured presentation, affecting arm and cartridge reviews. Now we're free of this stranglehold and the widespread acceptance of digital in all its forms, it's amaing how some of these vintage cartridges are being regarded with fresh enthusiasm :)

The current 681EEE looks different to the older versions, whether that means the design has been changed or improved or whether it is just a cosmetic change I don't know. It doesn't sound 'old fashioned' but it is quite sweet sounding compared to say an Ortofon, that may not be 'accurate' but it is pleasing to listen to.