Satin M-117G Cartridge Question

nemico · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject: Satin M-117G Cartridge Question

I have a Satin M117G and can't seem to find a replacement stylus. Anyone know if they make a replacement stylus for these carts? Also, I am currently using a MC2002 cart on my "good" records and a AT DR500LC cart on my less than perfect records, would the Satin M117G be a "step up" from the MC2002? Turntables I am using- Marantz 6350 and AR XB. Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

abril · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:18 am Post subject:

http://www.musonic.co.uk/styli.....1_320.html

Don't know about the relative qualities of the different cartridges

RED_One · senior member Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 321 Location: UK

I had one of these but never really used it - Audio Origami liked them so he had it. -

Unless you have nostalgic association at those prices I suspect money is better put to a different cart - "another £40- £50 gets you" .. syndrome

nemico · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject:

@abril, Thanks for the link. See what your saying about the price.. With so many different options and opinions, it's hard to decipher the benefits vs. cost. May just shelve the Satin.. I am pretty happy with the MS2002 anyways.. Just looking for some opinions.. thanks

nemico · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:14 am Post subject:

Correction.. that's a MA2002 Cartridge ... I called it everything but what it was..

vinylsky · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

these stylus are spherical, the G has an elliptical tip. Do you have the possibility to retipp yours? it is worth. in germany it costs roundabout 30£.

desktop · senior member Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 290

The Satin 117Z I have started out fine. It was okay as far as moving coils go, being high output and having a good stylus design. But the support system coupled with the odd coil "harness" made the sound quality deteriorate within a year or two. Eventually the support/suspensions get hard and so there is nearly no low end, and the highs are brittle. The entire system is so peculiar that it is difficult to fix the problems.

Satin stopped making styli so long ago that the ones out there, even NIB are so "hard" they sound terrible. Retipping doesn't help because it is a problem caused by the deterioration of the suspension. I used mine for a while in "Improved" modification mode for 78s for a while. It is just barely a decent cartridge at best. There are so many flaws in the system it seems ludicrous it got into production except that tat the time any replaceable-atylus moving coil available would sell well. I would avoid bothering with this cartridge and it takes a really bad design for me to ever say that.

I have successfully modifed my 117Z to be usable for 78s. That isn't saying much. I buy 117s when I find them of ONLY that purpose. It is a very flawed system and I donb't want to use up hours going into detail about every flaw this cartridge has.