Auction alert: Stanton 500 EE Mk II

[bauzace50]

HI,

this is written Friday May 18, at 9 pm Eastern time (Puerto Rico) Atlantic. (Four Days + 9 hours from this writing),

eBay has one of the last extant, New Old Stock "Stanton EE Mk II" on auction. The seller is "don.tw", and the item number is 3007119945877s...

TITLE of the auction is "Stanton Turntable Cartridge (Model 500 MK II) with Stylus

The item is new, unused, unmounted. The box is Pristeen, beautiful like new. The stylus fingergrip is photographed, identified clearly as "EE MK II".

In my book, this is the last of the "500" models of "Worthy Budget Audiophile" quality. Its quality is above all present iterations of the "500" model, and there is probably no other left out there in the Universe. I put in a modest bid, but will NOT bid any more, to let some VE member win the auction (slightly over $25.)

I have one of these, retipped with the Expert Stylus Paratrace, and it is one of my keepers. Will not let go of it because of its eminently balanced tone, believable staging, ample tracking ability, refined demeanor, low noise, 4 mV output, and medium compliance (16 cu). The removable stylus is a significant convenience when brushing the inevitable atmospheric fibers and dust.

I will be glad to see a VE member win it, and enjoy its special "Budget Audiophile" attributes. It is probably the last of the "Broadcast Standard Series".

Regards,
bauzace50

[Snead]

You've got class, B50....

[happylad]

Very nice item , dont forget Pickering is still doing these at £40 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Pickering ... 2338093036

[bauzace50]

What If They Gave A War And No One Came?

Right.

So...I'm going for it.

[gg383]

Oh Oh, I'm the guy who ran it up a few bucks on you!!!!!!! I'll let it slide your way!!! Glenn.

[bauzace50]

Hi Glenn gg383,

Thanks! Maybe I was too hasty withdrawing the props for the war .

Regards,
b50

[bauzace50]

Hi,
in response to Private Messages: I interpreted there was no interest, and thus proceded with my "highest possible bid", thinking that I would be the only interested person. My hasty mistake.

If you want to bid, it will have to be above my "highest bid" on file in e-Bay. It is UNDER $80. by the way, for the last one in the universe. I will NOT bid any higher if it goes to a VE member. Sorry for the confusion.

I get the "Hasty Pudding" award?

b50

[lini]

b50: On a sidenote, as you deem that to be the last of the really attractive 500s, would this be mainly for its body or for its needle - or for a combination of both?

Reason for my curiosity is that I've still got my next to unused 500EIII (that had come with my TD280II, but to my ears didn't sound nice...) somewhere - and I'm contemplating, whether it would make sense to give it another try with a Pickering D-AME2/-AME3 or I'd better let it rest, in case the 500EIII body wouldn't be good anyway...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

[bauzace50]

Hello Manfred,

thanks for the comment. I did not know there was a "III" series! So, I AM missing information, of course.

The "500" Body and Coils are identical in ALL iterations.
The only "audiophile contenders" were the "Mk II Series" (in my opinion).

Their differences reside in their stylus assemblies, in FOUR component parts:

diamond tip
cantilever mass
magnet mass
suspension characteristics
AS FOLLOWS:

-1- The same "Mk II" Cantilever, with lower mass, and a refined crimp on the tip end.

-2- The same lower-mass Magnet in the "Mk II" series.

-3- Specific compliance units for each of the 3 models in the Series.

-4- Specific tip contours ( EE= 3x7 elliptical), (E= 4x7 elliptical), and (A=.7 conical).

I have no information on a "III Series", though. You're on your own there

And all of this seems like the closing chapter in their history. I think it was Gen. Douglas McArthur who said "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away".

Good luck to you ,
b50

[bauzace50]

Got It!
Next step is to compare with the actual Paratrace version at home, and probably leave "as is".

This one is probably the last genuine (NOS) EE Mk II left anywhere.

[crofk]

Congrats b50!! Let us know what you find.

kc

[bauzace50]

Thanks crofk!

Will do a concise comment after it arrives in 10 days.
b50

[bauzace50]

Hi,

The "EE" arrived yesterday and looked truly "New Old Stock" of an older kind. The four connecting pins looked rainbow brown instead of golden But the cantilever/stylus looked new, and of a smaller diameter and shorter length than the "E" version First time I noticed that welcome difference, and portends well for treble tracking (over and above the "E" version). But not to worry, since the "E" version tracks treble excellently, and even better in my Paratrace modification.

BUT the suspension feels somewhat hardened in comparison with my Paratraced sample. Only one interpretation here: the sample received yesterday IS OLDER and already shows some suspension hardening (but not too much). It did not track the toughest Low-Freq. band on my Shure TTR-117 test LP. ( which my Paratraced 500 tracks easily).

So, I purposely played the highest volume LPs I could muster, just to loosen the suspension.

Voila! I found a long lost sample of the "Miller and Kreisel Bass And Transient" 45 rpm test record. It had been lurking silently in pregnant silence to jump any unsuspecting cartridge. This "Older EE" navigated ALL bands without a hint of mistracking! And that includes Very Low and High Energy Bass, vigorous midrange, and show-off smart aleck treble percussions of several kinds. Plus several cannon shots, and loud Flamenco Dancers stomping on a 3-foot-high wooden platform...PLUS hand-clapping, finger clicking, and castanets clicking That generates stong transients from the low bass to the upper midrange.

Other high-energy LPs were subsequently passed with perfect tracking AND with the characteristic balanced tone (neutral, and free from treble highlighting).

then came my all-purpose total-character LP test. The Brahms 1st Symphony on Chesky 180 gram reissue, with London Symphony conducted by Horenstein. It is a Very Special recording insofar as Special Sonic Authenticity.

It also includes a hideous passage of dissonant French Horns (unintended by Brahms) introducing the crucial theme of the last movement (reprised by the flutes) The phrase is composed for full-throated expression, and these horns were recorded in all their blastingly hideous dissonance of apparently perverse intentions. The "EE" passed this disgrace in utter accuracy (perfectly tracked dissonance) .

In my frequent amateur participation with symphonic choruses, I have witnessed instances where the players challenge the director with their "passive-aggressive" intentional "mistakes". This is an example (I have three other LP versions which are totally free of this perversion), played in all its accurate (what is the opposite of "splendor"?).

So, despite a slightly hardened suspension with mild effect on bass tracking, the NOS "EE" has been a succes! Glad for purchasing the last (?) of the breed. And I cannot stress too much that other versions of the "500" are not up to audiophile interest. Just DJ interest.

Regards,
b50

[crofk]

b50
Its good to hear that you have yourself a winner!! Glad you got it. Are you going to leave the original "EE" stylus on or are you going to use something else?

Anyway have fun and enjoy your prize

kc