Aftermarket Stylus for a Pickering XV15?

[jboll16]

I have the original Pickering Cartridge that came with my late Kenwood KD5077 turntable. I am currently using an Ortofon OM20 on my Technics SL 1300 turntable. I'd like to get a new stylus for the old Pickering (which last sported a D400 stylus) since I remember it being a lot ballsier( if that's a word) than the sometimes thin OM20. Any suggestions? LP Gear has a D750 replacement for $39.00. Is it a steal or a waste of money?

[ChairSpud]

If you really want to give your OM20 a run for the money you might want to consider the LPGear Shibata for the Stanton 681 (Stantons version of the XV-15/625e) cartridge and arguably as nice is the JICO version.

[Whitneyville]

I'm using Garage-A-Record's generic stylus replacement for the 400E on my "B" Dual 1226, with good results. The Stanton Shibata stylus would only be better, I would think. I think I paid about $40 for my "made in Japan by the finest craftsmen" (JICO?) "generic". I think the VX-15 is worth an $80 stylus.

[Doug G.]

Many options, I guess. I got the Astatic replacement from Canadian Astatic for my 625E and it is very good. Their styli are all the same price. I think about 27 bucks.

Doug

[jboll16]

Well, I went with the LP Gear 625E , and all I have to say is OMG! Once I got the thing to track properly, It provided a much fatter sound with electric music. I compared side by side my Steely Dan Gaucho LP with the OM 20 and the Pickering XV15/625E combo, and the Pickering was the clear winner. I'm planning on doing a comparison with some acoustic Jazz to see how the 2 stack up. I'll report back. I'm thinking either Ralph Towner Solstice or Oregon Music of another present era as a test bed.

[Whitneyville]

Ye olde Pickering's have a "sound" to them, no question. I'm using the Dual/Pickering for vocals more and more because of the "warmth" and "smoothness" of the sound. Sinatra sounds better on the Dual/Pickering than the Heybrook/ Audio-Techinca AT-14Sae,and so does Marilyn May, and so do the Eagles. I'm considering a 625 stylus myself.

[glrickaby]

The 625 stylus is the pick of the litter even though the 750 and
1200 are higher in the food chain. Supposed to be equivelent
to the 681eee Stanton. The OEM is slightly better than the
generic but the Pfanstiehl generics are really not bad. I have
a couple of OEM New York made and a couple of generics.
Any Stanton 600 series cartridge will take these units.

[Whitneyville]

Is there a "Stereohedron" stylus available for the VX-15 still? Is it really, really expensive? Is it worth it? I'm asking from ignorance of what's available today.

[KentT]

No Stereohedron or Stereohedron II styli available from Stanton/Pickering. NOS very high demand and pricey. The Jico Shibata for the 681 is your only comparable option you can buy new.

[glrickaby]

Believe the 1200 is a Stereohedron and they do show up from
time to time on Ebay. In the compatible Stanton 681, anything
ending in an "S"in the 600 series would be compatible with
the XV-15. The Stereohedrons in OEM guise when they show
up, are really quite expensive and most are quite satisfied
with the 625 Pickering or 681EEE or EE styli. Mellowness
is the virtue of this cartridge rather than the supposed
higher definition of the Stereohedron. I have a rare S stylus
for the 500 series and while sounding quite nice,
is not an astounding difference with the elliptical. Most
styli shafts for the Stanton/Pickering units of this genre
are shorter and stubby or thicker and perhaps not the
best match for a Stereohedron diamond.

[KentT]

680 and 681 are compatible, 600 IS NOT COMPATIBLE. Different series which uses similar technology. And discontinued in 1990.

[glrickaby]

I have a XV-15 (same as 681) stylus now mounted on
what appears to be a 600 series body. It is squarish
with an angled front. It slides into a plastic headshell
track. Aside from patent #s and a Stanton logo on the
side, there is no model number. However, the body
appears identical to 600 series pictures and I must
presume it to be. It is painted black so probably later.
Aside from the squareness in the sides, it is the size
of a 681 which is moving iron technology. I assume
the 600 series must also be moving iron or the stylus
would not work? This body originally came with a D61
stylus which may be a dj type. The 500DJ body I also
have, which is a MM type and therefore not compatible
with either the 681 or XV-15.

[KentT]

600 styli don't work correctly with 680/681 cartridges. They don't fit correctly. 600 also has different tracking angle. If you want to use the 600, get a 600 body with it.