Pickering XV-15 Reviews

Pickering XV-15

by jcortopa

I have Pickering XV-15/400E and XV-15 with no denomination. The first, 400E is more refined and detailed with very good highs and bass and very aired in the middles. The last is a punch of bass and highs but I feel that If I hear at high volumes, it loss definition. BUT is very important to use a very good elliptical needle. The market has a great variety of needles for Pickering but few are really good. If you find a good needle then you will have a surprise with the sound of this cartridge.

by kingriek

Not a bad filler cart. I will say it's a lot quieter and has less detail than my Shure M97XE. Have to agree with the other reviewer. Decent but nothing special.

by zeb1961

I'm recovering some audio equipments. This cart was installed on a broken Pioneer PL-6 I've fixed (thanx Vinylengine!). I checked the needle with microscope before use, just to be sure, and then I made some instrumental tests with the reference RIAA record.
Simply perfect, from 40 years old equipment! IMHO, now I've a first class vinyl player.
Sound is clear, deep and very well defined. It's a long time from my experience with vinyl records (say 30 years) but this cart looks simply fantastic. I love it.

by dagoosemusic

Had this cartridge in my closet for years with a broken needle and never felt it could be of any use because of that. As a dj I have 1200 s for over 20 years with stanton and concorde cartridges but since about a year I'm into classic audio usinga mmarantz 2245 and 6150 tt . At first I had a grado cartridge in there causing the famous hum and then I found out that the xv 15 was a classic and so I ordered a replacement needle. I was pleasently surprised of the sound after all these years in the closet, it was laying there for at least 15 years. Since then I use it in my marantz 6150 and simply love it.

by jusbe

Classic.

by ronpilgrim

by UAWProud

One of the best vintage cartridges I have ever owned. Just got it and installed a new aftermarket stylus. Right now I have it on a nice vintage Technics SL-B3 full auto belt drive table which I bought to resell. It is making this modest table sound like a million bucks. I am running a Sansui G5500 receiver and Klipsch KG4 speakers.

What impresses me is how clean and life-like its sound is. It is just a gem-very, very smooth. It doesn't color music or irritate your ears after awhile and become obnoxious. It just plays back in a realistic and pleasant manner. This is the kind of cartridge you can listen to for the rest of your life and not get tired of it.

I have other vintage carts including Stantons 600, 680, Empire 2000 E/III, Shure M91ED and others. This is a unique and pleasant animal unto itself. Scored a good cart in this one! Real beautiful sound.

by dmorfois

Soft,liquid, transparent, warm. I love it on chamber music. Gives an impression of musical density, even at low volume level. An absolute keeper !

by calgarysaurus

Very warm, lively sound with rich bass and mids yet smooth highs. My new favorite.

by Jakeman57

Nice cartridge / nothing special about it though . I use it on my 3rd table ( pioneer 512) .

by fscl

+0.5 Keep returning to this cartridge on JVC QL Y55F

by staszic

super

by slr9589

rides in my pioneer pl 518 nicely......handles wide array of music very well.