This Pioneer was a gift, it is the only phono player I have, would like some ideas of what if any cartridge upgrades there are (as it seems there arent too many for p- type). I dont want to do a rebuild, as turn tables seem too fiddly to for me to get involved with. Any suggestions?
Possibly the best P-mount cartridge option currently available is the Ortofon OMP10 https://www.lpgear.com/product/OROMP10.html. This cartridge can be upgraded with Ortofon Stylus from the OM Super range OM20, OM30 or OM40. The standard Stylus 10 is good, and the 20, 30 and 40 just get better and better. The Stylus 40 would be as close to sublime as you can get for a p-mount. The OMP cartridge works well in your Pioneer PL-670.
Another alternative, slightly mellow by reputation (I haven't heard one) is the Grado Gold P-mount T4P Phono Cartridge. These are discontinued, but some online retailers still have stock. I think they share styli with their equivalent standard ½ mount models, so replacement stylii should be available in the future. https://www.lpgear.com/product/GRADGLDT4P.html.
Another alternative, slightly mellow by reputation (I haven't heard one) is the Grado Gold P-mount T4P Phono Cartridge. These are discontinued, but some online retailers still have stock. I think they share styli with their equivalent standard ½ mount models, so replacement stylii should be available in the future. https://www.lpgear.com/product/GRADGLDT4P.html.
Thanks for the reply, I ended up buying this, haven't installed it yet though.
LP Gear CARBON FIDELITY CFT4PSE
https://www.lpgear.com/product/CFT4PSE.html
Great! That's a badged Audio Technica AT81CP. If you like it you can fit this super stylus for a major upgrade: https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATN3472ML.html
The stylus profile, the cantilever and the suspension are key elements in sound quality, and even rejection of surface noise. The stylus tip wags a tiny magnet at the other (inner) end of the cantilever and this induces voltage in coils in the cartridge body, which is then connected to the amplifier.
Often the body of a cartridge is shared across several models at different price points because all of the moving parts are in the stylus carrier. Sometimes the bodies will be graded for, say, channel balance and the better ones picked for more expensive models, but most of the perception of quality comes from the stylus assembly not so much the body, particularly for lower priced moving magnet cartridges.
Often the body of a cartridge is shared across several models at different price points because all of the moving parts are in the stylus carrier. Sometimes the bodies will be graded for, say, channel balance and the better ones picked for more expensive models, but most of the perception of quality comes from the stylus assembly not so much the body, particularly for lower priced moving magnet cartridges.
Thank you for the help, I will get that stylus then as it sounds like it's worth it, and I'll still have a spare stylus,- the elliptical.
Hi,
I use some p cartdrige (in Technics SL10 and a SL Q33- this one should be in the same range that your Pioneer). Like Johnmath said there isn't this many choice for p mount nowadays.
In MM i have Om 40, Grado Black (still curently produced) and an Audio Technica At85ep (still produced too). I owned Om30 too.
In MC 310mc ( original cart for SL10).
The At85ep is nice given it's price. Not the ultimate in details or refinement but totally ok for casual listening (if you don't have a lot of records on your collection and listen mainly to digital). Way better than mp3 to my taste. 😉
The Grado is nice and works well with the Q33. It is not the most accurate but sound pretty decent with rock, blues, funk,.. not my thing with electronic music though.
The Om40 is very very nice for MM ( i won't call them sublime though) on the SL10 and is great on the 33 too. Works with every style but for electronic music they are a bit lightweight vs Concorde Club ( on SL1200mk2) for my preference.
Their main drawback (excluding price) is the need to have perfectly clean records: they collect dust and nastys very very quickly. In my case i need to clean the tip after every play as with my chain i hear every artefacts ( i use 'zero dust'). The cleaning issue really have to be taken seriously with them and the 'zero dust' and carbon brush for records before every play is mandatory imho. This is due to the stylus shape. The Om30 wasn't as picky with cleanness ( but wasn't as detailed to me).
If you decide to go with this try to listen to them first as some people find them ( Om40) to be to close to digital though... i don't share this but ymmv.
The 310mc IS sublime. The level of details is really on a different league than the MM with the SL10. I've never used it with the Q33 ( given the rarity i prefer have it protected behind a box rather than exposed). Coupled with a RJM's Phonoclone riaa pre it kick *** and compete with the level of details of my high end digital chain (computer with Rme aes32/ Dolby Lake @96khz/24bit). That said the budget involved overall ( the cart+TT+Riaa) isn't in the affordable range anymore ( but well under what some invest only on some cartdrige). And it is an MC so you can't change stylus easily if an issue arise. Not as problematic as Om40 about cleanness ( which i find astounding given the level of details they are able to render).
I hope that'll help you.
I use some p cartdrige (in Technics SL10 and a SL Q33- this one should be in the same range that your Pioneer). Like Johnmath said there isn't this many choice for p mount nowadays.
In MM i have Om 40, Grado Black (still curently produced) and an Audio Technica At85ep (still produced too). I owned Om30 too.
In MC 310mc ( original cart for SL10).
The At85ep is nice given it's price. Not the ultimate in details or refinement but totally ok for casual listening (if you don't have a lot of records on your collection and listen mainly to digital). Way better than mp3 to my taste. 😉
The Grado is nice and works well with the Q33. It is not the most accurate but sound pretty decent with rock, blues, funk,.. not my thing with electronic music though.
The Om40 is very very nice for MM ( i won't call them sublime though) on the SL10 and is great on the 33 too. Works with every style but for electronic music they are a bit lightweight vs Concorde Club ( on SL1200mk2) for my preference.
Their main drawback (excluding price) is the need to have perfectly clean records: they collect dust and nastys very very quickly. In my case i need to clean the tip after every play as with my chain i hear every artefacts ( i use 'zero dust'). The cleaning issue really have to be taken seriously with them and the 'zero dust' and carbon brush for records before every play is mandatory imho. This is due to the stylus shape. The Om30 wasn't as picky with cleanness ( but wasn't as detailed to me).
If you decide to go with this try to listen to them first as some people find them ( Om40) to be to close to digital though... i don't share this but ymmv.
The 310mc IS sublime. The level of details is really on a different league than the MM with the SL10. I've never used it with the Q33 ( given the rarity i prefer have it protected behind a box rather than exposed). Coupled with a RJM's Phonoclone riaa pre it kick *** and compete with the level of details of my high end digital chain (computer with Rme aes32/ Dolby Lake @96khz/24bit). That said the budget involved overall ( the cart+TT+Riaa) isn't in the affordable range anymore ( but well under what some invest only on some cartdrige). And it is an MC so you can't change stylus easily if an issue arise. Not as problematic as Om40 about cleanness ( which i find astounding given the level of details they are able to render).
I hope that'll help you.
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Hi Johnmath,
I don't know if it is excellent info but it's my feeling in comparison to gear i own, my taste/preference and issues in day to day use.
Too bad there is not more p mount offers options.
Especially with MC.
Sumiko had a high output model ( blue point), Ortofon had too (TMC200, MCP10 super, MCP100 super).
I've heard the TMC200 and really liked it but it seems really scarse, even more than 310mc!
There is some Shure in MM which was very good too V15-VP.
Pmount was a nice answer to those who didn't want to bother with alignement and set up. A bit like Ortofon's dj offer (Concorde series).
I know some will up their nose to this but tbh sometimes i tell myself that time spent to setup more classic cart is not worth the results ( with the Linear Tracker and 310mc in particular). But hey, we are nerdy compulsive geeks after all and this can be part of the fun for some! 😀
Anyway, if you can find a 310 it is really worth it ( imho).
And i agree with your advice about Om range: once you have body there is stylus still availlable even from third party ( Lp gear had some fairly priced one including Shibata option for those willing to try). This is the best option if you want to be able to 'upgrade' at one time or another.
I don't know if it is excellent info but it's my feeling in comparison to gear i own, my taste/preference and issues in day to day use.
Too bad there is not more p mount offers options.
Especially with MC.
Sumiko had a high output model ( blue point), Ortofon had too (TMC200, MCP10 super, MCP100 super).
I've heard the TMC200 and really liked it but it seems really scarse, even more than 310mc!
There is some Shure in MM which was very good too V15-VP.
Pmount was a nice answer to those who didn't want to bother with alignement and set up. A bit like Ortofon's dj offer (Concorde series).
I know some will up their nose to this but tbh sometimes i tell myself that time spent to setup more classic cart is not worth the results ( with the Linear Tracker and 310mc in particular). But hey, we are nerdy compulsive geeks after all and this can be part of the fun for some! 😀
Anyway, if you can find a 310 it is really worth it ( imho).
And i agree with your advice about Om range: once you have body there is stylus still availlable even from third party ( Lp gear had some fairly priced one including Shibata option for those willing to try). This is the best option if you want to be able to 'upgrade' at one time or another.
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