hola, i have a nagatron 344DE cartridge, and i am thinking i should change the stylus, since i haven't done that since i bought the thing, and lord knows how long it's been since it's been changed, if ever (i bought my turntable on ebay like 4 or 5 years ago). i was listening to a record tonight and it was pretty distorted sounding, and it just got me thinking.

having never changed a stylus or a cartridge, i would like some information on how to go about it! what kind of stylus should i get? should i just change the cartridge itself? here's a picture of the thing (sorry this was about as usable as i could get with this camera).

http://www.mayorbyrne.com/cartridge.jpg

Hello lovelyday, welcome to AK!

Well, googling this cartridge brings up exactly two entries, neither of which are replacement styli, so it's looks like you'll be looking for a new cartridge. What would you say your budget is?

As far as actually mounting it on the headshell, there's an easy and quick way to do this. The headshell disconnects from the arm by rotating the locking ring. I have to make up a special diagram for Kenwood; the diagram below is for Pioneer, but you keep the cartridge square in the headshell and so that the measurement shown is 50.5mm, not 49mm.

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z81/hakaplan/PioneerOverhangcolor1a.jpg

Hi, lovelyday,

Nice lookin' table. If you want a really affordable cartridge, ante up enough to make it an elliptical, with as narrow a stylus as you can find for the money, like .3x.7 is better than .4x.7 - Audio Technica has some for thirty or forty bucks that would fit the description. If you're willing to spend a bit more, then the sound will be a bit better; go figure. Say a dollar max, and get a buncha recommendations.

thanks for the replies, guys.

as far as budget goes....

for giggles, what am i looking at for $50 max? also i'd prefer something where a replacement needle wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg.

note: i listen to mp3s and cds more than vinyl. i'm not really a super-enthusiast, just from time-to-time, i like to throw on a vinyl and bask in the glory days of music. just some background so you know i'm not a super audiophile.

i'm playing it through a kenwood kd-5077 and a marantz 2230b, if that helps any.

Audio Technica AT92ECD. I have one on a good Realistic table, and it's only about $30, and IMO isn't going to be bettered much at fifty, if at all. Plus you can upgrade the stylus with a replacement. But, keep watching, because others will disagree and offer other options. I would try to stick with an elliptical, though, with as thin a profile as you can find for the dough.

http://www.jr.com/audio-technica/pe/AT_AT92ECD/

I can only add that for $95, this one sounds better. And now we have exhausted my meager recent experience with phono cartridges...though I heard a lot more variety back in the day.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Sumiko-Pearl

i've read some good reviews on the Shure M97xE....to be quite honest, the thing looks menacing. the thing appears to be quite popular (as in, i can find it online for pretty cheap (60 - 65 bucks). the replacement styli for it are kinda hefty though (looks like 40-50 bucks).

should i just save up a few more bucks and get this? what other carts am i looking at in the $60 range? and, most importantly, will this work with my TT?

I think your table will work well with a wide range of cartridges; do you know the effective mass of your arm - I feel sure it's probably medium? The Shure you mention has lovers and not-so-muchers on this site; some say it has an unusually long break-in period. However, that's all I can really tell you about it, inasmuch as I haven't heard one.

ah interesting. anybody else have any suggestions?

ah interesting. anybody else have any suggestions?

I'd save a few bucks and step up from the $30 - $40 range into the $60 - $100 range. Kind of a big leap, but the Sonic rewards might be worth it, and you choices expand nicely.

The Shure M97eX is a good choice at $60 or so. Remember that the stylus is the most expensive part to make, which is why it seems expensive to replace.

At the $100 range we're looking at the Grado Green or Grado Blue, the AT-440 MLA, the Ortofon 2M Red, the Sumiko Pearl, or the LP Gear AT95, which is an Audio Technica AT-95 with an upgraded hyper-elliptical stylus.

I think your table will work well with a wide range of cartridges; do you know the effective mass of your arm - I feel sure it's probably medium?

the vinyl engine says "Usable cartridge weight: 3 to 10g"

According to that you can use just about any cartridge; figured it was probably a medium mass tonearm. Lot of good choices at about $100. I believe you'll get some good recommendations at the $60-75 range also. I finally have a couple extra headshells for the Thorens heading my way and am curious about the Ortofon cartridges; I see the OM10Super is about 70 bucks, is an elliptical, and upgradable with stylus changes, though I am more interested in the 2M's myself. I'm happy with my Pearl, but now that I'm back into vinyl, I like to have a variety of cartridges - which was my practice years ago.

The AT120e might not be a bad choice at 'bout $75. or less. I have one on a Technics TT and it's very good, tracks great.

The Shure M91ED is a good solid no-nonsense cartridge that I have yet to hear a bad word said about. I have one on my turntable now and it sounds great. You can get them on E-bay for under $50.00 easy and replacement aftermarket stylus are plentiful. :yes:

Try looking at the JICO Japan site. Here is the URL to the Nagaoka listings (parent company of Nagatron label):

http://www.export-japan.com/marketing/stylus/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=stylus&search_in_description=1&x=59&y=9&categories_id=&inc_subcat=1&manufacturers_id=51&pfrom=&pto=&dfrom=&dto=

See if any of these stli holders look like yours? The JICO replacement styli are very nice. If you see one that looks like it'll fit, email and see what they say.

Check ole ebay. I just picked up a new Grado Prestige Red Cartridge and stylus for $90 shipped. A little more than your stated budget but what a deal on a good sounding unit.

hm i guess i'm just going to try one of these out, seems to be a lot of preference involved with catridges....maybe i will develop my own soon! :P