How would an AT11E body fitted with an ATN12S stylus compare to a Shure M97XE?

I actually have both cartridges. Used them on an SL-1600 and a Dual 505-2. They are fairly close, the AT has a little more sizzle while the M97xE is more laid back. I wasn't crazy about the sound of the M97xE paired with the 505-2...dry, bland, lifeless, no dynamics.

Cheers

The "house sound" of the AT cartridges would tend to have a bit more detail than the M97xE. The Shibata tip on an ATN12S stylus would further extend the high frequency response of the cartridge a bit. The AT would be more extended in the frequency extremes, and the Shure would sound a bit "rounder" in the middle.

Thanks so far, guys....

Confirms that I'm more an AT kind of guy!

Will the Shibata make the cart a better tracker than the original replacement ATS11E stylus?

Hell yes!

The Shibata stylus tracks deeper in the groove. You generally get quieter backgrounds during record playback.

Hell yes!

The Shibata stylus tracks deeper in the groove. You generally get quieter backgrounds during record playback.

Excellent!

This will be a nice in-between cart then (regular AT11E and 440 MLa).

I ordered the ATN12S from stereoneedles.com and I have the original ATS11E for my old, beat up 45s...

:thmbsp:

Believe it or not, I haven't received the stylus yet...

Over a month and a half and a few e-mails! Not sure I'll order from these guys again!

Has anyone ordered from them before (stereoneedles.com) and how was your experience?

I have to say the first couple of email exchanges were good, but since???

Excellent!

This will be a nice in-between cart then (regular AT11E and 440 MLa).

I ordered the ATN12S from stereoneedles.com and I have the original ATS11E for my old, beat up 45s...

Try an ATN 10 to play your beat up 45's it will sound even better with less surface noise.