I was just looking for something in the back of a closet and found a Technics SL-DD22 (http://www.vintagetechnics.com/turntables/sldd22.htm) table. Its in almost like-new condition and appears to work fine. Its got a nasty old Pickeringyernose cartridge in it. :thumbsdn:

Its been a long time since I sold audio, but I do remember that you should match the cartridge to the tonearm. High-compliance needle with low-mass arm, low-compliance needle with high-mass arm. This is a relatively low-mass arm with a P-Mount cartridge.

I was thinking of going two different directions. I could either put a relatively inexpensive, yet still good, Audio Technica AT3482P (http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Technica-AT3482P-Cartridge?sc=7&category=578), ($25), on there, or go all out, (for this table), and spring for an Ortofon OMP 5E (http://www.needledoctor.com/Ortofon-OMP-5E-P-Mount-Phono-Cartridge?sc=7&category=968), ($45).

Do you think the Ortofon would be too much needle for this table? Anyone use one of these?

Artie

Edit: Just noticed, the Audio Technica appears to be a conical stylus, so its out.

Grado Prestige carts are available in P-Mount, meaning you cold go so far as a Gold (!) on this table.

I was just looking for something in the back of a closet and found a Technics SL-DD22 (http://www.vintagetechnics.com/turntables/sldd22.htm) table. Its in almost like-new condition and appears to work fine. Its got a nasty old Pickeringyernose cartridge in it. :thumbsdn:

Its been a long time since I sold audio, but I do remember that you should match the cartridge to the tonearm. High-compliance needle with low-mass arm, low-compliance needle with high-mass arm. This is a relatively low-mass arm with a P-Mount cartridge.

I was thinking of going two different directions. I could either put a relatively inexpensive, yet still good, Audio Technica AT3482P (http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Technica-AT3482P-Cartridge?sc=7&category=578), ($25), on there, or go all out, (for this table), and spring for an Ortofon OMP 5E (http://www.needledoctor.com/Ortofon-OMP-5E-P-Mount-Phono-Cartridge?sc=7&category=968), ($45).

Do you think the Ortofon would be too much needle for this table? Anyone use one of these?

Artie

Edit: Just noticed, the Audio Technica appears to be a conical stylus, so its out.
It's not a quartz lock table, so as long as the speed is stable, then yes, actually the better the p-mount, the better the sound. The OMP-5E will hardly outshine the table. Check out needledoctor.com for a lot of decent p-mounts. Look under budget carts, most of the ATs are p-mount (they all look the same), and the Ortofons either have a P or U suffix. The more expensive, the better the stylus.

The Audio Technica AT301 and variants would be good. Shure makes the M92E for P-mounts. Ther isn't a lot of matching required, since the P-mount tables and arms are quite standardized, since that was the concept-to keep it simple an eliminate adjustments.

Thanks for the info guys. I had forgotten about the standardization of the P-Mount. I guess that was the whole point. The speed seems to be dead-on. This table had an MSRP of $180 back in '86, so it wasn't a high-end table, but I think I might try that OMP 5E. My only experience with Ortofon's has been in there higher moving-coil line. I'd like to hear how the mid-line sounds.

I'll let you know. ;)

Artie

I was just looking for something in the back of a closet and found a Technics SL-DD22 (http://www.vintagetechnics.com/turntables/sldd22.htm) table. Its in almost like-new condition and appears to work fine. Its got a nasty old Pickeringyernose cartridge in it. :thumbsdn:

Its been a long time since I sold audio, but I do remember that you should match the cartridge to the tonearm. High-compliance needle with low-mass arm, low-compliance needle with high-mass arm. This is a relatively low-mass arm with a P-Mount cartridge.

I was thinking of going two different directions. I could either put a relatively inexpensive, yet still good, Audio Technica AT3482P (http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Technica-AT3482P-Cartridge?sc=7&category=578), ($25), on there, or go all out, (for this table), and spring for an Ortofon OMP 5E (http://www.needledoctor.com/Ortofon-OMP-5E-P-Mount-Phono-Cartridge?sc=7&category=968), ($45).

Do you think the Ortofon would be too much needle for this table? Anyone use one of these?

Artie

Edit: Just noticed, the Audio Technica appears to be a conical stylus, so its out.

Just stuck a OM5 P mount on my boys SL BD20 and its great