Missing Stylus?

[TubesGalore]

I am new to turntables and I realize this is a noobie question but we all have to go through the learning curve. I bought a Pioneer PL-7 (eBay) and I think it's missing the stylus. Is that correct?

 

[malden]

Yes, it is missing the stylus. I have no idea which cartridge you have though. I'm sure someone will come along who can identify it for you.

 

[Russooll]

That is definitely a chunkie Empire. Probably a LTD model. Model number should be written on the side of the cartridge.

 

[TubesGalore]

Thanks. Since I have to get a stylus should I reuse or replace the cartridge?

 

[boreas]

It's a decent to excellent cartridge, depending on the model. There are aftermarket styli for these for very small money. Tell us the model number and we'll tell you the stylus.

John

 

[malden]

Thanks. Since I have to get a stylus should I reuse or replace the cartridge?

Cartridges rarely go bad. I have a drawer full of cartridges from the 1960's and 70's and they are all good as new. You just need a new stylus.

 

[TubesGalore]

The cartridge is marked LTD 500.

I found the stylus.Can you say "embarrassed"? It is marked EMPIRE with a triangle.It is a transparent red plastic. I put it back in but the needle does not touch the record. I don't think it's a weight adjustment, it's like the needle isn't long enough. Worn out needle?

 

[Balifly]

The cartridge is marked LTD 500.

I found the stylus.Can you say "embarrassed"? It is marked EMPIRE with a triangle.It is a transparent red plastic. I put it back in but the needle does not touch the record. I don't think it's a weight adjustment, it's like the needle isn't long enough. Worn out needle?

Should look like this:

https://www.lpgear.com/product/EMPSLTD500.htmlhttp://data:image/jpeg;base64,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

 

[boreas]

Yes, the needle is broken. Here's the stylus you need.

http://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/cata...ype=MfgNameNeedles&MfgName=Empire&Categories=

Order the 4241-DID.

John

 

[TubesGalore]

Thank you. Those two stylus mentioned should be perfect for me as they are inexpensive and hopefully work fine. Then as I get more knowledgeable move on up. The purple LP Gear one is $37 and the yellow 4241-DID is $17. Definitely affordable. Based on price is the LP Gear better?

 

[boreas]

The 4241-DID is purple, not yellow. (Actually it's kind of rose colored.) The yellow one is a 4241-D7 conical. You don't want that one. The stylus from LP Gear is virtually identical to the one from The Voice of Music. I have one of them and it very closely approximates the performance of the original.

John

 

[Montycat]

I'd go with the cheaper one that John (boreas) suggested. The Lpgear version is more likely equivalent to the $35 one at Voice Of Music but it's unlikely to be twice as good.

 

[boreas]

I'd go with the cheaper one that John (boreas) suggested. The Lpgear version is more likely equivalent to the $35 one at Voice Of Music but it's unlikely to be twice as good.

The trouble with the $35.00 241-DE is that it has a recommended tracking force of from 1.5 to 3.0 grams. That's not a particularly good compliance match for the polymer graphite tonearm on the PL-7.

John

 

[Montycat]

The trouble with the $35.00 241-DE is that it has a recommended tracking force of from 1.5 to 3.0 grams. That's not a particularly good compliance match for the polymer graphite tonearm on the PL-7.

John

Ahh, yes. I was looking at it on a small screen and missed the VTF column. In any case, the $17 EVG is what I would get too.

 

[Russooll]

When your ready to move up you can upgrade to this stylus https://www.lpgear.com/product/EMS0600LAC.html. This is a line contact stylus that will bring out more detail from your records, will bring this cart up to a very high level.

 

[Hajidub]

Thank you. Those two stylus mentioned should be perfect for me as they are inexpensive and hopefully work fine. Then as I get more knowledgeable move on up. The purple LP Gear one is $37 and the yellow 4241-DID is $17. Definitely affordable. Based on price is the LP Gear better?

Tubes, make sure you search AK or youtube for setting up a turntable when your new stylus shows up (if you're not familiar with the procedure). GL.

 

[TubesGalore]

I read the user manual so I got familiar with what it says about setup but YouTube is a good idea. There's always someone showing how to do something.

 

[TubesGalore]

Ordered

 

[TubesGalore]

Again Thanks. I received the stylus from Voice of Music and I am well pleased with it and also the speed of delivery from VOM.

 

[pdm4606]

Now you are an official "audiophile". Welcome to the insanity........