illinoisteve
Super Member
Just went back to listening to my XV-15 on my Dual 1229, after a spell of several months playing with my ELAC Miracord 50H which is running a Shure M97 (New Era IV series) cartridge. Suddenly the space between and definition of the instruments on the jazz record I listened to yesterday has increased profoundly. I know there are better, and certainly newer, cartridges than the XV-15...it's just, well, I don't have any of them and can't afford most of them. The XV-15 came on with the 1229 a some years ago, and only needed a stylus replacement, while I had to learn Dual idler refurbishing (including motor dis-assembly and lubing) to get the TT working like it should.
Since then I've learned interesting things like the Pickering XV-15 being the 'identical cousin' of the Stanton 681, a better known and perhaps better-regarded cartridge mainly for that reason, and that both can share a bunch of original (if available) and generic styli.
The XV-15 is mentioned from time to time in AK threads, but perhaps it is worth a discussion focusing on it more fully. Those of you still listening to it, it's time to chime in. Consider questions like these, or offer ANY other info, analysis, reflections that strike you. What turntable to you like it on? Do you use Pickering or Stanton style needles? In either case, with or without the brush? What do think are the best styli for bringing out the cartridge's best qualities? What are the best bang for the buck generics--for those of us who are cash-strapped but still want good sound? In your view, what kinds of music is the XV-15 best suited for? What other old or newer cartridges, including better known ones, does it (or cousin Stanton 681) compare favorably with, and how does it differ from them?
Some of you may want to post photos. The XV-15 came out in gold body and gray body versions (guess which is more popular?). Mine is a white body one. Some labels on them say what stylus originally came on them, like "XV-15/625E" which would have shipped with the D625E stylus, but others just say "XV-15." Perhaps others of you can point out other identifying features worth knowing about.
Since then I've learned interesting things like the Pickering XV-15 being the 'identical cousin' of the Stanton 681, a better known and perhaps better-regarded cartridge mainly for that reason, and that both can share a bunch of original (if available) and generic styli.
The XV-15 is mentioned from time to time in AK threads, but perhaps it is worth a discussion focusing on it more fully. Those of you still listening to it, it's time to chime in. Consider questions like these, or offer ANY other info, analysis, reflections that strike you. What turntable to you like it on? Do you use Pickering or Stanton style needles? In either case, with or without the brush? What do think are the best styli for bringing out the cartridge's best qualities? What are the best bang for the buck generics--for those of us who are cash-strapped but still want good sound? In your view, what kinds of music is the XV-15 best suited for? What other old or newer cartridges, including better known ones, does it (or cousin Stanton 681) compare favorably with, and how does it differ from them?
Some of you may want to post photos. The XV-15 came out in gold body and gray body versions (guess which is more popular?). Mine is a white body one. Some labels on them say what stylus originally came on them, like "XV-15/625E" which would have shipped with the D625E stylus, but others just say "XV-15." Perhaps others of you can point out other identifying features worth knowing about.
Last edited: