After learning that the non-working B&O cartridge in my Yamaha P220 TT is really in a standard mount adapter, I went to install the Shure M95ED that I've had on hand for years. But there's no stylus! Oh, yeah, thats why it was in the parts box. It was in my parent's PE 2040, until they broke off the needle years ago and I replaced it with a Shure M75ED. That's ok, because I also have the PE here. Dusting it off, I decide to connect it up to see if the M75ED cart works. Doesn't sound quite right, seems to be skipping a lot, and the controls are sluggish.
So, I get sidetracked into cleaning and relubing the PE since the new belt for the Yamaha hasn't arrived anyway. Trying to be careful, I make sure I take the headshell off to protect the stylus. At one point I need to put the head back on to balance the arm. So, I'm almost done with the job and put the cart and stylus back on. WTF... there's no needle on this one now! Somewhere along the way I must have accidentally knocked it off. Damn! Now I've got two carts with no stylus!
I searched the web for new styli and find that SHure no longer makes them, but there are generic replacements available from a number of places for varying prices. A few do advertise NOS Shure styli for a price... 3 to 4 times more! For the cost of the Shure stylus, I could buy a whole new M97 cart.
Here's my question... is an aftermarket stylus as good as the genuine Shure replacement? If not, is the difference worth the steeper price?
So, I get sidetracked into cleaning and relubing the PE since the new belt for the Yamaha hasn't arrived anyway. Trying to be careful, I make sure I take the headshell off to protect the stylus. At one point I need to put the head back on to balance the arm. So, I'm almost done with the job and put the cart and stylus back on. WTF... there's no needle on this one now! Somewhere along the way I must have accidentally knocked it off. Damn! Now I've got two carts with no stylus!
I searched the web for new styli and find that SHure no longer makes them, but there are generic replacements available from a number of places for varying prices. A few do advertise NOS Shure styli for a price... 3 to 4 times more! For the cost of the Shure stylus, I could buy a whole new M97 cart.
Here's my question... is an aftermarket stylus as good as the genuine Shure replacement? If not, is the difference worth the steeper price?