Styli replacement?

[gdv]

Deciding if I want to get replacement styli for the following cartridges...

Shure M95ED
ADC QLM
Technics P23

Please shoot me your thoughts/comments...  I'm only leaning toward getting a stylus for the M95ED...

thanks!
George

[MacGeek]

Not sure of the cost, but believe the Sure might be worth it.  I have no experience with the others.

[gdv]

Stylus is $15...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEREO-RECORD-NEEDLE-TURNTABLE-STYLUS-SHURE-N-95ED-N95-M95-M-95ED-767-DED-767-DE-/201078991583?pt=US_Record_Player_Turntable_Parts&hash=item2ed13deadf

[Reverend]

A word of caution.  Don't use a generic replacement stylus's like GDV has noted.  They are junk and you will not get the proper factory sound back.  Spend a little extra money and make sure it's a Shure/ADC/Technics branded stylus.

[gdv]

Where can you purchase a "Shure branded" stylus where I'm not breaking the bank?

Thanks!!!
George

[StephenWVU]

I second Rev, I had a generic replacement of a shure stylus and it was bad.  It should have felt bad. 

[Reverend]

They're available online, ebay, etc.  You have to figure out if the cost of a new factory stylus is worth it.  In some cases you might be able to buy a new or used cart for what you would pay for a correct stylus.  I would research the selling price of each cart you mention, find the factory stylus and determine if it's worth replacing.

Here's an example.  I had this Shure cart a few years ago.  It is the updated version of the 95 you reference.  On needle doctor it is selling for $89 ($75 on amazon).  The factory Shure stylus sells for $75.  Is it worth replacing the stylus?  Hell no.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Features?search=Shure+M97XE 

[Anders]

Why not just get a new Grado cartridge ?

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

I don't quite agree with Rev.   NOS styli can have dried suspensions and be worse than the cheapest generic.   I say get new styli, but get them from a reputable supplier.   The Phanstihl stuff is very dicey, but the EVGs that I've bought have all been excellent.   Then of course there is Jico, which are not only better than name brand now, it is better than the name brands ever were.   Especially the SAS stuff.

IMHO, the stylus is actually more important than the cartridge.

[Reverend]

I thought EVG was for old as hell turntables?  What it really comes down to is are you going to spend more than half the value of the cartridge for a stylus when you can purchase a new cart instead.  Unless you start getting into carts that are costing much more money Jico and any upgraded stylus's don't make sense either.  I agree with Thrifty that if you're looking to replace a stylus on a cart that has not been made in quite some time, NOS could be a gamble.  If you're looking to replace a stylus on a cart that is still in production, factory is the way to go every time.  And like Ander's noted, a new Grado would be a much better option.

[SunnyDaze]

I got a Grado Green for my dad's Technics SL-QD33 from Tom a while back. It sounds great for the price.

If you're going to spend be spending in that ballpark, why not go with the sure thing, not the Shure thing?

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

I put an EVG for $12 on an old AT81 (IIRC) cart and it was criminal how good it was.   Not quite the detail of my 440, but waaaay better than it had any right being.   If you want, George, you can come over and hear it.   I have that stylus and then got a deal on a slightly used Shibata for the same cart.   You can compare.   The Shibata is excellent, but the cheap EVG is really decent.   Many of the EVGs are made in Japan and there is more than a little speculation that those come from the Jico factory.   

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

Here is a made in Japan (avoid Switzerland), claims to be a Jico, from a reputable seller for $15 with free shipping.   Not much of a gamble to see what you think.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEREO-RECORD-NEEDLE-TURNTABLE-STYLUS-SHURE-N-95ED-N95-M95-M-95ED-767-DED-767-DE-/201078991583?pt=US_Record_Player_Turntable_Parts&hash=item2ed13deadf

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

I don't see a good one for the ADC.

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

Nothing for the Technics either.