Pickering D2400Q question

[matthewp]

This is my first post on AudioReview and just wanted to say hello and hopefully receive some "sound" advice. I scored a NOS Pickering D2400Q (Pfanstiehl 608-DEQ) stylus the other day and am wondering, besides the UV15/2400Q, which Stanton/Pickering cartridge would this stylus be compatible with? Is the UV15/2400Q a MM or an MI design?

Thanks and Cheers

[02audionoob]

Welcome to AR. The stylus also fits...

XV1800S, UV15/2000Q, UV15/2400Q, XSV-3000, XSP-3003, XSV-4000, XSP-4004, XSV-5000 & XSV-5000U

It looks like there is a manual for the UV-15 moving magnet cartridge at Vinyl Engine...

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/p...ng/uv-15.shtml

[matthewp]

Thanks 02, I first tried the stylus with an XSV-3000 and then a Stanton 890 SA. No audio from either cartridge. Next tried stylus in an XV-15/625E with decent results. Very warm sounding combo. Solid bass and mids but highs are fairly laid off and slightly distorted. Have been tweaking the setup but end up with same results. Am wondering if this is a mis-match.
Thanks and Cheers

[02audionoob]

What's your tracking force with this cartridge on the SL-1400? Also...have you tried the Nagaoka cartridge on the SL-1400?

[matthewp]

2 grams VTF seems to be the sweet spot..actually 3 grams, minus a gram for the brush and anti skate set @ 3. Also cartidge slightly toe'd in. VTA on SL-1400 isn't adjustable so have been using thicker - thinner mats...kinda ghetto but thats the best i can do .
The MP-110 sounds good with the SL-1400 but it sounds great with the ELAC..more synergy.

Cheers

[02audionoob]

How did you come to the point where 2g is the sweet spot if your highs are rolled off?

[matthewp]

2 grams is where it tracks and sounds the best.

[02audionoob]

A clarification...Based on your signature, my line of thinking was going toward what sounds best on the SL-1400, as opposed to where the MP-110 sounds best. I'm guessing something with a little stiffer suspension will sound better on the SL-1400...like the MP-110. I'm also guessing the Pickering stylus would sound better at 1.25g, if it's on a compatible arm. With the SL-1400's arm, that could be an issue to evaluate.

[matthewp]

I see where you are going but I wonder how complaint the D2400Q stylus is. It's supposed to track between 1-3 grams with 2 grams the optimal VTF. It should work fine with a medium mass arm.

Cheers

[02audionoob]

I see where you are going but I wonder how complaint the D2400Q stylus is. It's supposed to track between 1-3 grams with 2 grams the optimal VTF. It should work fine with a medium mass arm.

Cheers

The one source I could find that specified a force, than a range, said 1.25g. Is there documentation somewhere that say 2g is optimal?

[matthewp]

http://books.google.com/books?id=9OE...age&q=&f=false

[02audionoob]

http://books.google.com/books?id=9OE...age&q=&f=false

Then I guess arm mass is a dead end. Are you thinking maybe this is as good as it gets?

[matthewp]

Then I guess arm mass is a dead end. Are you thinking maybe this is as good as it gets?

I hope not It would be nice to find out which cartridge that the D2400Q stylus is compatible with besides the UV-15/2400Q...was hoping that it would "work" with the XSV-3000.
Later

[emaidel]

I guess it's time I finally spoke up here, having worked for Pickering back in the 70's. The XUV/2400 and XUV/2000 were, in the words of the company's owner - Walter Stanton - "bad designs," as were the Stanton equivalents (though I don't remember those model numbers). They were Pickering's (and Stanton's) responses to the Shibata-tipped Audio Technica cartridges designed to play the then new CD-4 quadaphonic records. They tracked very heavily ( 2 grams or higher, with the setting at 1 additional gram to compensate for the brush assembly), and sounded lousy. The far less expensive XV/15 models sounded a good deal better.

The XUV/4500Q, introduced in 1975, simply blew the two other XUV models off the map with its superior performance, but it had the misfortune of being introduced almost simultaneously with the collapse of the quadraphonic market. Dealers avoided it like the plague.

The XSV/3000, which stemmed from the XUV/4500Q, is worlds ahead of the 2000/2400 models, and a NOS 2400 stylus, unfortunately, isn't very much of a "find" as its performance is a good deal worse than the standard stylus assembly in the XSV/3000. Finding a NOS stylus for the XSV/3000 is pretty difficult today, but there are several non-original (i.e. - "knock-offs") that owners seem happy with. LP Gear is a good place to find one. That is a far better choice than a 2400 stylus in the XSV/3000 body.

[matthewp]

Thank you emaidel. I agree that the D2400Q really isn't much of a "find". Besides, it will not "work" with my XSV/3000 body. I've been using a D3001e stylus and it sounds good but I'm sure that an original D3000 is the way to go. Unfortunately, whenever one shows up on that auction site, it becomes a feeding frenzy...LOL

Thanks again,
Cheers

[hifitommy]

the book listing of 1.0gr as optimum---

http://books.google.com/books?id=9OE...age&q=&f=false\

for the adcXLM is just plain WRONG. most arms require to use 1.5gr with that cart and this is by experience not by guess as the book seems to using. IF a tonearm has particularly good bearings and very low mass, then and only then can you go to 1.0gr.

the tracking force war of those days with shure leading the way led to some stupid recommendations, even by the manufacturers like adc who said 0.75 was the lower recommendation. i can only see the vestigal arm to be capable of that and even then i wonder.

[matthewp]

Woo Hoo! Forget about that D2400Q! Lucked into a pair of NOS D81 styli. The D81 is noticeably better sounding than the D3001e.

Later,
Matthew

[matthewp]

Just a quick update and a shout out to Stanton / Pickering. My dad gave me a Pioneer PL-50 that needed some HELP. Had the tone arm rebuilt and also a few upgrades. I've read that the Pioneer arm likes heavier tracking cartridges so naturally a Denon DL-103 was my first choice and it did not (and still doesn't) disappoint. Great synergy. Just for ****s & giggles, I mounted the Pickering XV-15/625E & D2400-Q combo. In a word - fantastic! More thump than the Denon, a sweet mid range and the highs are now smooth and open. Overall a very warm and natural presentation but with killer dynamics. Man I love this hobby!

Matthew