2. analog
  3. 155869-20253

What was wrong with the P-mount ?

So, as some of you may gather, I know very little about turntables. I mean, I know the general physics, the RIAA curve, cartridge loading, stuff any one can pick up from a book.

Sometimes I think of getting into vinyl, especially with a store right across the street, the new Techniques turntables as well as old and new Luxmans or Yamahas, and then I remember the cartridges and all the issues of setting them up correctly, cleaning the vinyl, carefully holding the LP and I return to my digital only lifestyle.

One thing I was thinking about in all of this was, what happened ot the whole P-mount industry? Perfectly reasonable idea to me. Fixed dimensions for the cartridge, adjust the tracking force, and bam, done.

What went wrong?
erik_squires
billwojo
397 posts
 
P-mount came out to late, everyone was switching to CD so it kind of fizzled out. It did have a lot going for it and a number of manufactures started making them, there were even some pretty darn good ones but the whole TT industry was in a tailspin.

BillWojo
br3098
994 posts
 
It did have a lot going for it...
Such as? OK, P-mount cartridges are quick and easy to mount. But the size, shape and weight of the standardized cartridge was very limiting for cartridge designers. Pretty much all of these were high compliance (soft suspension) cartridges that were very popular in the 80s. Also, most of the tonearms for P-mount were cheap and light, with little or no adjustment possible.

Not my cup of tea but maybe it's yours.


erik_squires OP
16,056 posts
 
Also, most of the tonearms for P-mount were cheap and light, with little or no adjustment possible.


Zero adjustments?? Sounds perfect! :)
ericsch
752 posts
 
Zero adjustments?? Sounds perfect! :)

If you want it simple, go with Rega. Just two easy adjustments and you are done. 
erik_squires OP
16,056 posts
 
Not a big fan of Rega's price/performance in electronics.
More to discover