Is a Ortofon Black a step down from a Pickering XSV 3000


I currently use a Pickering XSV3000 cartridge with original stylus.  Sounds pretty good.  I do not hear many modern cartridges that sound like this one.  Is the Ortofon Black a considerable step back from this cartridge?
tzh21y

To the OP. My guess is that it would be. I had that Pickering back in the day. Not the best cart I ever has, but VERY good!

Have you considered having your stylus assembly rebuilt? I know this is a course of action usually reserved for MC cartridges, but in this case if you are desperate to preserve the original sound, and if you cannot find or afford an NOS XSV5000 stylus assembly, a rebuild may get you closest to the OEM sound.  The Stereohedron and Stereohedron II styli are no longer made, but Shibata is a close approximation. I have no experience with the LP Gear replacement but since the cost is modest, and since the tip is Shibata, you might also give that one a try.  (I don't know the material used in the XSV cantilever, but you want to replicate that as well to preserve the SQ as much as possible.) Chakster will not or would not approve of either course of action.  I also don't know if the LP Gear XSV5000 replacement is the same as or different from their XSV7500 stylus assembly, but an XSV7500 stylus will also fit your cartridge and can be regarded as an upgrade, assuming the LP Gear product is a good one. Simplest solution is to buy the LP Gear product and be on the lookout for an OEM stylus as you continue to enjoy your cartridge.

Raul, I hope I’m wrong but didn’t someone have a bad experience with Bluz Bros having to do with their selling non-original styli as “OEM”?

OK Thanks to all of you for your kind answers and suggestions, I could try the LP Gear one, Rome is very prepared and really kind, he explained me various things and gave me some advice, Raul thanks for sending me the Bluz Bros link but the D5000 stylus is unavailable and then if the D4000 stylus that is available ir's for saleat $ 434, pure madness, in my opinion, the price for the D5000 would be even higher and assuming it is really original: with little more than $ 500 it is already possible to buy a new current cartridge that maybe sounds better than my XSV / 5000, or maybe not? ... anyway maybe I have found in these days, I hope, a bargain: a whole XSV / 5000 cartridge for 300 € with Shipped via an acquaintance by a professional and established Jazz trumpet player whose grandfather was a great Hi End collector who gave him various turntables and related pickups, including this XSV / 5000 in perfect condition, I hope well to have facts the choice down  is, then I will tell you if I made a good deal or not .. by the way, given the disaster I have made, please advise me what substance or product to use to clean the stylus diamond?  isophrilic alcohol can go, or what other ?  what kind of brush and how to clean it so as not to damage the cantilever it?  thank you again