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Replaceable stylus and quality of cartridge

Are there very good MM phono cartridges with user-replaceable styli, or do the higher-quality cartridges all come in just one piece, as it were? I'm currently running a Rega P3 with an Elys cart. Been thinking of getting a new 'table and cart -- would want an MM -- and I'd like, all other things being equal, to get a cartridge with a replaceable stylus. But, of course, all other things are seldom equal. In general, are cartridges with replaceable styli of lesser quality than their more-solid brethren?
Thanks.
-- Howard
hodu
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Yes, there is general agreement that a more rigid one piece system is inherently superior. This in no way means that replaceable stylus cartridges cannot be good, just that they have to make a compromise that non replaceable ones do not. If you want a replaceable stylus one there are many which are quite good, Raul posts lists of them quite often. The new Ortofon line, NOS ones from their old lines, Audio Technica 150 or other model and many others.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I have an Audio Technica AT150MLX. I like it a lot. Although I haven't been able to compare a Rega Exact side-by-side with the AT150MLX, I have heard the Exact in a local show room and then drove home to immediately listen to my rig. Under those not-very-controlled conditions, I come away feeling that the AT150MLX is at least as good as the Exact and a healthy notch up from the Exact. And really, if the Exact was significantly better, the sound of my rig would have left me wanting, but it didn't.

The cartridge body of the AT150MLX is cast or extruded aluminum and is very rigid. The stylus assembly is substantial, rigid, and a very tight fit with the cartridge body. Best of all, the last time I checked, the replacement stylus for the AT150MLX is $179.95.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
All of the Ortofon 2M series carts have removable styli.
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