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Stanton 681EEE tracking problems. New stylus? Replace with Grado? Sumiko? Shelter? Need help..thanks!

I've been using a vintage metal body Stanton 681EEE on a Linn Basik LVX arm(which I'm in the market to replace) and enjoying what I'm hearing. I have a friends Pro-ject 1.2 table in the house and set up that with a second Stanton 681EEE I have. Interestingly enough, the Pro-ject arm seems to track better than the Linn. In any case, I was listening to a Chet Baker jazz lp and there is mistracking on both tables during all the peaks. It's unacceptable. Then I switched over to an Ortofon OM20 I have lying around, which I used to love. The tracking issue has all but vanished, but now I find the Ortofon too etched and analytical. I have heard that the 681EEE is not the greatest tracker and this issue will kill the cartridge for me, unfortunately. However, I cannot vouch for the stylus. It's original, but could be way past it's prime.

Question #1: If I want to go out today and buy a replacement stylus, what is the best option? Or must I simply scour the web for a vintage, NOS stylus?

Question #2: Is it generally true that the Stanton 681EEE is a poor tracker?

Question #3: I have some other, older Stanton cartridges around that look like the 681EEE, but with different numbers. All the styli look the same, except the color or number. Are they compatible/switchable to try on the 681EEE body?

Question #4: My goal is a dark, syrupy, smooth, soft warm sound with good tracking. Not interested in Shures because I find them to be artificial sounding. I've tried Grado before...the lower models, but was discouraged with the poor tracking. Someone told me to try the Gold...that it tracks better than the others. Any comments?

Question #5: You call someone like The Needle Doctor for cartridge advice and depending on who you talk to, you get all kinds of different suggestions. Then someone recommends a cartridge, like the Nagaoka stuff for example, and then you go read about it and a thousand people are calling it bright sounding. Where do I go to find a warm and smooth, laid-back cartridge for under $500? Things I'm curious about that have been suggested: Grado Gold, Sumiko Pearl/Shelter 201, Clearaudio Aurum Alpha Mk II, Dynavector 10x5. What's the real deal on these? Are there others to consider?

Question #6: I've head the Sumiko Blue Point Special and thought it was one of the thinnest, brightest cartridges I've ever heard. Is the Pearl really "warm and Grado-like"? How does it really compare with the Shelter 201?

Comments: I really like the Ortofon OM20. What it does right is that it tracks well, it's very natural sounding...no hardness or artificial tonality issues. However, it's just not musical in the final analysis. It makes lps sound like cds....too bright and forward.

I've tried the Denon DL103 and I'm not interested, FYI. Too much of a hassle trying to find the right step-up device.

I have a Shure M3D I was going to try, then I read the specs. 3 grams tracking force? Isn't that just asking for record destruction?

Thanks for reading! Looking forward to the commentary....


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Topic - Stanton 681EEE tracking problems. New stylus? Replace with Grado? Sumiko? Shelter? Need help..thanks! - Mr Blue Sky 13:12:34 06/17/12 (12)

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