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Stanton 400 V3 @ 1.5 grams sounds better than Grado, AT, Shure V15 VxMR?? What???!!!

Okay, this really takes the cake. I've been sitting here messing with turntables(Thorens TD125 w/ SME 3009, Pioneer PL-15D II, Dual 704, Empire 698) and cartridges including vintage Empires, Shure V15 VxMR, Shure M97xE, Grado Prestige Silver, older Audio Technica stuff and just for kicks I found this old cartridge simply labeled 400 V3 on the body...looks vintage...in a Pioneer headshell and threw it on the table, balanced the arm, set tracking force to 1.5 grams and put on a Hollies record. HOLY SHIT! This cartridge has a HUGE, BOMBASTIC, warm, and smooth sound. Bass is AMAZING. It is not screetchy and it's not lacking in detail. This is easily the most musically satisfying cartridge I've listened to all day long. The soundstage is just massive...guitars and vocals sound wonderful. So I do a Google search to find out what this is: A STANTON 400 V3??? A $20 CARTRIDGE? Okay, so maybe it's a vintage unit and it's better than the current production 400 V3? Who knows. I'm absolutely STUNNED at the sound of this cartridge. This is the sound I've been craving. This is what I remember vinyl sounding like and it really makes me wonder what some of the higher end Stanton cartridges sound like. This 400 V3 is a big fat warm and musical beast.

I have questions:
1) What do some of the other Stantons sound like? This 400 V3 is warmer and punchier than any Shure I've ever heard.
2) Has anyone else tried the 400 V3 or does anyone have any knowledge about it?
3) The specs for the new model say tracking force is 3 to 7 grams. A) Can I track this cartridge at 1.5-1.8 grams and get away with it? Am I going to hurt anything? And furthermore, how is this cartridge's reputation for tracking?
4) Is there any real difference between a vintage 400 V3 and a new one? Where can I get vintage NOS stylus for this cartridge??

I MAY HAVE JUST STUMBLED ACROSS THE BUDGET COMPONENT OF THE CENTURY. Why, I ask....WHY does this cartridge sound so good??? A $20 Stanton!


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Topic - Stanton 400 V3 @ 1.5 grams sounds better than Grado, AT, Shure V15 VxMR?? What???!!! - Mr Blue Sky 20:25:15 05/20/07 (13)

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