Upgraded a Pickering XSV-3000 Cartridge

Posted by mr.bear (A) on October 10, 2016 at 15:18:31

I have been listening primarily to a fine original ADC XLM-ii and have nothing but love and admiration for it. The arm is that on my stock Sony PS-X55s, a very-low mass affair comparable roughly to a Grace G707 of the same era.

Well, a few turntable deals later and I end up with a Pickering XSV-3000 cartridge body looking at me emptily from an Altoid tin-- can't have that! After some research and some nice back-and-forth with Gary at The Voice of Music, I ended up with a replacement Stylus from the Pickering D4500Q (stylus model 4608-DQX)-- a Shibata (you might argue it's a modified Shibata, or hyperelliptical- whatever- a more radical stylus tip shape) . It's just breaking in but the sound is FANTASTIC, easily in the same league as the ADC. It's a little bright now, but reveals all the details beautifully, is crystal clear in the midrange, and seems to track like a champ at 1.2gm. It does the RIGHT THINGS, allowing this simple Bear to just go off to Musicland, tapping my toe, and not thinking about complicated Hi-Fi stuff.

I've been playing with different phono preamps and have settled down to compare a vintage Yamaha to my beloved Threshold/Forte Model 2. The sound of the Pickering on either is excellent. I favor the Yamaha currently. It sounds a little rounder and fuller as I expected but I'll reevaluate after the Pickering is more fully broken-in
.
From my earliest phonograph buying days 1975-ish, I recalled the Pickering's as a budget option on cheaper turntables. Maybe their marketing geniuses pushed the cheaper stuff and didn't work too hard to put their audiophile carts out there. Probably still happens although the interwebs levels the playing field somewhat.

Who knew!? And I owe this all to Voice of Music for their kind support and a great deal.

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Topic - Upgraded a Pickering XSV-3000 Cartridge - mr.bear 15:18:31 10/10/16 (6)

Love my 3000 - is that an OEM, or equivalent stylus? - ToddM 06:41:40 10/12/16 (4)

RE: The stylus from VoM was an aftermarket - mr.bear 13:34:10 10/16/16 (2)

Just ordered one from VoM...looking forward to trying out. nt. - MWE 17:49:37 10/16/16 (1)

RE: I'm actually stunned... - mr.bear 13:50:30 10/20/16 (0)

RE: Love my 3000 - is that an OEM, or equivalent stylus? - flood2 15:04:03 10/12/16 (0)

RE: Upgraded a Pickering XSV-3000 Cartridge - flood2 02:33:31 10/11/16 (0)

Upgraded a Pickering XSV-3000 Cartridge

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