Audio Technica AT12Sa Cartridge

I just picked up a backup TT, a Pioneer PL-530, the little automatic brother to my PL-550. Stylus was dead (of course) but the cart is a AT12Sa. I really don't know anything about this cart. Is it special? Should I sell it? Are styli hard to come by for it? I listen to mostly 60s/70s Pop and soul. I already have a Ortofon 2m Mono, Shure M97Xe and Shure M 44-7 in my arsenal so I don't feel the need to hang on to another UNLESS it's really something special.

Your thoughts?

Travis

 

I have it and love it. Shibata stylus. Very warm, tube-like sound. 5-45k frequency range. Generally best with 60s/70s LPs, so I think you'd like it. You should be able to get an original stylus from LPGear. Btw the AT12XE (which you could also fit to this cart) is also really good, a very clear and detailed sounding fine line stylus.

Basically I have the entire range of stylii that can be fitted to this cart (ATS10/11/11E/12s/12XE/12Shibata), and think they're all great!

 

What are my options for replacement styli? Links?

Thanks for your help!

Travis

 

LPGear and eBay sellers, maybe also Needle Doctor.

 

Audio-Technica ATS12S stylus

They have the cheaper stylii options available too.

 

On ebay you can get cheap Pfanstiehls that will fit perfectly, 629-D7 .7 conical for $10 and 629-DE .2 x .7 for $15. These will give you 95%+ of the sound of that cart allowing you to decide whether you want a higher price stylus, all the way up to Shibata. The "Sa" of your model number means that was a model that originally came with a Shibata.

 

Found a replacement stylus in-town for my AT12Sa called Psanstiehl 201 DEM. Any input on this type of stylus?

 

201-DEM is an eliptical diamond, not a Shibata cut.

 

I am aware. I can't afford the Shibata cut stylus right now. Any insight on how this eliptical sounds?

 

+1 on the 629-DE

 

I'd never buy anything other than original AT stylii personally. Even the ATS10 conical is very good, and very cheap.

 

ATS11e is the best choice for a cheaper choice from this range IMO. Very good stylus, tracks everything, clear detailed sound. Like a superior version of the AT95e. I track it at 2.5g

 

The AT12Sa with the original needle, or ATS12S needle, is IMO a top quality performer. They both have the same very good Shibata tip, and though bonded is´s a low mass tip. The cantilever is of higher quality then present AL-alloy from AT. I consider the sound from these needles to be on a very high level, very good tracking and very low distortion. It´s top quality IMO.

And I do not agree on susceptibility for clicks and pops; I find elliptical needle more noisy than these Shibatas; especially finer elliptical.

I agree on the original ATS11E for a good performer at a low price, but only the original.