The 404 may have just been one version with sapphire cantilever and 2.5mV output. The (later?) 404i came in two versions, high output @ 1.4mV (MH), and low output @ 0.5mV (L). Below from instruction on vinylengine for the 404i, and below that, 404 on top, 404i on bottom ...
Have a Stanton 981 HZS MM with a Gyger S retip stylus. It sounds lovely and tracks of course beautifully. The HZS is just a touch "brighter" than its low impedance 981 LZS brother, but not unpleasantly so. My main MC is out for a trip, but these Stantons may stay in for a while longer... : )
In my cartridge and accessories' drawer in the media cabinet - Bunch of Shures (mostly V15 Type III, IV, V), ATs, Denon, Grado, Ortofon. Aligned in each headshell per the Technics jig. A Denon 103R hanging from the Technics SL1200MKII. Not pictured, 4 in the library with 2 SHures, 1 Signet, and 1 Empre (swap these out on my Yamaha PF-800 in there.
Meh...My younger brother had a MGB-GT. I thought it was just OK. It looked cool, but had no performance to speak of. I taught him how to drive a manual shift in it (it was a 4-sp). And it failed all the time (fuel pump, clutch, suspension, etc). He finally sold it and got a Saab that was quick enough but reasonably reliable. I always wanted a Triumph TR4a or TR6, but never got one. At the same time I had a Datsun 240Z. It was the vastly superior sports car, IMO. It had crazy good handling and was really quick for the times. It could take Vettes off the line...but they would blow past me soon thereafter due to sheer horsepower advantage.
I see your point when it comes to reliability and performance, I'm 100% in agreement! Datsun actually was assembling Austin A50 CKD units in the 50s and vastly improved upon what they learned in the process. But from my perspective, it's the retro-motoring experience, affinity and familiarity with finicky BMC designs. I learned to drive in my dad's Pininfarina '59 Austin Cambridge MKII, no synch on 1st, 2nd synchro was gone so I had to learn to double clutch and the column shift linkage was prone to jamming. The 1.5L BMC B series engine with a tiny 1.25" single SU carb was seriously underpowered for a family-sized sedan. But our whole family loved the car, which stayed with us until the early 90s, long after we've switched to Japanese econo-boxes as daily drivers. In memory of that Austin, I restored a Mini 1000 while I was based in Manila ('08-'16). My brother is now the caretaker and enjoying it! Apologies for veering off-topic... Just to get back on track... Early magnetic stereo phono cartridges L>R: Pickering 380, Stanton 371, Empire 888, Shure M7D and Shure M3D (front)
I find it interesting that your AT cart is so far forward in the headshell slots where mine need to be nearly all the way back to meet Technics alignment specs.
I use a different tool that does Baerwald. OH is .>18 mm Yours looks further back than others? same alignment AT33EV in AT headshell Only a few mm more than the Technics 52 mm The slots are 10 mm, so if mine is 18.x and full forward the Technics 15 mm would be 3 mm back but still in the middle or slightly forward?
They are. I'm experiencing a discrepancy between the plastic overhang jig and my arc protractors. There's a tangent about it in the Technics general thread. Whenever I align my carts to the Technics specified null points my stylus winds up a couple of mm short of the target on the overhang jig. I've decided to err to the protractor.
The 33PTG is also 2mm shorter between mounting holes and stylus, so will always be further forward compared to ART9 ...
imo too way off, ~6 mm when you use the Technics tool Set it in the outer null When you trace the arc it ends up behind/short Correct? 1 mm or so I would move the cartridge forward 2 mm Then rotate the protractor to get back on the outer null Does this make sense? If not, circular file If so, try when bored some day
Running a Clearaudio Concept MC right now on my somewhat modified Micro Seiki DD-40 with alumina ceramic tonearm while listening to the always amazing Fenella debut LP from 2019, love this record, the reimagined soundtrack to Marcell Jankovics’ 1981 animated fantasy epic Fehérlófia...
When I was a kid, the "family turntable" (a PL-518) had an ADC ZLM cartridge. In my own room, paid for with my own money, I had a Pioneer PL-512 with a Nagatron 350E. I always sorta preferred that 512/350e combination, only later would I learn that the ZLM (high compliance) wasn't ideal for a medium-heavy mass arm like the PL-518 sported. I always wanted to try a ZLM on my DIY arm but new styli are like hen's teeth. I finally stumbled onto one, although the suspension was a little saggy/half collapsed. But, I'm getting better at fixing that. Now I just need a real ZLM body (with mounting holes instead of slots). I had to get an ADC K8 cartridge so I could try the ZLM stylus, both the K8 and ZLM bodies share the same inductance.