Anyone know anything about Hi-Fi (stereo cartridges)?

[stinkwheel]

I have just got started into the arcane world of Hi-Fi. We have established there is a fault with my stereo cartrige (which frankly, I would never have noticed before I got this setup).

It is somewhat bewildering, anyone know how I find out which of the many stereo cartriges my turntable takes?

It is a Technics direct drive SL3310.

I'm not even sure which bit exactly is the stereo cartrige. The whole 'end' comes off the pickup arm in a quick release fashion by twisting a collar. There is a seperate part bolted onto this with two very small nuts, this connects to the 'end' bit using four tiny terminals and has the stylus attached.

I did a picture for clarity. Do I want the whole thing, or just the red bit? Any tips on how I know which type/make I want?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[yambabe]

I would have said just the blue bit tbh.

Get yerself down to Maplins or somewher similar, they will have lists & catalogues of which one you need.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[stinkwheel]

The blue bit is the stylus. It is the stereo cartridge (which turns the vibration of the stylus into an electric signal) I am worried about, which is either the red bit by itself or the whole lot.

This is the arse end of nowhere. The chances of finding any shops in Carlisle that actually sell anything useful are non-existant. To laugh, I can't even get a chain for my bike without ordering it in a week in advance. I'm going to have to go online for something like this or wait 'till next time I am up in Edinburgh.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Robby]

You can change just the red bit, referred to as a cartridge.

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-STANTON-ORIGINAL-500AL-II-Cartridge-with-Stylus_W0QQitemZ5862982669QQcategoryZ69964QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I use those ones, they are good and tough, and you can easily get replacement styli for them on ebay.

To wire them up you just press the contacts for the little wires on.

[old bob]

Ok the black bit that comes off the end of teh arm is the headshell, the red and blue bit are the cartridge. You need a complete new cartridge.

A good basic Hi Fi catridge is an Audio Technica AT110E this should work fairly well in your deck. A good source of cartridges over the net is a company called Mantra Audio www.mantra-audio.co.uk or telephone 01757 288652. I have had excellent service from these and their prices are usualy pretty good, current price of the AT110E is £28.

The cartridge is probably the most important part of a vinyl set up and it needs to be set up correctly idealy it needs setting up with an alignment protractor and weight should be set up near the upper max weight for the cartridge (setting it light will cause more damage to records than heavey due to mistracking).

I have assumed that it is for Hi Fi use ie serious listneing if however you are using the deck for DJ type work and will be manipulating the records whilst playing then you need a cartridge which is more suited that sort of work and the Stantons generaly are ok as are some of the Ortofon range "concord I think" there are certain models that pros use but I cannot quote them there are web sites that can advise try looking for Ortofon direct.

Hope this helps.

[stinkwheel]

Cheers guys

I don't have all the setup gadgets but I do have a setup record that plays pink noise and suchlike, along with silent grooves, shallow groves, various tones and even a grooveless section to set the anti-skip.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.