best ceramic phono cartridge?

hello

i want to replace the cartridge on my motorola 1958 stereo console.it originally had the sonotone 8t.
i recently replaced what was in it(not the 8t) with a newer generic varco but i dont care for the way it sounds.
as far as ceramics go i know none are all that great but the few that i have tried sound lousy and weak to me.
this phono has been in the family since day one so i am very familiar with it and how it should sound,it belonged to my grandparents.
i have seen sonotone 8t's on ebay but since i changed the connector pins from flat to round several years ago thats not an option.
any suggestions/model# would be apreciated


thanks alot

You can install a modern magnetic
Stanton 500AL or pickering NP/AC
and add one of those small inexpensive preamps.
This greatly improves the sound and tracking.

Some of those cartridges have different output levels...that may explain for the weakness. I would check that before buying another ceramic cartridge. I like the idea of using a magnetic cartridge with a small preamp. I think I tried in once on one of my units years ago..a wee bit too sensitive and caused some feedback, but the sound was sweet. Just my two cents.

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Those Varco generics never sound like the originals to me.
They're good for cheap portables sometimes, but not in consoles.
The Sonotone 8T's had a higher output also, and drove the amp better.
What you should try to get is a Tetrad TCH8O with a mount. It puts out a good 1/2 volt and has nice tone, easy to replace needles too. They're available on some web sales sites.
As far as a magnetic replacement, unless the 2-pole motor is shielded, you'll pick up hum from it, since magnetic cartridges don't like 2 pole motors near them.
Plus the changers arms are too insensitive most times to handle them.

I have done the magnetic conversion
to over thirty old changers, mostly VM with two pole motors and have never had a hum problem yet. Modern cartridges are very well shielded themselves, hum is not an issue.
You do have to be careful about grounds.
These heavy duty DJ magnetics work very well in the old tonearms.
They can sometimes pick-up rumble
if the changer is not in good shape.
Bearings must be good and idler wheel must be new or like new.

I have also done the magnetic conversion using a DJ cart, with a black-arm Maggie (heh, almost sounds like a blues record, doesn't it??). I got a little hum, but not much. Only thing I didn't like was not being able to play 78s. And the constant worry that tracking was off, and my grooves were being ground up much faster than they should have been.

Orthophonic, in some cases, yes, you can get away with using a magnetic cartridge in a changer with a 2-pole motor. It depends on the orientation of the motor itself, as well as the amount of shielding between it and the cartridge.
For instance, a BSR changer with a 2-pole and plastic turntable will NOT work with magnetics.

As for duane's hum issue, I'm surprised because those magnavox's (Collaro) use a 4-pole motor and a heavy steel platter.
I'd opt for adding a 3-sided wrap-around sheet steel shield affair over the top of the cartridge and using a seperate ground wire to the plinth/chassis. Some cartridges need to have that extra "covering" to protect them from outside hum.

thanks for all the suggestions

i went ahead and bought Model P-132 and it sounds pretty good.lots more bass than the generic varco i had in there
its used in some wurlitzer jukeboxes so i figured it should sound ok and it does. as good as a ceramic cart can anyway


Excellent for replacing Sonotone 8T, 9T and 52T models found in stereo 2300S-3300 models, or the Astatic #215 and #133 found in 3400-1050 models.

The early Collaro changers have trouble with rumble, not hum. The motor is not floated in the ones that look like mine (see avatar - the ones with the narrow head black tonearm and 3 knobs). I built a simple motor mount float system using rubber grommets that fits the original mount.

Also check your grounding. It might be that either the turntable chassis is not grounded, or the pickup leads have a ground loop.

You can get 78 styli for some Shure cartridges. I used the Shure M44-E cartridge, with a Shure N44-3 stylus for 78s.

The Sonotone 8T has a lower output and different equalization curve than most ceramic cartridges and Motorola amplifiers were properly optimized for that cartridge so most generic ceramic replacements won't work well, especially the Varco and BSR units. You might have better luck with a Tetrad, which is easily and inexpensively available but uses a special plug-in connector. The Tetrads were used in Califone school phonographs until a few years ago and replacements can be obtained from Califone dealers for around $10.

Also check out Radio Shack (on line). The retail stores are shit. On line has a wide selection of needles and quite a few cartridges. I've got a 300-E classroom recordplayer made by Audiotronics with that plug-in style cartridge, and the intructions are still posted in the lid to use the Astatic 89T. There was also a note scribbled that the needle was changed back in 1981. It still plays and that little tube amp sounds pretty good when you put your ear up to that large oval speaker. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

One problem is that some ceramic cartridges are made with a constant amplitude reproduction curve, while others have the ceramic bars tailored to give an RIAA reproduction curve. A passive network is needed between the cartridge and the amplifier to use the "wrong" type in a given stereo.

Note that the Collaro changer I have originally had such a passive network. I removed it when I installed the magnetic cartridge.

This past Christmas I received a Audiotronic record player that a library was selling.
Im having trouble locating a replacement phono cartridge. I have searched everywhere, but am having no luck.

It is indicated on the record player that a Audotronics 89T phono cartridge is what is neccessary.

does anyone have any suggestions of where i can located the piece?

thanks!

-hanna

hannaezoo wrote:This past Christmas I received a Audiotronic record player that a library was selling.
Im having trouble locating a replacement phono cartridge. I have searched everywhere, but am having no luck.

It is indicated on the record player that a Audotronics 89T phono cartridge is what is neccessary.

does anyone have any suggestions of where i can located the piece?

thanks!

-hanna

Hi Hanna -- Look carefully at the photo in the ad below; I think this is the one you need --

Astatic 89T -- http://www.radiolaguy.com/stylushelp.htm

The Astatic 89T was used in both the Audiotronics and Califone school phonographs. As noted in the ad, the double stylus version is no longer available. If you want to play both fine groove LPs/45s and wide groove 78s, you will need to order two needles. Since these simply push in and pull out of their mountings, switching needles back and forth should be no problem.

BTW, if you do a Google search for Astatic 89T, you'll spot a few more sellers. These are also available via eBay.

HTH,
David Spanovich

Yep, those Astatic 89T's were a common choice way back then.
The only thing is they're real "record-wearing" jobs (8 grams), but had high output (1 volt).

Whenever possible, I try to upgrade to something better, like a "wired for mono" stereo Tetrad or Astatic and lighten the tracking force.
The only thing is most stereo ceramics only put out 0.3-0.5 volts, so I build in a small one-transistor preamp, or possibly go to a magnetic w/preamp.