WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LINN K 9 CARTRIDGE?

If you want a new stylus for your K9, you have a few choices. Audio Technica was the OEM for this, and it takes the same styli as the Clearaudio MMs. The options are either an AT95 or it's various aftermarket replacements, or the 3472 series (P-mount) styli. For high mass arms the 95 type will work better. Compliance is equivalent to 15cu and they track at around 2 to 2.5g. For your Linn Basic, I think you will have much better results with a 3472 type. These are the ones with the unusual looking plastic holder that must be trimmed back for the stylus to fit. It's no big deal, a couple of snips with a wire cutter gets the job done. These styli have thinner, lighter cantilevers and are more responsive with lower tip mass. They track at 1.25 to 1.5g. If you go to LpGear you'll see the various tip options. The aftermarket ones are made by Jico and seem to be equivalent quality as OEM. I'm using one now on a Virtuoso with a low mass arm. IMO it's better than the low compliance variety (with the right set-up).
Regards,

**Price point should tell you something about the relative quality of that product.**

Not really. AT uses that body to custom manufacture carts as an OEM. It's the same body used for the Clearaudio Maestro. How's that for a price point? I'm not familiar enough with the Linn K series to comment, but I know there are admirers. The ready made styli available as replacements are limited to bonded diamonds/straight alum cantilevers made by AT or Jelco. You can get these with LC (vivid line) or shibata tips. These replacements work pretty good. For top performance have a stylus custom fitted by someone like Soundsmith. A .3 x .7 elliptical with tapered alum cantilever is $150. People rave about this on the Virtuoso.