Notice That There Are Not Many Survivors of the MC from the early 19080's or so?

Funny timing

Yesterday I mounted my Sumiko Talisman S, I bought it because it has a Sapphire Tube cantilever, and a Van Den Hul stylus, and Imaging Specs.

I played 1 album, Betty Carter, 'Finally', sounded really good.

I will compare it to my AT160ML which has a gold plated beryllium cantilever with a MicroLine stylus. 

Imaging: both have tight 0.5db channel balance, both ^ 30db channel separation.

btw, I re-mounted my Shure V15VxMR with it's beryllium micro wall tube, .0005" thick, had to increase it's tracking force to 1.17 g on that tonearm, plays fine now, however, I compared and prefer the AT160ml which tracks at 1.25g. 

Imaging: that Shure is less tight 1.5 db channel balance and less wide 25 db channel separation.

I expected the Shure to be amazing as I recalled from pre-cd era when it was on a 3009 II arm on my Thorens TD124 TT.

I have owned several Fidelity Research FR1mk3F's, an FR MC201, a Sumiko Blue Point, a Denon 304,  plus a GAS Sleeping Beauty (Coral B777). Those are gone except I have acquired another 304 plus a 301 along with a Denon 103D and a 110 and another Coral B777. On hand are several Denon 103's and a 103R in use.

@elliottbnewcombjr The V15 cartridge, any version, which used to be ubiquitous and therefore, we took for granted is now a kind of a tricky item to set up.  I still have my V15Vmr, but the stylus is a Jico.  I am going to set it up on my Series III arm on the HW19 when we get back up to NH and give it a serious listen.  It has been too long since I did that,  Years ago I thought there was no better cartridge, but the last time around with the Vmr I was somewhat disappointed.  It might have been circumstance.  A lot has changed since then.  It would not surprise me if my AT VMN60xSL beats it though.  I continue to be stunned by this cartridge.  It compares favorably to my AT 33PTG/II, which just boggles me even to post such a statement. 

bill

I have the Jico SAS stylus for the V15Vxmr body, I will compare it to the new Shure OEM stylus. Perhaps my NOS stylus needs to be broken in some? Suspension limbered up, perhaps I’ll play it more before comparing.

Meanwhile, I can compare the Sumiko Talisman S to the AT160ml. I already know they both have excellent imaging, and very involving sound, the question is whether I can detect any subtle difference that must be there. I’ll get my young audiophile friend to listen with me.

Like you and your AT-VMN760xsl, I just love it, I have two AT160ml, and one at150 body with an AT160ml stylus. All great prices at Yahoo Japan Auctions, and they all came with AT Magnesium headshells with azimuth and overhang adjustment.

btw, when worn, if Steve cannot put a new stylus in the beryllium cantilever (that microwall be is so brittle, risky to mess with), I can put any VMN stylus on the AT160 or AT150 bodies, it’s the same outer design as your 760 body

Lastly, like you, out comes the MC AT33PTG/II to compare to the winner of the above. MC if the Sumiko, the others are all MM.

I think this time I will take the trouble to use the SPL meter to find the volume knob locations for each for proper listening.

@bdgregory 

I had an AT 150, the seller called it an AT160ml. It turned out, only when I removed it from the headshell, the identification was only on the top of the cartridge, how stupid is that. That's my AT150 body with an AT160ML stylus (which is why the seller thought it was an AT160ml. I ask for 1/3 refund and seller agreed.

You might remove yours, and find info on the top of it.