A while ago I accidentally bought 2x Piezzo YM-308 ll styli with elliptical tips , mistaking them for one that would fit some of the older Audio Technica carts like an AT-10 with the round instead of square shank .
It turns out , not . So I started researching the YM-308 , which appears to be the same thing as an Acutex M312 Mklll STR , which in turn appeared to be quite a good hybrid MM/MI cart . So I went looking on Fleabay for a cartridge body , and the cheapest one I could find also came with an aftermarket stylus .
"Tri-pole Induced Magnetic Systems" with a US patent. https://patents.google.com/patent/US4037060
These carts were manufactured in Japan , but are of US/Canadian design - mine has a Canadian pat.no.
Piezzo YM-308 ll
https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=30bgb0ib8ntk2emi049uq71rb0&topic=6675.msg116386#msg116386
https://www.vinylengine.com/library/japan-piezo/ym-308.shtml
I setup the cart and dialed the weight into 1,5g for starters , with the idea that I could slowly dial it up to 2g if necessary . Not necessary .
This is an absolutely amazing sounding cartridge ! And it tracks beautifully too .
Don't write off those old 60's to 80's carts - find styli for them ! Preferably elliptical if possible , but even some of the spherical styli sound really good .
Some other old gems I own are :
1) ADC 660XE
2) Elac STS 444E
3) Goldring G900E
4) Ortofon VMS30 mkll
5) Empire 1000 Z/EX
6) a whole lot of vintage Shures , Audio Technicas , Grados and Ortofons .
Many of these carts have specs that put modern high-end carts to shame .
It turns out , not . So I started researching the YM-308 , which appears to be the same thing as an Acutex M312 Mklll STR , which in turn appeared to be quite a good hybrid MM/MI cart . So I went looking on Fleabay for a cartridge body , and the cheapest one I could find also came with an aftermarket stylus .
"Tri-pole Induced Magnetic Systems" with a US patent. https://patents.google.com/patent/US4037060
These carts were manufactured in Japan , but are of US/Canadian design - mine has a Canadian pat.no.
Piezzo YM-308 ll
https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=30bgb0ib8ntk2emi049uq71rb0&topic=6675.msg116386#msg116386
https://www.vinylengine.com/library/japan-piezo/ym-308.shtml
I setup the cart and dialed the weight into 1,5g for starters , with the idea that I could slowly dial it up to 2g if necessary . Not necessary .
This is an absolutely amazing sounding cartridge ! And it tracks beautifully too .
Don't write off those old 60's to 80's carts - find styli for them ! Preferably elliptical if possible , but even some of the spherical styli sound really good .
Some other old gems I own are :
1) ADC 660XE
2) Elac STS 444E
3) Goldring G900E
4) Ortofon VMS30 mkll
5) Empire 1000 Z/EX
6) a whole lot of vintage Shures , Audio Technicas , Grados and Ortofons .
Many of these carts have specs that put modern high-end carts to shame .
