Garrard Autoslim cartridge.

[MALC SCOTT]

Hi, which is the correct cartridge for a Garrard Autoslim turntable? Cheers, Malc.

[Audio1950]

There is no "correct" cartridge. The Autoslim can take any cartridge that has a central fixing screw. If you want to fit a cartridge that only has half-inch mounting centres, you will need an adapting plate, but they are hard to find now.

Barry

[jacob65]

You want a central fixing screw, and something that tracks around 3-5 grams...

[MALC SCOTT]

Can anyone suggest a replacement?

[Half a Mullard]

Hi Malc

I have a Pye Black Box with an Autoslim deck. It came fitted with a BSR X1M cartridge although I’m not sure if this was the original.

A BSR SX6M cartridge is available from Musonic which may be a suitable replacement

http://www.musonic.co.uk/index.php?m...ducts_id=18700

and it looks to have the all important clip Barry referred to. This may well fit the bill, alternatively the SC11M may well be suitable too, perhaps others will comment on this.

Both are medium output of course assuming you have a suitable amplifier.

[MALC SCOTT]

Hi Howard, it is for my 1962 Cossor radiogram (valve), Malc.

[Half a Mullard]

Hi Malc

What model is it? I’m guessing it will have the usual triode/pentode output stage so I would have thought a medium output cartridge should be OK.

The problem with some of the Dansette type players is that some used a single output stage which needed a high output crystal cartridge which are difficult to obtain now.

The BSR SC11M cartridge seems a popular replacement for many players and is still available.

[MALC SCOTT]

Cossor CR1504. It uses a couple of ECL82, Malc.

[Edward Huggins]

Is your Cossor Radiogram stereo or mono? I suspect being from 1962 it will be stereo. If so, use a BSR SC11M. Edward

[MALC SCOTT]

Hi Edward, yes it is stereo. I notice a SC12M for sale, is there much difference? Malc.

[Nickthedentist]

No, 11 and 12 seem to be the same essentially

[Edward Huggins]

I think, even if you could actually get one, that the SC12M only has an output of 77mV. Go for a SC11M whilst they are still available. Maplins have them for £40 and they give 190mV output. If now sold out as, they will soon, then try to get a SC12H, but not an M. Edward

[Nickthedentist]

That's interesting, Edward, I thought the -11M and -12M had identical output levels, but I stand corrected. Thanks.

[wd40addict]

Ben's sticky document above lists them as the same.

However I have yet to find any documentation that says what is different beetween SC11M & SC12M. Presumably the 12 is a newer design?

I have actually measured the output from an SC11M, it gave 70mV @ 1.2cms/s.

For comparison both an SC12H and a generic red Chinese job measured 100mV, whilst an Acos GP91 measured 140mV.

All measured into 1M @ 1kHz with the two channels connected in parallel using an RMS ac millivolmeter.

[Goodizzy]

I have an autoslim and replaced the original (cracked) cartridge with an Astatic 153D - .35V, stereo, 4g.

[wd40addict]

I should also add that played through my Black Box MkII the volume difference between the SC11M & SC12H was hardly noticeable.

[Edward Huggins]

Yes, don't let that "H" (high Output) suffix mislead anyone. Compared to a Crystal, the BSR SC12H cartridge only gives about 130mV - many have been fooled by this. Edward

[awc]

I find the quoted output from ceramic cartridges somewhat confusing. Is there a convention for quoted outputs that don't also quote the cm/sec they refer to?

[Edward Huggins]

The correct specification should always state the output in mV against a known cm/sec velocity. Edward

[wd40addict]

The figures I measured were using Decca LXT5346 which has a quoted velocity of 1.2 cm/s.

Ceramic cartridge specs are often pretty woolly, probably more decided by marketing than engineering!