AKG P8ES cartridge - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Bufo Bill · 10th Dec 2019, 3:33 pm

Hi, hope this post is in the right forum . . . Does anyone know know when the AKG P8ES cartridge came out? 1977 Maybe? I ask because I like to collect old magazines (Hi fi News etc) with reviews and adverts for the vintage gear that I collect. I placed this here because it's the information I am interested in, but if it still needs to go in the wanted section, I apologize in advance to the moderators.
Thanks from Bill.

Ted Kendall · 10th Dec 2019, 11:04 pm

'77 is about right - the P8ES appeared in a recommended systems feature in Hi Fi News and had a formal review as well, if memory serves.

Bufo Bill · 10th Dec 2019, 11:29 pm

That's great info, thanks Ted. And great memory too, may I add!
Many thanks from Bill.

Trevor · 13th Dec 2019, 8:50 pm

I used to retail these at about this time and into the early 80,s Very nice pickups a welcome change from the Shure and Goldring units of the time
Output was a little on the low side but very smooth from memory the stylus suspension was prone to collapse though
Trev

Bufo Bill · 13th Dec 2019, 10:38 pm

Trevor, I have one of these on my 3009 Series II Improved arm, and the sound is glorious. I previously had a modern Shure M97xe, and the sound quality between the two is like night and day. The AKG was £30 cheaper too!
Regards from Bill.

Trevor · 14th Dec 2019, 1:14 pm

I have to agree with you re the sound very smooth but as I say I must have sold 100 Shure M75 ed for every AKG
I can remember making a no of battery powered pre amps with a gain of 5 for use with the AKG as the output compared with the Shure was low Best sound I ever listened to of the AKG with a Phillips valve but transformeless amplifier into a pair of 800 ohm speakers
very rare
Trev

Bufo Bill · 14th Dec 2019, 6:33 pm

Oddly, my M97XE was rated at 4mV, while my P8ES was rated at 3.75mV, but I used the former at no.6 on my Quad volume pot while I get a better sound at no.5 volume for my AKG in exactly the same set up. Perhaps my M97Xe has a fault. Edit: perhaps I am being deceived by the extra bass Hz? Very odd indeed.
Regards from Bill.

Trevor · 14th Dec 2019, 7:57 pm

The only time I used the X5 pre was when it was used with older valve stuff leak point one etc hence the gain was required I doubt that you have a problem with your M97Xe
Sure had a very unusual method of upgrading their pickups the flag ship models were downgraded as and when a new top of the range was introduced believe it or not their was a time when the M3D was the top of the range !
I cannot believe how much money I have thrown away if i had saved all the cartidges I binned I would now be a wealthy man I used to sell 50- 100 a week
Trev

Bufo Bill · 14th Dec 2019, 8:13 pm

I didn't realise about the downgrading, thanks for clearing that up. You're not that far from me Trev.If you're around my way and in need of a cuppa, give me a shout won't you?
Regards from Bill

10th Dec 2019, 3:33 pm	#1
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	AKG P8ES cartridge Hi, hope this post is in the right forum . . . Does anyone know know when the AKG P8ES cartridge came out? 1977 Maybe? I ask because I like to collect old magazines (Hi fi News etc) with reviews and adverts for the vintage gear that I collect. I placed this here because it's the information I am interested in, but if it still needs to go in the wanted section, I apologize in advance to the moderators. Thanks from Bill.

10th Dec 2019, 11:04 pm	#2
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,670	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge '77 is about right - the P8ES appeared in a recommended systems feature in Hi Fi News and had a formal review as well, if memory serves.

10th Dec 2019, 11:29 pm	#3
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge That's great info, thanks Ted. And great memory too, may I add! Many thanks from Bill.

13th Dec 2019, 8:50 pm	#4
Trevor Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,082	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge I used to retail these at about this time and into the early 80,s Very nice pickups a welcome change from the Shure and Goldring units of the time Output was a little on the low side but very smooth from memory the stylus suspension was prone to collapse though Trev

13th Dec 2019, 10:38 pm	#5
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge Trevor, I have one of these on my 3009 Series II Improved arm, and the sound is glorious. I previously had a modern Shure M97xe, and the sound quality between the two is like night and day. The AKG was £30 cheaper too! Regards from Bill.

14th Dec 2019, 1:14 pm	#6
Trevor Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,082	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge I have to agree with you re the sound very smooth but as I say I must have sold 100 Shure M75 ed for every AKG I can remember making a no of battery powered pre amps with a gain of 5 for use with the AKG as the output compared with the Shure was low Best sound I ever listened to of the AKG with a Phillips valve but transformeless amplifier into a pair of 800 ohm speakers very rare Trev

14th Dec 2019, 6:33 pm	#7
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge Oddly, my M97XE was rated at 4mV, while my P8ES was rated at 3.75mV, but I used the former at no.6 on my Quad volume pot while I get a better sound at no.5 volume for my AKG in exactly the same set up. Perhaps my M97Xe has a fault. Edit: perhaps I am being deceived by the extra bass Hz? Very odd indeed. Regards from Bill.

14th Dec 2019, 7:57 pm	#8
Trevor Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,082	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge The only time I used the X5 pre was when it was used with older valve stuff leak point one etc hence the gain was required I doubt that you have a problem with your M97Xe Sure had a very unusual method of upgrading their pickups the flag ship models were downgraded as and when a new top of the range was introduced believe it or not their was a time when the M3D was the top of the range ! I cannot believe how much money I have thrown away if i had saved all the cartidges I binned I would now be a wealthy man I used to sell 50- 100 a week Trev

14th Dec 2019, 8:13 pm	#9
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: AKG P8ES cartridge I didn't realise about the downgrading, thanks for clearing that up. You're not that far from me Trev.If you're around my way and in need of a cuppa, give me a shout won't you? Regards from Bill