BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Tony.rw · 30th May 2012, 1:30 pm

Dear all,

I've just purchased a Trixette record player for restoration, which has a working BSR X1M cartridge in it. Is this crystal cartridge stereo compatible; am I safe to use it for playing stereo records?

julie_m · 30th May 2012, 4:55 pm

Short answer -- Yes.

The BSR "X" series of cartridges used natural Rochelle salt crystals, and were mono but stereo-compliant. The "SC" series were stereo ceramic. There may also have been "C" (mono ceramic) and "SX" (stereo crystal) ranges; just because I haven't encountered such, doesn't mean they were never made.

As a rule of thumb, pretty much any cartridge with a flip-under stylus is stereo-compliant, whereas any flip-over cartridge isn't unless it is an actual stereo cartridge with 3 or 4 terminals; but I am ready to be proved wrong on this!

Tony.rw · 30th May 2012, 5:11 pm

Thanks for your reply, AJS. That's good to know. However, what you've said about flip over cartridges has raised another question. I bought a Dansette Major some time ago which had been partially restored. The tone arm had been fitted with a new flip over cartridge, which I thought was stereo compliant. It's a Varco TO45x; do you know anything about these cartridges?

Audio1950 · 30th May 2012, 5:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajs_derby

There may also have been "C" (mono ceramic) and "SX" (stereo crystal) ranges; just because I haven't encountered such, doesn't mean they were never made.

There certainly was a "C1" cartridge.

Barry

david freeman · 30th May 2012, 5:48 pm

Hi,

Unfortunately the X1M was not one of the stereo compatible BSR cartridges. The X1 range superseded the TC 8 range but remained mono only with no vertical compliance, although they used a flip under stylus assembly.

The first BSR compatible cartridge range was the X3 introduced in 1967.

The C1 was BSR's first stereo ceramic cartridge and was used in more upmarket players. It had a relatively low output of 110mv and a claimed tracking weight of 2-6 gms. It received a very favourable review in The Gramophone.

jon_the_id · 30th May 2012, 5:50 pm

Interesting, very interesting.
This page has C1 cartridges for sale:
http://www.adelcom.net/BSR%20Cartridges.htm

I don't quite believe all the tech specs though.

david freeman · 30th May 2012, 5:58 pm

Those specs bear no relation to those given by BSR in their technical data sheets when the C1 was introduced in 1964/5!

Tony.rw · 30th May 2012, 6:07 pm

Dear All - Thanks for the info. So it now seems I need to replace the cartridge if I want to play stereo records on it. Would the C1 be a suitable replacement, then, and how cheaply can you get hold of them?

By the way, I've got a flip over cartridge in another player. It's a Varco TO45X, and it's new, I think. I was under the impression that it was stereo compatible, but I'm not so sure now.

jon_the_id · 30th May 2012, 6:14 pm

So is this how it is?

The C1 is a stereo ceramic cartridge and was the first stereo cartridge from BSR, in about 1964.

The X series are crystal cartridges, the X1 and X2 types were mono, non-stereo compliant.

The X3 was the first crystal, mono, stereo compliant cartridge from BSR in 1967.

The X4 and X5 types are later crystal, mono, stereo compliant cartridges.

So were there ever any mono ceramic cartridges from BSR?

david freeman · 30th May 2012, 9:21 pm

There were no mono ceramic cartridges from BSR.
BSR's first stereo cartridge was the TC8S which was a crystal 'Ful-Fi' model introduced in 1958, output 250mv, tracking weight 5-9 gms and a frequency response of 50 - 10000 c/s within 3db limits, according to the BSR data sheet.

AC/HL · 30th May 2012, 11:16 pm

This sort of question comes up often.
Does anyone have a list of common cartridges and their basic parameters (ie mono/stereo/compatibility/high low etc.
It doesn't have to be detailed, and can be refined as and when.

julie_m · 30th May 2012, 11:38 pm

Never heard of Varco, sorry.

Also, I didn't know the X1 was mono-only.

I'll watch out if I see one of those in a record player.

ben · 31st May 2012, 12:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony.rw

T It's a Varco TO45x; do you know anything about these cartridges?

Do you mean vaco luxor? Does it have a screw-in stylus?

Tony.rw · 31st May 2012, 2:56 pm

It has screw-in styli, but it definitely says 'Varco' on the cartridge. The cartridge in following link resembles mine exactly, except that the model number is different:

http://needleguy.com/product_info.php?cPath=114&products_id=...id=4ab720918115161ac17acba4ebccc0b5

ThePillenwerfer · 31st May 2012, 5:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC/HL

Does anyone have a list of common cartridges and their basic parameters (ie mono/stereo/compatibility/high low etc.

That would be very handy.

- Joe

ben · 31st May 2012, 8:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony.rw

The cartridge in following link resembles mine exactly, except that the model number is different:

http://needleguy.com/product_info.php?cPath=114&products_id=...id=4ab720918115161ac17acba4ebccc0b5

That's mono - a record shredder, get rid of it!

Tony.rw · 1st Jun 2012, 11:14 pm

OK, thanks, Ben. I hope it hasn't already done too much damage to my records. Have you any suggestions for a replacement. It's in a BSR UA8, I think. And with respect to the Trixette, would you recommend replacing the BSR X1M with a SC12H to compensate for output?

ben · 1st Jun 2012, 11:19 pm

In a word, yes. SC12H should do the job .

Tony.rw · 1st Jun 2012, 11:24 pm

OK, thanks, again.

30th May 2012, 1:30 pm	#1
Tony.rw Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6	BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Dear all, I've just purchased a Trixette record player for restoration, which has a working BSR X1M cartridge in it. Is this crystal cartridge stereo compatible; am I safe to use it for playing stereo records?

30th May 2012, 4:55 pm	#2
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 8,004	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Short answer -- Yes. The BSR "X" series of cartridges used natural Rochelle salt crystals, and were mono but stereo-compliant. The "SC" series were stereo ceramic. There may also have been "C" (mono ceramic) and "SX" (stereo crystal) ranges; just because I haven't encountered such, doesn't mean they were never made. As a rule of thumb, pretty much any cartridge with a flip-under stylus is stereo-compliant, whereas any flip-over cartridge isn't unless it is an actual stereo cartridge with 3 or 4 terminals; but I am ready to be proved wrong on this! __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

30th May 2012, 5:11 pm	#3
Tony.rw Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Thanks for your reply, AJS. That's good to know. However, what you've said about flip over cartridges has raised another question. I bought a Dansette Major some time ago which had been partially restored. The tone arm had been fitted with a new flip over cartridge, which I thought was stereo compliant. It's a Varco TO45x; do you know anything about these cartridges?

30th May 2012, 5:48 pm	#5
david freeman Hexode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 268	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Hi, Unfortunately the X1M was not one of the stereo compatible BSR cartridges. The X1 range superseded the TC 8 range but remained mono only with no vertical compliance, although they used a flip under stylus assembly. The first BSR compatible cartridge range was the X3 introduced in 1967. The C1 was BSR's first stereo ceramic cartridge and was used in more upmarket players. It had a relatively low output of 110mv and a claimed tracking weight of 2-6 gms. It received a very favourable review in The Gramophone. Last edited by david freeman; 30th May 2012 at 5:55 pm. Reason: More information

30th May 2012, 5:50 pm	#6
jon_the_id Pentode Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, UK. Posts: 144	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Interesting, very interesting. This page has C1 cartridges for sale: http://www.adelcom.net/BSR%20Cartridges.htm I don't quite believe all the tech specs though.

30th May 2012, 5:58 pm	#7
david freeman Hexode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 268	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Those specs bear no relation to those given by BSR in their technical data sheets when the C1 was introduced in 1964/5!

30th May 2012, 6:07 pm	#8
Tony.rw Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Dear All - Thanks for the info. So it now seems I need to replace the cartridge if I want to play stereo records on it. Would the C1 be a suitable replacement, then, and how cheaply can you get hold of them? By the way, I've got a flip over cartridge in another player. It's a Varco TO45X, and it's new, I think. I was under the impression that it was stereo compatible, but I'm not so sure now.

30th May 2012, 6:14 pm	#9
jon_the_id Pentode Join Date: May 2007 Location: London, UK. Posts: 144	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? So is this how it is? The C1 is a stereo ceramic cartridge and was the first stereo cartridge from BSR, in about 1964. The X series are crystal cartridges, the X1 and X2 types were mono, non-stereo compliant. The X3 was the first crystal, mono, stereo compliant cartridge from BSR in 1967. The X4 and X5 types are later crystal, mono, stereo compliant cartridges. So were there ever any mono ceramic cartridges from BSR?

30th May 2012, 9:21 pm	#10
david freeman Hexode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 268	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? There were no mono ceramic cartridges from BSR. BSR's first stereo cartridge was the TC8S which was a crystal 'Ful-Fi' model introduced in 1958, output 250mv, tracking weight 5-9 gms and a frequency response of 50 - 10000 c/s within 3db limits, according to the BSR data sheet.

30th May 2012, 11:16 pm	#11
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,649	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? This sort of question comes up often. Does anyone have a list of common cartridges and their basic parameters (ie mono/stereo/compatibility/high low etc. It doesn't have to be detailed, and can be refined as and when.

30th May 2012, 11:38 pm	#12
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 8,004	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? Never heard of Varco, sorry. Also, I didn't know the X1 was mono-only. I'll watch out if I see one of those in a record player. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

31st May 2012, 2:56 pm	#14
Tony.rw Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? It has screw-in styli, but it definitely says 'Varco' on the cartridge. The cartridge in following link resembles mine exactly, except that the model number is different: http://needleguy.com/product_info.php?cPath=114&products_id=...id=4ab720918115161ac17acba4ebccc0b5

1st Jun 2012, 11:14 pm	#17
Tony.rw Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? OK, thanks, Ben. I hope it hasn't already done too much damage to my records. Have you any suggestions for a replacement. It's in a BSR UA8, I think. And with respect to the Trixette, would you recommend replacing the BSR X1M with a SC12H to compensate for output?

1st Jun 2012, 11:19 pm	#18
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,669	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? In a word, yes. SC12H should do the job . __________________ Regards, Ben.

1st Jun 2012, 11:24 pm	#19
Tony.rw Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6	Re: BSR X1M cartridge: stereo compatible? OK, thanks, again.