Stanton 500 Stylus Replacements (mkI, mkII, mkIII)

The Stanton 500 cartridge series was originally produced for broadcast and professional use, but has gained high reputation amongst vinyl audiophiles over the years. For hifi use high compliance styli were developed and the Stanton 500 series is true to the house sound of Stanton/Pickering: dynamic, warm with silky highs and low sibilance.

Stanton was a sister company of Pickering. Pickering was founded in 1946. The Stanton brand originated from a wish to approach the professional broadcast market in the early 60’s. However over time the company produced consumer and professional cartridges under both brands.

Although original styli are now almost impossible to get for this cartridge, we can provide you with high quality aftermarket styli from Jico, Tonar and Analogis. When you choose a stylus please consider that the more refined stylus tip you choose to install the more controlled and well defined your soundstage will get.

Regarding tonearm adaptation, be aware, that, if you have a light weight tonearm you should choose a stylus with low recommended tracking force. If you have a medium tonearm you can choose between all types.  If you have a heavy tonearm you should normally choose a cartridge / stylus with high vertical tracking force.

Recommended tracking differs between the stylus groups. This is a general guideline: 

Styli with an A suffix have a recommended tracking force of 2 - 4g.
Styli with an E suffix have a recommended tracking force of 1,5 - 3g.
Styli with an EE suffix have a recommended tracking force of 1 - 2g.
Styli with a spherical stylus have a recommended tracking force of 2 - 7g.

Please notice, that even if you pick a stylus with the same type of tip and same recommended tracking force as the original stylus that you just left behind, you probably will experience a different sound, - even with the same type of stylus tip. Some find the sound better and some do not. It is subjective and depending on your preferences and Hifi system. 

Pickering/Stanton compatibility:

Pickering V-15 series is equivalent to the Stanton 500 series and the styli are interchangeable. The cartridges are based on the moving iron technique.

Pickering XV-15 series is equivalent to the Stanton 68X series and the styli are interchangeable. The cartridges are based on the moving iron technique.

Pickering XSV series is equivalent to the Stanton 881 series. The cartridges are based on moving magnet technique.

We recommend around 20 hours of run-in before the new stylus will perform at it’s best.

Make sure you have the right equipment for setting up the stylus. A good protractor and a stylus pressure gauge can be a must in that regard.

If you need help to choose the right stylus to match your taste of sound please don’t hesitate to reach out to our expert support team.