Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Pickering XVS-3000 & D-4500Q Phono Cartridge by mr.bear

Model:	XVS-3000 & D-4500Q
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$92
Description:	Pickering XSV Cartridge Body and Aftermarket D-4500Q Stylus
Manufacturer URL:	Pickering
Model Picture:	View

Review by mr.bear on October 20, 2016 at 15:24:30
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for the XVS-3000 & D-4500Q

I recently acquired a vintage Pickering XSV cartridge body that contained an old, dead XSV-3000 stylus. It appeared in good shape overall and the DC resistance of the coils was perfectly matched at 564 ohms each. I believe the bodies are universal for Pickerings high-end, "low impedance" cartridge series for that golden era.

I acquired a replacement stylus claimed to be an EVG Games unit, part number 4608-DQX from The Voice of Music in Wisconsin; those folks were very helpful and supportive to say the least. It is noted as an exact replacement for the D-4500Q, meant apparently for the Pickering XUV4500Q quad-compatible cartridge which claimed frequency response to 50kHz using "quadrahedral" tip shape. The tip shape is described in the VoM website as "hyperelleptical" and noted to me in correspondence with VoM as a Shibata profile. Just words!! The list price currently shows as $92, the Jico website lists the replacement D4500Q[e006017] for about twice that.

First I might say that arguments about the metal of the cantilever, the mounting schema, the tip shape, etc. tend to be "angels dancing on the head of a pin" notions. Who is willing to say Boron sounds better than Aluminum

Topic - REVIEW: Pickering XVS-3000 & D-4500Q Phono Cartridge - mr.bear 15:24:30 10/20/16 ( 8)

RE: REVIEW: Pickering XVS-3000 & D-4500Q Phono Cartridge - needlestein 11:05:09 07/20/17 ( 0)
I willing to say Boron cantilevers should have an advantage over aluminum... - EdAInWestOC 17:44:04 10/23/16 ( 1)
- Boron does seem to be ideal; haven't yet tried... - MWE 18:42:27 10/23/16 ( 0)
Spent some time listening today. - MWE 18:59:35 10/21/16 ( 3)
- RE: Spent some time listening today. - mr.bear 12:21:13 10/22/16 ( 2)
  - Compared to the AT150mlx and Shure... - MWE 16:29:09 10/22/16 ( 1)
    - RE: Compared to the AT150mlx and Shure... - flood2 01:14:20 07/21/17 ( 0)
RE: REVIEW: Pickering XVS-3000 & D-4500Q Phono Cartridge - MWE 16:11:50 10/20/16 ( 0)