Vinyl equipment, where to buy (esp. spare stylus/cartridge)?

**Alpha_One** · May 4th, 2007 06:04 PM

To everybody (especially the vinyl users/enthusiasts):

I'm transferring my lola's vinyl collections using her turntable. Right now all our spare carts from my aunt in the 'states, and she's not exactly buying them wholesale (they're $40 a pop, so I can't blame her).

Any tips on where to get spare carts/stylii for reasonable prices (around Metro Manila)? Also, how much do you think a dedicated phono preamp would cost (I'm currently using lola's component system, having a big box under the computer table isn't exactly convenient). Thanks in advance, guys!

**Dekra** · May 7th, 2007 11:29 AM

The audio shops at the Makati Cinema Square basement level might be of help to you.

**nicolodeon** · May 7th, 2007 12:13 PM

The audio shops at Raon, Quiapo - especially the shops that cater to mobile/DJs who still use vynil. They also sell phono pre-amps there. What is your turntable i.e. brand and model?

**wildthing** · May 7th, 2007 12:27 PM

si tomsrolla sa grupotoyota forum works on a big audio shop... I think they have good brand turn tables (yung pang DJ class). I remember nuon that the TECHNICS brands was one of the best (cheap din ang stylus nito).

**Galactus** · May 8th, 2007 10:58 AM

Yup, Raon is the place to go for styluses of all kinds. Most are replacement styluses, however.

For 2nd hand phono pre-amps, you can try the Port Area in Manila. Sangkatutak dun, almost lahat galing sa Japan

**Alpha_One** · May 8th, 2007 12:21 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Are there any specific shops that you'd like to recommend?

Our turntable is an entry-level Technics SL-BD20D. It uses P-Mount (or "T4P" as Technics/Panasonic calls it) cartridges (plug-and-play, pre-weighed stuff). Magkano kaya ang ganitong klaseng cart?

Yung phono preamp naman, lumang Sanyo component amplifier (110v pa!) na patapon na at sira na ang tape deck. Minodify lang ng electrician friend namin para may line-out. It works well actually, but it's WAY too big to keep around under our computer table!

Nagre-repair rin ba itong mga shops na ito ng turntable? May lumang Sony PS-Q7 direct drive automatic turntable kasi ang tatay ko that we'd like to have repaired, for novelty more than anything. Cute kasi siya eh, 1/4 lang ang size compared to a normal turntable (the record sticks out of the TT while playing).

P.S. I'm not after those DJ type TT's, styluses and carts. They use higher tracking forces that are strictly for DJ use, and wear out records pretty quickly. Nagre-restore lang kasi kami dito ng rare stuff sa koleksyon ng parents at grandparents, nothing too Hi-Fi either.