Audio Technica AT ML-180 Cartridge Advice

I've been reading this thread with interest.  AT's 'interchangeability' mantra has proven a definite boon for me.  :-)  In fact, that had me salivating about the 150 cart that chakster has/had up for auction.  Looking at the numbers, it appears that a 150mlx stylus/cantilever is a very close substitute.  Then, I began to look at my 'be good to myself' purchase of a NOS AT25 with spare NOS stylus and I realized I don't wish to be broke (again) during the holidays.

Of course, that won't prevent me from following this thread ad infinitum  :-)  Looks like I need to buy more lottery tickets!

Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
Don't drink and drive!
Live long and perspire!

@ateal

BTW, if that TK10 greatly disappoints you, please give me a shout.  :-)

@chakster 
I understand your preference for authentic items.  Earlier in the year, I was able to score a NOS ATN15ss stylus for my AT15sa cart.  Wow!  What a detailed little beauty!  Just afterwards, I found a 1978 AT ad brochure that detailed the stylus/cantilever improvements.  Of course, AT encouraged everyone to take advantage of their suggestion.  :-)  IIRC, my AT15sa cart is an earlier model with 370 mh inductance, unlike the later 450 mh models.  Nonetheless, it ranks a very close second tier to my Signet TKs and AT 25.

@ateal

Congrats on the Tk10 acquisition.  I will be interested to read your opinion of it.  I have one TK9lca, the rest have ATN25 stylii.  So, far, I have not been able to hear a great difference between them.  Of course, the super-small 2x7 stone will not last as long as a microline, but that's why I've been stockpiling stylii.  Personally, I'd rather have a factory replacement than a sleeved and super-glued after market fix.

On a tangental note, I have fallen in love with Beryllium cantilever stylii.  Besides the ATN23a, and ATN 25, the AT15ss and AT155lc deliver such an open soundstage, as does an AT9v.  I'm listening to "LA 4  Scores!" as I type.  Might as well be in the club with them:-)

I digress.  L'Chaim to all.

Obviously, my comments originate from 'the nickel seats', so everyone can apply the grain-of-salt factor easily.

In years past, I studied psychoacoustics partly as a hobby, and partly to aid in supplying sound for live gigs.  I came to the realization that, despite factual evidence, oftentimes people preferred sound that was not quite the best that could be offered.  Their judgement of 'great sound' was mostly subjective and that was that. 

Without beating a dead horse, or denigrating anyone's hearing ability, I become amused at the microscopic hair-splitting that arises over tubes vs rods; both of which are an order of dimension smaller than I could ever hear the difference.  My personal preference is Beryllium with a Line Contact stylus, i.e. the ATN155lc.  I recently acquired an AT150mlx and an AT150sa within a few weeks' time.  "Now, I can have a shoot-off between the TOTL AT carts from 3 different eras", I told myself.  Current results:  The AT155lc is still my favorite, but the other 2 are simply different, not better or worse.  Add to that, due to my small listening room, my 3-way column speakers are only 8 feet from my ears, which essentially provide a near-field environment, like a sound studio.  Auditioning new components or vinyl is also dependent on what part of the day it's done in.  Personally, I also have to factor in whether or not I've eaten recently and the effect low blood sugar has on my ability to process information.

I love facts and information and charts just as much as the rest of you 'audioholics', but I need to remind myself frequently that my musical enjoyment is not a laboratory pursuit, rather a respite from a day in a life.

YRMV