Audio Technica AT7V cartridge stylus replacement and/or swap
Hi out there,
I've needing to replace the stylus on my cartridge, an Audio-Technica AT7V. I like this cartridge quite a bit, it's been a good mate in my system and am overall happy with it. It's like no muss no fuss, just sounds good. I have heard some accounts of people swapping in different AT styli onto this body an am curious about trying that out.
Specifically, I'm wondering how a compatible line contact/microline stylus or Shibata might change my sound? Do these types of styli have improvements in surface noise over my AT7V elliptical? If anything, that's my one big complaint, but I've often understood that to be more a problem of the individual vinyl pressing. Ive been noticing some sibilance recently, but have kind of chalked that up to my stylus being on its last legs.
Considering the LP Gear ATN152MLP, or something like the AT150sa? Or possibly even a whole new cart like the VM540ML (though I think this stylus might also be swappable onto the AT7V body...).
This is going on a Music Hall MMF5. I have a Forte F40 preamp, so have selectable loading and gain on the phono-pre. rest of the signal path is a Monarchy SM-70 and Totem Arro speakers.