There are boatloads of reviews and forum posts about the Audio-Technica AT13, AT14. AT15 and AT20 cartridges. (Check vinylengine, audiokarma, et. al.. Almost everyone writing has a lot of positive comments, some have positive comments mixed with expectations that were not met. Most of the disappointment seems to come from one of two issues, (1) the user has a low mass, or ultra low mass tonearm. While this cartridge tracks at 1.0-2.0 grams, most low mass tonearms have resonant frequency issues between 5 and 10 Hz. When your cartridge (like the AT14Sa) has a frequency response of 5Hz on the low end, the cartridge and the tonearm do not interact well! The best reviews are coming from people with SL-1400s or SL-1700s, or something with a 70s-Style tonearm. My brother-in-law has one on his AR table from the 70s, and it sings. (2) The tendency for older AT cartridges is to enjoy lower capacitance settings on the phono preamp. Boosting capacitance is, in many ways, like turning up the treble knob. If your highs are brighter than mother nature intends, then you will likely react by thinking the bass or midrange are lacking.

In one sense, all of this is moot, you probably wouldn't be buying this stylus unless you already know the cartridges.

Finding a replacement stylus for one of these, that performed as well as the original can be a bit tricky! AT stopped making this stylus a good while back. One lucky buyer will take the prize.

This is a Audio-Technica stylus, built by Audio-Technica in Japan. It was marketed by Pfanstiehl, a company that purchased styluses from all the major cartridge makers, repackaged them and used their own model numbers. This is a 201-DEM. It is NOT a 4201-DEM. Pfanstiehl styluses that have 4-digit numbers that begin with 4 are all generics. Check the photo of the rear of the box, this stylus was made in Japan by Audio-Technica.

In the late 90s, the prevailing attitude was that CDs would conquer the world, that phonograph stuff was going to become antiques, and vinyl would die a slow and painful death.

HA!

Today more turntables are sold than CD players, more new vinyl is sold today than new CDs. U N F O R T U N A T E L Y , Audio-Technica, the company that made these cartridges and styluses stopped producing most ½ standard mount cartridges and shortly afterward, the styluses to go with them. CD was the thing, most new turntables (at that time) were P-Mount. As CD died and vinyl began to sell more, AT began making more ½ standard mount cartridges. This stylus was sold by Pfanstiehl (the "old" Pfanstiehl in Waukegan, IL). This was before the huge electronics company (oddly enough, in Rockford, IL) purchased Pfanstiehl.