Dead AKG P 8E with X 8S R

[Bernhard]

Hi

I bought a vintage Revox B790 with a AKG P 8E with X 8S R and the P 8E is dead. One channel is 1 kohm and the other open.

Any idea if it is possible to repair or a good & cheap substitute ?

[MosfetOwner]

The only people who can repair cartridges are experts like Van den Hul in The Netherlands http://www.vandenhul.com , Garrott Brothers in Australia http://www.garrottbrothers.com , or the Cartridge Man in England http://www.thecartridgeman.co.uk (he used to be a Garrott Brothers agent, but now advertises his own repairs, after the two Garrott Brothers died in 1992 – the business has now been re-started by their business partner). However, it will be expensive (the Cartridge Man advertises that it will cost a minimum of ₤90.00 for a moving magnet cartridge), and may not be worth it, assuming that it is possible. Have you tried asking AKG? They have a forum on their website at http://www.akg.com , and they’re an Austrian company. If it’s open circuit in one channel, however, I think it’s probably not worth repairing.

I think you should look at buying a new one. Have a look at http://www.needledoctor.com for some ideas on cartridge costs, and then look for a dealer in Germany. The Revox B790 was a really excellent turntable, easily the equivalent of their excellent tape decks, although the linear tracking can cause problems if the electronics fail. From old reviews I have, the Revox B790 and its manual version, the B795, came originally with a Revox cartridge, but needed an adaptor to enable the use of other cartridges. Yours obviously has the adaptor fitted, so you should be able to fit any standard half-inch mount cartridge, ranging from very cheap, to “sell your car” prices! To get an equivalent quality cartridge to the excellent AKG P8E, you’re looking at a quite expensive model, such as the Shure V15VxMR, if you can still get one (they stopped making it last year), or the Ortofon OM 40. There is somebody from Germany who specialises in phono cartridges and has an Ebay store, who is still advertising Shure V15VxMR’s, so have a look there.

However, if you’re only concerned with getting your turntable going again, then you may be able to get by with a cheap $30 cartridge, or something slightly more expensive – it depends on what you wish to spend. Hi-fi cartridges from Shure, Ortofon, Audio Technica, Denon and Stanton have an excellent reputation, and they are all still producing phono cartridges. Just steer clear of DJ cartridges, which are designed to be strong to withstand abuse, rather than to sound good, and generally have high tracking weights.

[Alain Dupont]

Bernhard,

I still have a working AKG P8ES with a new needle from Needle Doctor to try {no spare time actualy}; The suspension of the stylus was desagregating...

On my Thorens TD 145, I replaced it with a Ortofon OMP30 with great results.

If choosing the OM30/40 mind the overall height of the cartridge.

On the choice of the Shure V15VxMR ; well I had oportunity to listen to the 2 cartridges
and the AKG P8ES won head and shoulders, with better attacks, and a richer medium
also flatter on all the range.

Regards.

Alain.

[rayfutrell]

Don't use a high inductance cartridge like the Shure V15 with the Revox. The interconnects have too much capacity, 250 PF if I recall correctly.

According to my simulations the optimum value of capacitive loading for the Shure is around 80 PF. That is the total capacity in the cartridge windings, tonearm wireing, interconnects and preamp. That low a capacity is difficult to achieve.

Use a low inductance cartridge in the Revox.

Regards,
Ray

[realrookie]

Alain,

Just curious if you are willing to sell this cartridge?

Thanks in advance

[Alain Dupont]

realrookie,

I did buy a replacement stylus.... and moved back to France since.

And sorry, no I want to keep it for reference.

I have seen one NOS on ebay last year.

Happy New Year to all.

Alain.

[frankwm]

Got a very nice 1977-vintage boxed/P8ES/ from eBay early 2006 - £10.50, inc p/p.
Sold with 'under 12month usage' stylus...but got a full refund (still have the PU..) as there was essentially near-zero output.
It appears the internally mounted magnet is also prone to 'fail'/demagnetize.
What very little sound I could hear indicated exceptionally fast transients.

One possibility would be to get a slightly later version P8 - these turn up on eBay.de fairly frequently - often with a damaged/ersatz stylus.

[Foehn]

I have a P8ES mm cartridge that has never been used, Stylus suspension is good, but there is no output, so I assume it has become demagnetised. Anyone know if there is someone in the Southern Hemisphere able to restore it, is it worth restoring, or should I put it in the china cabinet and admire it as I pass?

[frankwm]

There was one on eBay.UK sold last few days.
I emailed the seller asking about the output - he then tested it & discovered his was very low too - & amended the listing.
It sold for under 2pounds.....boxed/etc..

The body doesn't appear easy to get-in-to...so my only advice (as above) is to find the later type (black) AKG P8 body.
Hopefully, those magnets still retain some decent power...

[Foehn]

I decided not to bother any further with it and advertised it as a non functioning cartridge. Happy to say I have a fair and reasonable price for it: