LP Gear Phono Cartridges

LP GEAR AL3600LE CARTRIDGE

As part of our continuing enhancement roadmap, we research materials that could be used to improve the sound quality of cartridges and styli. We think that panzerholz is an investigative possibility. BUT there is no manufacturer of panzerholz cantilevers. So for now that is a dead-end. The next best and proven material is Aluminum. You can see the result of an investigation at: https://www.lessloss.com/page.html?id=80. Given this information, we decided to follow this path, and the result is the AL3600LE cartridge you see here. After numerous sound quality testing and comparisons using aluminum alloy, various dampers, and magnets, we surmised the made in Japan AL3600LE is superior to the CF3600LE in its ability to delineate music more naturally than Carbon Fiber clad plastic (cantilevers) across the listening spectrum.

● Aluminum alloy cantilever technology for timbre fidelity
● Harmonically exquisite, refractive, large multidimensional soundstage
● Alloy cantilever for musically authentic response to grooves
● Spectra elliptical diamond for excellent tracing accuracy
● Diamond tip r/R radii: 8 × 18µm (.0003 x .0007 inch)
● LP GEAR® — above and beyond originals, copies, types, and generics

The Nude Schwarz stylus (NSS) raises the bar in stylus performance. For over half a century, the traditional way to craft a stylus, which carries on still today, is to bond the stylus tip to a crown (metal shank) that in turn is bonded to the cantilever. The additional mass, and a different material element in between the diamond tip and cantilever, cause some loss of nuance in transmitting groove modulation from the tip to the cantilever. With the Schwarz edition, a nude diamond stylus (a whole diamond) is inserted, fastened, and/or glued directly to the cantilever - banishing the need for the crown (metal shank).

Thus, you can hear higher fidelity and exhilarating sound quality in every AT3600L NSS cartridge. The unencumbered polycrystallin diamond tip (for toughness and longer-playing life) directly traces the grooves for optimal retrieval of record groove modulation.

LP GEAR AT95SS (AT-95SS) CARTRIDGE
- with Nude Super Shibata diamond super tip

Non-amplified music does not sound shrill with shards that are painful to hear. With the AT95SS, you'll hear music rendered in opulent detail, acoustiic dimension and space in between the instruments and feel the cavity and vocal timbre of singers. It's a delicate and exhilirating experience, one not easy to forget.

In developing the AT95SS, we brought together best-selling and world-class stylus engineers and talented technicians to create the best Shibata stylus for the AT95E cartridge. The results have been nothing short of miraculous and very musically rewarding. Listen and have a salubrious time. You'll love it.

LP Tunes CARBON FIDELITY CF3600LE CARTRIDGE 
- Music that makes you want to listen.™

Listen to the new voice of music. Carbon fiber composites offer 10 times the strength of steel at half the weight. Codeveloped and designed with LP Tunes by the same Audio-Technica team that developed their lofty cartridges, the new Carbon Fidelity (CF) 3600LE harnesses carbon fiber technology to advance the state of existing Audio-Technica AT3600 cartridges and all of its versions. The updated design, tight specifications, Twin-Flux™ magnets, high-quality moving system fulcrum and radial damping ring allied with a Spectra elliptical diamond tip produce music that makes you want to listen. Higher fidelity from carbon technology.

"This is an amazing cartridge for the money. This cartridge digs into the grooves and gives a musical presentation with very good detail, excellent bass and natural midrange. I have had super pricey cartridges and I don't miss them. Not saying it's in same league as my 1k Clearaudio cartridge, but this thing just plays music that makes me want to listen. I have several pairs of high quality speakers and amps and have had same experience on all of my gear. I am playing more vinyl than ever because I am not thinking about a $500 re-tip of my pricey cartridge. Absolute no brainer purchase. Don't let price fool you. I have recommended to several friends all of whom purchased and enjoy it."¹ 

Mastered to illuminate against lofty cartridges beyond the economics of most listeners, the CF3600LE touches and endears the more you listen. You won't want to go back to your underperforming or pricey cartridge. You'll hear, feel and sense the music exquisitely rendered — harmonically full-bodied, refractive and refreshingly crystal clean with luminous detail spatially radiating with realness. You'll experience remarkable note clarity, projection and nuanced tonal complexity previously unheard and unappreciated. It will surprise and astound.

"Well, it sounded pretty good for an mm cart. To me it sounded more like a Grado 8MR without the dreaded Grado hum. Neutral, light, pleasing and easy to listen to. These are made by Audio-Technica and rebranded LPG. Good price considering the materials used (carbon fiber). Though a different character from the ATN95E this one has a receptive and inviting tone." ² 

"The sonic improvement was noticeable in terms of high frequency clarity and extension and improved detail." ³ 

"Best budget cartridge available. I compare it with the AT-120e as far as sound quality goes." ⁴ 

You are better off replacing the cartridge, or at the very least replacing the stylus with the $29.98 LP Gear CFN-3600LE, which improves the sound and lets you track a gram lighter at 2.5 grams." ⁵ 

CF3600LE Phono Cartridge Details 
- Type: Moving Magnet VM Dual Magnet Stereo
- Output voltage @ 1kHz,5cm/sec.: 2.5 mV
- Channel balance at 1kHz: 2.5 dB or less
- Channel separation @ 1kHz: over 18 dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Load resistance: 47k ohms
- Load capacitance: 100 - 200 pF
- Stylus type: 0.3 × 0.7 mil Spectra Elliptical diamond
- Cantilever: Super Fidelity Carbon Fiber⁶
- Tracking force range: 1.8 - 3.5 g
- Tracking force recommended: 2.5 g (25 mN)
- Coil impedance at 1kHz: 2.8k ohms
- Recommended load resistance: 47k ohms
- Recommended break-in duration: 30 hours
- Color: Black, Silver, Indigo
- Weight: 5.0 g
- Dimensions (mm): 30.0L × 16.9W × 17.0H
- Accessories included: Brass screws × 2, and nuts × 2
- Stylus replacement: LP Tunes CFN3600LE stylus

____________________________________ 
Footnote 1: Customer Review, "LP Tunes CF3600LE phono cartridge". 
Footnote 2: Customer Review, "LP Tunes CF3600LE Cartridge Set". 
Footnote 3: Michael Fremer, "Pioneer PL-30-K Automatic Single Play Turntable", Analog Planet, June 10, 2015. The esteemed reviewer compared, evaluated and found the LP Tunes CFN3600LE stylus to offer obvious sonic and tracing improvement as well as lower tracking force for record preservation. 
Footnote 4: Customer Review, loc.cit. 
Footnote 5: Michael Fremer, "Onkyo's CP-1050 Direct Drive Turntable", Analog Planet, July 21, 2015. The esteemed reviewer recommends the CF3600LE cartridge or CFN3600LE stylus depending on customer preference. 
Footnote 6: Carbon fiber composites offer 10 times the strength of steel at half the weight. Each producer's carbon fiber differs from those of its competitors, and the processing details are considered to be intellectual property. The special carbon fiber used in the Carbon Fidelity cartridges and styli is patiently and expertly considered for its signature characteristics to bring out the subtleties and finesse of music extracted from the grooves of records and LPs. For carbon fiber info see: "The making of carbon fiber". 

LP Tunes Music listening equipment: Graham Slee Reflex M phono preamp, Graham Slee Elevator EXP headamp, Denon AU-300LC Step-up transformer, Graham Slee Proprius mono amps, Quicksilver Silver 88 mono amps, Roadrunner Digital Turntable Tachometer, Sota Sapphire turntable, Audience SE Phono Cable, Audience Ohno speaker cables, Rogers LS3/5A speakers, Audience ClairAudient 1+1 Loudspeakers, Krell LAT 2 speakers, Yamaha NS1000M speakers, LP Tunes CF3600LE cartridge, Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge, Rega Carbon, Supex SD 901 Super cartridge, Denon DL-103 cartridge, Denon DL-110 cartridge, Grace F-9E cartridge.