Technics EPC-270C is one of the best cartridge I listened and it out performs many cartridges which are cost about 200$. It is bit less dynamic compare to today's modern cartridges but its strength is sweet midrange. That is the reason why almost all aftermarket stylus makers still making stylus for EPC-270C cartridge. It may not go well with English albums but for Indian Hindi or Tamil film music 270C is my choice even over Otrofon 2M Blue or AT 440MLB. There are two version of this cartridge EPC-270C and EPC-270C II. I have both and both are almost same performance and tonal quality but 270C II is marginally better in refinement.
Aftermarket Stylus are available for 270C in both Conical and Elliptical form from many brands, but no comparison in net about these styluses. I have chosen from the well-known reputed brands Jico and Nagaoka for this comparison. Both are bonded diamond elliptical type tip. Here is my observation on both stylus.
Fit and Finish: Both make stylus are extremely good in finish and fits in the cartridge firmly without any issue. However, I feel the Nagaoka is sliding inside the Cartridge body with free and feel of right amount out contact pressure than Jico. Jico slides inside bit free without any counter feel. Here my choice is Nagaoka. Visually there is bit of shade difference if we kept side by side. Nagaoka bit lean on blue side and Jico towards bit green pixels.
Setup :
Turntable : Technics 1200MK3 with stock arm
Cartridge Body : EPC-270C II
Amplifier & Phono : Marantz PM-14SE
Speaker : Focal Aria 926.
The cartridge was aligned with 230mm arc protractor with 5X magnifying glass and Stylus pressure set at 1.75g with Shure SFG-2 stylus pressure gauge. Both stylus were burn-in about 50 hours before critical comparison. No measuring instruments used for any measurements and observation based on self-ear judgement.
Performance :
Both Nagaoka and Jico are initially bit harder and less detailed sound and took about 30 hours to settle. Also, both stylus are loving correct alignment and even small error resulting as inner grove distortion. Both are giving equal output / Sound pressure level while playing same record. Left and Right channels are balance in both stylus. Both stylus are gave sweet spot to me at 1.75g stylus pressure. But here Jico is too sensitive, even + 0.01g variation changing the sound harder and un pleasant. Above 1.8g pressure it is completely boomy and irritating. Similarly below 1.75g pressure it not tracking well. Nagaoka is bit forgiving nature for stylus pressure. It is giving natural sound at 1.75g and from 1.75- 1.8g an incremental of every 0.01g its tonal changing from Neutral to warmer as like adjusting in equalizer… I settled at 1.77g where it provides thicker warm vocal which I prefer. Above 1.8g Nagaoka also sounding lifeless.
Tonally both stylus are bit different kind. Jico sounding warmer with bit more midbass so we feel bit less detailed. Nagaoka sounding more Neutral with sweet mid. Bass region both are equally good but Nagaoka bass is more tight and less boomy than Jico. High Frequency response also equally good in both but quick side by side comparison of same track reveals that Nagaoka is bit more sparkle than Jico due to its neutral character.
Hmmm.. I am changing both stylus again and again to pick one from these two.. sorry unable. Both are equally good to me. But if someone put a pistol on my head and ask me to choose one then I may pick Jico. The reason it is 5$ cheaper than Nagaoka and personally I prefer bit warmer sound.
The final words as below..
Nagaoka: Neutral sound, Bit more detailed, Forgive small misalignment / tracking force.
Jico : Warmer sound. Too sensitive on alignment / tracking force.
Aftermarket Stylus are available for 270C in both Conical and Elliptical form from many brands, but no comparison in net about these styluses. I have chosen from the well-known reputed brands Jico and Nagaoka for this comparison. Both are bonded diamond elliptical type tip. Here is my observation on both stylus.
Fit and Finish: Both make stylus are extremely good in finish and fits in the cartridge firmly without any issue. However, I feel the Nagaoka is sliding inside the Cartridge body with free and feel of right amount out contact pressure than Jico. Jico slides inside bit free without any counter feel. Here my choice is Nagaoka. Visually there is bit of shade difference if we kept side by side. Nagaoka bit lean on blue side and Jico towards bit green pixels.
Setup :
Turntable : Technics 1200MK3 with stock arm
Cartridge Body : EPC-270C II
Amplifier & Phono : Marantz PM-14SE
Speaker : Focal Aria 926.
The cartridge was aligned with 230mm arc protractor with 5X magnifying glass and Stylus pressure set at 1.75g with Shure SFG-2 stylus pressure gauge. Both stylus were burn-in about 50 hours before critical comparison. No measuring instruments used for any measurements and observation based on self-ear judgement.
Performance :
Both Nagaoka and Jico are initially bit harder and less detailed sound and took about 30 hours to settle. Also, both stylus are loving correct alignment and even small error resulting as inner grove distortion. Both are giving equal output / Sound pressure level while playing same record. Left and Right channels are balance in both stylus. Both stylus are gave sweet spot to me at 1.75g stylus pressure. But here Jico is too sensitive, even + 0.01g variation changing the sound harder and un pleasant. Above 1.8g pressure it is completely boomy and irritating. Similarly below 1.75g pressure it not tracking well. Nagaoka is bit forgiving nature for stylus pressure. It is giving natural sound at 1.75g and from 1.75- 1.8g an incremental of every 0.01g its tonal changing from Neutral to warmer as like adjusting in equalizer… I settled at 1.77g where it provides thicker warm vocal which I prefer. Above 1.8g Nagaoka also sounding lifeless.
Tonally both stylus are bit different kind. Jico sounding warmer with bit more midbass so we feel bit less detailed. Nagaoka sounding more Neutral with sweet mid. Bass region both are equally good but Nagaoka bass is more tight and less boomy than Jico. High Frequency response also equally good in both but quick side by side comparison of same track reveals that Nagaoka is bit more sparkle than Jico due to its neutral character.
Hmmm.. I am changing both stylus again and again to pick one from these two.. sorry unable. Both are equally good to me. But if someone put a pistol on my head and ask me to choose one then I may pick Jico. The reason it is 5$ cheaper than Nagaoka and personally I prefer bit warmer sound.
The final words as below..
Nagaoka: Neutral sound, Bit more detailed, Forgive small misalignment / tracking force.
Jico : Warmer sound. Too sensitive on alignment / tracking force.
