Just bumped into this thread while doing some research.
Yikes!!
So much confusing, conflicting information here, on both the Pickering V-15 and ADC 10E.
I’ll attempt to clarify, since I have 26 ADC cartridges with NOS styli, as well as Pickering and Stanton cartridges and styli.
First, the ADC:
ADC came out with its first line of MI carts in 1963, the ADC Point 4 TOTL (black and gold) and its underlings the 660 and 770. In 1966 it came out with the new TOTL 10E MKI (black and gold), and MKII shortly after, basically a better stylus. In 1968 it revamped the line, and came out with the TOTL ADC 25 (black and gold) also 26 and 27, and underlings in the X series such as the 220X, 250X, and others. In 1968 ADC debuted the new TOTL 10E MKIV (black and gold). (no 10E MKIII exists!)
None of the styli are compatible between the Point 4, 10E MKII, 10E MKIV. The styli won’t fit between them. The first 2 series have magnets in the nose of the stylus. The ADC 25 and 10E MKIV have a magnet in the cart body, and a “flux lens” in the stylus to conduct magnetism from the body magnet into the stylus armature. These carts are shaped like bricks with sharp corners.
Styli for all come up on eBay from time to time. The most rare is the original 0.4 mil nude conical of the Point 4; I found only 1 in 10 years of searching! I have 2 NOS NIB R-12E for the 10E MKII, and 2 R-15E for the 10E MKIV. Plus, the nude elliptical R-25 and R-26 for the 10E MKIV, hands down the finest styli for the MKIV.
The 10E MKII is a great cartridge! Tracks at 1.2 grams. But the MKIV is a major improvement over the MKII, and rivals the finest MC cartridges! It tracks at 0.75 grams (R-15E) and 1.0 gram (R-25 and R-26).
Pickering V-15 (Stanton 500):
This is a great cartridge debuting in 1964. It is very stylus dependent for SQ. Most styli were heavy trackers for changers, 3-6 grams VTF. Styli for the 1970 XV15 MI cartridge will not fit, and won’t work on the MM V-15.
The V-15 is a 2-coil stereo MM cartridge. I have 6 original Pickering and Stanton styli, and all of them are just so-so in SQ. Great bass punch, but badly rolled off treble, muted detail. The best, (by far!) stylus I have found is the ($35) EVG Swiss nude elliptical D1500 AT2. It tracks extremely well at 1.7-2.0 grams, great bass, detailed mids and smooth, extended treble. With this stylus, you’ll be amazed by how good this cartridge is! And quite a bargain!
