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Pickering XSV/3000 Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge paired with its original D3000 Bonded Stereohedron Stylus. Renowned among audiophiles for its low-mass Samarium Cobalt magnet and Stereohedron line-contact stylus, this classic cartridge delivers exceptional detail, deep dynamic bass, and outstanding groove tracing.CONDITION & TEST RESULTSThis cartridge and stylus assembly has been thoroughly inspected and audio-tested to ensure peak performance:Microscope Inspection: Stylus was inspected using a Shure SEK-2 Microscope—shows no visible wear.Tracking Performance: Successfully passed tests using the Ortofon Test Record, tracking up to 90 µm lateral amplitude (315 Hz modulation frequency) with zero audible distortion.Channel Separation: Excellent channel separation measured at 30 dB.Sound Profile & Imaging: Delivers an impressively deep, three-dimensional soundstage with precise instrument placement, magnificent midrange realism, and tight, well-defined bass.PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONSType: Moving Magnet (MM) / Low-Mass Samarium Cobalt MagnetStylus: Original Pickering D3000 (Stereohedron Line-Contact)Tracking Force: 1.0g (+ 1/4g)Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 30,000 HzNominal Output: 5.0 mVChannel Separation: 35 dBInductance (per channel): 350 mHResistance (per channel): 700 ohmsRecommended Load Resistance: 47k ohmsRecommended Load Capacitance: 275 pFPACKAGE INCLUDESPickering XSV/3000 Cartridge BodyOriginal Pickering D3000 Stereohedron StylusWill be safely packaged in protective materials to guarantee safe arrival.
Generating expert take…
Pickering is an American hi-fi name, founded in the 1940s by engineer and inventor Norman C. Pickering. Norman Pickering was a major audio figure and co-founder of the Audio Engineering Society, and his work helped shape the modern phono cartridge during the postwar rise of high fidelity. The company grew out of his earlier pickup and cartridge development work in New York, where Pickering & Company was established to serve both broadcasters and the emerging consumer market.
The brand is primarily associated with phono cartridges and pickup systems, not with a broad modern electronics lineup. In other words, Pickering is known for turntable-related analog front-end products rather than amplifiers, speakers, DACs, or headphones. Its reputation is tied to classic moving-magnet cartridges and the vinyl era, which makes the name especially familiar to collectors, archivists, and vintage-turntable enthusiasts.
In the market, Pickering sits more as a vintage-collector and specialist analog brand than as a current high-end or mass-market hi-fi player. Among knowledgeable buyers, it carries historical credibility for cartridge design and broadcast use, but it is not usually discussed alongside today’s active premium audio brands. For many listeners, Pickering is a respected legacy name whose value now lies in its classic cartridges, replacement styli, and its place in hi-fi history.
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