Sony VC-8E
(1966 - 1970)

Sony's first cartridge and an MC design, no less.

Well... not really - the VC-8E represents the first but only time Sony ever rebadged something from somebody else :
the VC-8E originated from Satin !

Made to complement Sony's PUA-237 or PUA-286 tonearms, the VC-8E had three major features : very high compliance, a 4mV output (!) and stylus replacement !! The latter is performed with no tools whatsoever, just like with an MM cartridge - impressive, isn't it ?

Sony later on launched a sister company (Sound Tec) to develop its own cartridges until phono cartridges faded into oblivion (for Sony) circa 1985, after having launched a series of fairly successful mid-end MC cartridges with... guess what... user-replaceable stylus :)
Type:

Output:
Frequency range:
Channel balance:
Channel separation:

Output impedance:
Load impedance:

Compliance:
VTA:

Stylus:
Optional stylus:
Tracking force:
Weight:
stereo Moving Coil
with interchangeable stylus
4mV at 5cm/s
10Hz...25kHz
± 0,5dB at 1kHz
20dB (10kHz)
30dB (1kHz)
40 Ohm
10...100kOhm

30 x 10-6 cm/dyne
15°

0,2 x 0,8mil elliptical diamond
0,5mil spherical diamond
0,5...2g
15,5g.