ADC QLM 36 II

Name: ADC 36 II
Brand: ADC

A forgotten mid-tier moving magnet with the soul of a high-end ADC—once you find a real one.

Overview

Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re looking for an ADC QLM 36 II, you’re probably chasing ghosts. The model exists in name, but the trail goes cold fast—no original specs, no brochures, no production dates. What we do know is that it’s a phono cartridge, and it shares stylus compatibility with the better-documented ADC QLM 36 Mk III. That connection is your only solid handhold. The QLM 36 II likely predates the Mk III, sitting as an earlier variant in the same line, and while it may lack the “Improved” badge, it was built to accept the same replacement stylus assemblies. That means you’re not just buying a cartridge—you’re buying into a tiny, fragile ecosystem of bushed cantilevers and proprietary tips that haven’t been made in decades.

ADC, at their peak, wasn’t just another cartridge brand—they were engineers obsessed with reducing tip mass and maximizing tracking. Their Induced Magnet design wasn’t marketing fluff; it was a real attempt to get the stylus out of the way so the groove could speak. The QLM 36 Mk III Improved carried that torch, using the same inductance as the elite XLM series, and the II likely inherited that same chassis DNA. But don’t expect specs like output voltage or frequency response—those are lost to time, or at least buried too deep for even the most dogged forum diggers to find. What you have instead is a cartridge that was meant to punch above its price point, delivering “high quality sound for a low investment,” as one source puts it. Whether it succeeded depends on whether you can find the real thing—or just a convincing fake.

Specifications

Manufacturer	ADC
Product type	Cartridge
Stylus tip shape	Elliptical .0003" x .0007" Diamond
Tracking force range	0.75g to 1.5g
Coil resistance	400 ohms
Coil inductance	350 mH
Stylus mounting	Bushed, mounted to a hollow cantilever
Design technology	Induced Magnet

Key Features

Induced Magnet Design

ADC’s patented Induced Magnet system wasn’t about raw output—it was about finesse. By using a fixed magnet and moving coils, they minimized moving mass at the tip, which in theory meant less inertia, better high-frequency tracking, and less record wear. It’s the kind of detail that made ADC cartridges favorites among purists who hated the idea of a hunk of metal wobbling at the end of a cantilever. The QLM 36 II, sharing the same inductance as the flagship XLM models, likely used this same architecture. That’s a big deal—it means even the mid-tier models weren’t stripped-down compromises. They were scaled-down versions of a proven design, not cash grabs.

Omni-Pivot System

ADC didn’t just borrow from their high-end line—they transplanted whole systems. The Omni-Pivot, advertised as a “long life” bearing design, was meant to reduce friction and wear over time. In practice, that meant fewer rebuilds and less drift in performance. But like all precision pivots, it’s fragile. There’s no data on failure rates, but forum users warn that fake cartridges—especially Pfanstiehl and EVG knockoffs—often replace the real magnetic assembly with a button magnet and a gold sticker. If you’re holding a QLM 36 II with a gold sticker on the end, you’re not holding an ADC. You’re holding a mimic.

Stylus Assembly & Tip

The stylus is where this cartridge lives or dies. It uses a low-mass Diasa diamond tip, elliptical at 0.3x0.7 mil, mounted to a hollow cantilever with a bushed assembly. That bushing isn’t just a pivot—it’s a tuning element, affecting compliance and damping. But since no compliance specs exist for the II or Mk III, owners are left to guess. Tracking force is listed between 1.5g and 3g, a wide window that suggests some unit-to-unit variation. One user reported running a related ADC stylus (RK50) at 1.26g on a Technics SL-Q2, calling it “about the low limit” of that tonearm’s capability. That’s a clue: if you’re pairing this with a lightweight arm, you’ll need to measure carefully. Too light, and it skips; too heavy, and you’re grinding down your records.

Historical Context

The ADC QLM 36 Mk III Improved was positioned as a budget-conscious sibling to the XLM Mk II Improved, borrowing its core design principles without the premium price. It shared the same inductance as the higher-end models, suggesting ADC wanted consistency across the line. The QLM 36 II, as an earlier variant, likely served the same role—offering near-flagship performance in a more accessible package. But without production dates or original pricing, its exact place in ADC’s timeline is fuzzy. What’s clear is that ADC was trying to democratize their magnetic induction tech, putting it into cartridges that didn’t require a second mortgage.

Collectibility & Value

Finding a real ADC QLM 36 II today is a scavenger hunt. The cartridge body itself rarely appears on the market, and when it does, authenticity is a minefield. The real money is in the stylus. An “Original Original Stylus - 1391” replacement sells for $50.75, while an aftermarket Elliptical 1068-DE goes for $32.21. In Europe, MrStylus lists a replacement stylus for €128.90—more than double the US price—suggesting scarcity is driving up cost. Aftermarket options exist, including LPG ViVidLine and Shibata upgrades from LP Gear, but purists will want the real Diasa tip. Just remember: if it has a gold sticker or a button magnet at the cantilever’s end, it’s a fake. True ADC Magnetic Induction cartridges don’t work that way. No data exists on common failures or repair costs, but given the bushed assembly and hollow cantilever, any rebuild would require specialist tools and patience.