ADC QLM 36 Mk. II (1975–1978)

Name: ADC 36 Mk. II
Brand: ADC

That first crisp note off a well-tracked LP—clean, detailed, just a hint of warmth—this little German cartridge from the mid-70s knows how to deliver it.

Overview

The ADC QLM 36 Mk. II isn’t flashy, but it was built for people who cared about getting the groove right. Made by ADC, a name that carried quiet respect in the analog world, this moving iron phono cartridge—called a "Tonabnehmer" in its native Germany—was part of a tightly focused lineup aimed at serious listeners who wanted precision without fuss. Produced between 1975 and 1978, it arrived during a golden stretch for high-fidelity vinyl playback, when cartridge specs started to matter as much as the turntable they rode on. It retailed for 128 Deutsche Mark, which wasn’t cheap at the time, but wasn’t top-tier either—this was a component meant to punch above its price point, not sit on a pedestal.

It uses the induced magnet (moving iron) principle and connects as a standard MM (moving magnet) type, so it plays nice with most preamps of the era. That means you don’t need exotic gear to make it sing—just a decent tonearm, like the ADC LMF 1 or LMF 2, which were designed to work in harmony with cartridges like this. At 5.75 grams, it’s light enough to suit a range of arms without overloading them, as long as you respect its tracking force window: 0.75 to 1.5 grams. Go too heavy, and you’ll wear that delicate elliptical stylus down fast; go too light, and it’ll skip or mistrack. It’s not forgiving, but then again, neither is vinyl.

The stylus itself is a bonded elliptical tip measuring 0.008 mm by 0.018 mm—a shape that digs into the high-frequency modulations in the groove better than a spherical tip ever could. That’s why owners of similar ADC models report cleaner highs and tighter stereo imaging. The frequency response spans 15 to 20,000 Hz within ±3 dB, which was solid for the time, and channel separation hits 26 dB—nothing mind-blowing by modern standards, but enough to keep the instruments in their lanes. Output is a healthy 5.5 mV at 5.5 cm/s, so you won’t be hunting for volume, and it plays well with standard MM inputs without needing extra gain.

It’s worth noting that while this is the Mk. II, the fact sheet doesn’t clarify how it differs from earlier or later versions. There’s no mention of upgrades to the generator, body, or suspension—just the specs as they stand. And while the QLM 36 Mk. III has more aftermarket support today, the Mk. II shares enough DNA that replacement styli for the Mk. III might be viable, especially since one source notes that the Mk. III uses “an ordinary bonded elliptical stylus” with similar tracking needs. Whether that applies directly to the Mk. II is unconfirmed, but it’s a clue that keeping this cartridge alive today isn’t a lost cause.

Specifications

Manufacturer	ADC
Product type	Tonabnehmer (phono cartridge)
Production years	1975 - 1978
Original price	128 DM
Weight	5,75 g
Principle	Induced Magnet (Moving Iron, Anschluss als MM)
Frequency response	15 - 20.000 Hz (±3 dB)
Channel separation	26 dB
Output voltage	5,5 mV / 5,5 cm / s
Stylus tip	elliptisch (0,008 mm x 0,018 mm)
Recommended tracking force	0,75 - 1,5 p

Collectibility & Value

Finding a complete, working ADC QLM 36 Mk. II today is a small victory. There’s no data on current prices for the full cartridge, but the market for its parts gives some clues. A listing for a "Diamant Saphir Stylus ADC QLM36MKIII MK3 QLM30MKII QLM30II INTEGRA XLMIII XLMI" recently appeared on eBay for EUR 52.55. Separately, DaCapo Audio lists an "Original Original Stylus - 1391" for the QLM 36 Mk. III at $50.75, and an aftermarket elliptical (1068-DE) for $32.21. While these are for the Mk. III, the note that it uses a common bonded elliptical stylus with similar tracking specs suggests the Mk. II might be serviceable with careful part matching.

Still, there’s no confirmation on whether the stylus assemblies are interchangeable. And since there’s no information on common failures, repair difficulty, or stylus alignment quirks, owners are left to experiment. If you’re picking one up, inspect the cantilever carefully—no wobble, no misalignment—and check that the output is balanced across channels (though the fact sheet doesn’t provide channel balance specs, so that’s on you to test). Given its age, the internal wires could be brittle, and the rubber damping elements may have dried out, affecting performance.

It’s not a showpiece, but it’s a thinker’s cartridge—compact, precise, and built for those who liked their sound clean and their specs honest. It won’t command hundreds like some exotic moving coils, but for someone restoring a period-correct ADC-based system, it’s invaluable.