ADC SX-5 ()

A plain conical diamond stylus that played records at 16, 33, and 45, without costing much or pretending to be more than it was.

Overview

The ADC SX-5 won't show up on a list of legendary cartridges. Nobody calls it a Grado or a Shure masterpiece, and nobody trades stories about its midrange. If you find one in a pile of old gear, it was built for duty, not drama. It's a phono cartridge that did its job quietly and reliably, probably in a console stereo or a modest turntable stack.

Almost everything known about the SX-5 comes through its replacement parts. It wasn't a boutique item with reams of documentation. It was likely sold as original equipment on mid-tier turntables, and it survives mostly because replacement styli are still available. You can still buy a new needle for it decades later.

There's also a sibling in the lineup, the ADC SX-5E, mentioned across several stylus retailers. No details say how it differs from the standard SX-5. A higher-output version or a revised suspension are both possible, but the records are silent. The SX-5 is one entry in ADC's catalog of 68 models.

Specifications

Manufacturer	ADC
Product type	Phono cartridge
Stylus tip	0.7 mil Diamond conical tip
Compatible speeds	16, 33, 45 rpm (not for 78 rpm)
Tracking force range	1.25 - 2.0 grams

Collectibility & Value

The ADC SX-5 trades on function, not nostalgia or rarity. A replacement stylus for the SX-5 is listed at $56.99, which suggests the tooling and demand still exist, however modest. A complete used SX-5 cartridge was listed for €29 on December 22, 2025, which likely reflects the going rate for a working unit in decent shape. Earlier listings show a used SX-5 "Phono Bar" at €29 in 2018 and an SX-5E at $27 in 2022, so resale value has stayed low and stable.

Stylus replacements are available, which extends the cartridge's usable life a lot. Many vintage cartridges become paperweights once the tip wears out. There's no data on common failures, internal construction, or long-term reliability, so the SX-5 stays a bit of a black box. If it's tracking and sounding clean, it's probably fine. If not, the fix might be a $57 needle swap.