Technics EPC-205CMk4 (mid-1980s)

The EPC-205CMk4 is a moving-magnet phono cartridge from Technics' mid-1980s line. The period record is thinner than the engineering seems to deserve. What survives is an equipment profile in Audio (January 1986, p.80), which carries most of what is known. The Mk4 used a one-point suspension system with a disc magnet, an "HPF" core polished for high-frequency response, a tapered boron-pipe cantilever, and Technics' TTDD damper. It shipped in a universal plug-in headshell, with a P-mount version available without the shell.

Audio's test results were good. The review measured excellent frequency response and very good high-frequency separation. Output was 0.706 mV/cm/s with 240 mH inductance. Optimum tracking force was 1.25 g with 1.5 g of anti-skating, and channel separation came in at 25 dB at 1 kHz. IM distortion (200/4,000 Hz, 4:1) measured 1.2% lateral and 2.6% vertical. The reviewer also flagged the one real vulnerability of the design. Pure boron is brittle, and dropping the stylus onto vinyl a few times could fracture the cantilever.

Beyond that profile, little is documented. No original price, production years, or wider market context turned up in the available sources.