The NP/AC pickering has been an industry workhorse standard for decades. Stanton (the "secret" maker of Pickering over the decades) has now dropped the Pickering brand name. You will receive the Stanton brand of the NP/AC cartridge called the 400.V3 made by Stanton in USA. 100% OEM genuine Stanton kit with snap on protection guard, mounting hardware, box, instructions/specs. In addition to the NP/AC cartridge being built like a tank to withstand anything, it's most well known for its super hi (hot) output. The rating is 10mV. Since most cartridges output around 3-5mV the NP/AC can potentially be used as a 'quick fix' for a noisy entry level preamp, whether it be solid state or tube type.