Cartridge question

seems to be a pretty good TT (until you get the bug to move up).

https://vintaudio.pt/yamaha-yp-d6/

Signal to noise ratio: better than 70dB
Wow and flutter: less than 0.035% wrms
Tonearm: S-type static balance
Effective length: 222mm
Overhang: 17mm
Suitable cartridge weight: 4 to 15g
Headshell: aluminium die-cast plug-in type

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I would NOT buy any ’spherical’ stylus like you mentioned

at least buy ’elliptical’, but preferably buy an advanced stylus shape: Line Contact/Microridge/Shibata/SAS: they cost more, but last much longer, thus over time not so costly. And, they track at lighter tracking weights, make more groove contact, thus less wear to your LP’s grooves and the stylus itself, thus stylus lasts much longer.

AND, without a doubt Sound better, deliver much improved imaging, ...

Microridge typically lasts twice as long as Elliptical, thus paying twice as much (or less) initially is actually the same or less money over it’s life. Get all the advantages now IF you can scratch up the $, or wait a bit longer to save more or sell something.

• Spherical / Conical - 150hrs
• Elliptical - 250hrs
• Shibata/Line contact - 400hrs
• SAS/MicroRidge - 500hrs

https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/stylus-shape-information

For excellent Imaging: I prefer both wide channel separation, and importantly, tight channel balance, I recommend this cartridge if it fits your budget

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/type/moving-magnet/vm540ml

If too high price, then this one isstill microlinear stylus (however: less channel separation, wider center balance)

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/type/moving-magnet/at-vm95ml

elliptical stylus $99.

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/type/moving-magnet/at-vm95e-h

keep in mind, eventually you can buy ’extra’ headshells, and have alternate cartridges mounted, i.e. MC/MM/Mono ... If you ever move to a different TT, get a Tonearm with removable headshell, and they will fit that tonearm.

 

elliptical, my favorite ever

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649954227-shure-m97-xe/

discontinued. IF 10 hours is true, IF not damaged, then it is a good price and a terrific sounding and performing cartridge. I like Shures's optional damped brush, which is why I have had Steve at VAS install an advanced stylus on boron on my Shure V15Vxmr body.

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my comments are based on many various cartridges over the years (I/m 74)

I’ve got 3 TTs going now; 5 tonearms, 4 active, and 5 semi-active cartridges in rotation now.

my experience:

MC does produce a bit better results than MM, it is worth all involved IF you have the interest and $ to spend. My favorite is AT33ptg/ii. In fact it lasted over 750 hrs, You need proper alignment skills to get that performance and life from advanced stylus shapes. and when worn, AT sold me a new replacement cartridge at half cost trade in program.

Advanced Stylus do produce better imaging, great musicality, track lighter, last longer.

Stiffer Cantilevers do perform better, especially bass.

Elliptical, get a body with interchangeable stylus: Stereo; Mono; perhaps 78, elliptical, upgrade to advanced stylus shape in that body .....

viridian

"I need to be educated about the “track lighter” part of this."

I made a misleading and incorrect statement about Advanced stylus shapes tracking lighter when related directly to tracking force set for the cartridge.

you are correct, tracking downward force required has to do with compliance: cantilever suspension/cantilever stiffness/weight of moving internals .... things I don’t know about.

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As a matter of fact, the AT33ptg/ii tracks at 2.0 g. heavier than my prior Shure’s and AT favorites.

Current Cartridges: (covid era left me toooooo much time alone and some otherwise unspent money).

AT 14SA, shibata 1.25g; sep >27db; balance 1.0db

AT TR485U linear 1.25g; sep >31db; bal 1.0db

AT440ml micro-linear 1.25g; sep >30db; bal 0.75

Shure V15Vxmr micro-ridge 1.25 sep >25 db; bal 1.5db

(broke original beryllium, now boron)

Shure 97xe elliptical 1.25g; sep >25db; bal 2.0db

Grado Mono Elliptical: 1.5g

Goldring Eroica LX MC, ’gyger 2’ 1.7g; sep >25db; bal 1.0 db

Sumiko Talisman S Sapphire Tube, van den Hul 2.0g; sep > 30db; bal 0.5db

AT33PTG/II MC micro-linear 2.0g; sep >30db; bal 0.5db

AT33PTG mono body, had VAS make boron advanced ’p’ stylus 2.0g

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Advanced Shapes: Due to their shapes’ larger contact surface, the resultant effect on the grooves and itself is ’lighter’ in terms of wear.

i.e. all 3 types: IF same downward tracking force:

1. spherical least contact surface, most wear, most likely to jump out of the groove. we used to tape pennies or nickels to keep them in the groove.

2. elliptical more contact surface, less wear, longer life;

3. advanced stylus shape (any, some slightly more) even more contact surface, less groove wear/less stylus wear/longer life.

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Trackability: very dynamic music or test records were designed to document/measure trackability related to newly achievable lighter tracking weights.

Shure’s (both discontinued) elliptical 97xe and V15Vxmr Microline both tracked at 1.25g, and passed the trackability tests. Both of these channel separation >25db; channel balance 1.5db.

My shure V15Vxmr body now has two alternate stylus: Jico SAS on Boron, optional brush, not damped; and one I had Steve at VAS make me: bought 97xe body with broken stylus, he put boron cantilever with advanced stylus shape he calls ’p’, thus I kept Shure’s optional damped brush, and the stylus fits both my 97xe body and V15Vxmr body.

 

 

 

 

viridian

"

• Posted by jcarr (M) on January 7, 2005 at 17:41:40

  In Reply to: Re: The virtues of a spherical stylus posted by Tetrack on January 7, 2005 at 08:13:53:

   

I have some stylus articles that Namiki published when they introduced the Microridge (also known as microline among other names) profile, so let's look at the manufacturer's figures.

A 0.7mil spherical stylus (18um radius where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 30.5um(sq.) - one wall.

A 0.5mil spherical stylus (13um radius where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 23.4um(sq.) - one wall.

A 0.3x0.7mil elliptical stylus (18umx6um radii where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 20.6um(sq.) - one wall.

A line-contact stylus (45umx6um radii where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 46.7um(sq.) - one wall.

A microridge stylus (75umx2.5um radii where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 62.1um(sq.) - one wall.

hth, jonathan carr"

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so line contact is +57% more contact surface than spherical

microridge is +100% more contact surface than spherical

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IF correct about elliptical (really?)

line contact is +130% more contact surface than elliptical

microridge is +210% more contact surface than elliptical

then there's SAS; Shibata; van den Hul; gyger 2; ........

viridian

chart below indicates what is normally understood: elliptical has MORE contact area than Spherical

 

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I have to believe Johnathan Carr made a typo in the comments you cited

• Posted by jcarr (M) on January 7, 2005 at 17:41:40

  In Reply to: Re: The virtues of a spherical stylus posted by Tetrack on January 7, 2005 at 08:13:53:

   

"I have some stylus articles that Namiki published when they introduced the Microridge (also known as microline among other names) profile, so let's look at the manufacturer's figures.

A 0.7mil spherical stylus (18um radius where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 30.5um(sq.) - one wall.

A 0.5mil spherical stylus (13um radius where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 23.4um(sq.) - one wall.

A 0.3x0.7mil elliptical stylus (18umx6um radii where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 20.6um(sq.) - one wall."

**** chart above shows .3 x .7 = 40um****

which fits common understanding

"A line-contact stylus (45umx6um radii where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 46.7um(sq.) - one wall.

A microridge stylus (75umx2.5um radii where the stylus contacts the groove) has a contact area of 62.1um(sq.) - one wall."

hth, jonathan carr

 

clearthinker

you have it absolutely backwards, is this a joke?

look at row B in the chart

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The cutter makes the groove, making 100% groove contact

advanced stylus shapes get closer and closer to the cutter shape, each type on the chart making progressively more contact with the groove walls.

clearthinker

perhaps you are misled by ROW C showing front to back thickness.

 

Viewing the Groove from the front: no matter the amount of groove sidewall ’profile contact’, only a speck of the sides of any shape touches the groove wall.

Viewing down: Quad, modulations up to 50,000 hz are very ’short’ (thin) front to back, thus the new stylus shapes had to be thin front to back to fit/follow those thin modulations.

Manufacturing techniques to match both the side profile and maintain ’thin’ front to back had to be developed, even today not many can do it!

Stylus 'wear', is when the sides of the stylus get flat (thick), unable to follow modulations as well, and causing progressively more damage to the grooves