Stylus Profile Discussion


I've been reading a bit lately about different stylus profiles--trying to get a handle on the different shapes, pros and cons, etc. Here is a question I've been pondering: Which stylus shape represents the "sweet spot" between ease of set up and sonic performance? In other words, at what point does the demand for fully optimized alignment (and the difficulty and tedious time commitment involved in obtaining this and the neurotic tendency to fear that you may not have) become such a detriment that you would be better off with a less challenging profile that would be easier to set up correctly?
dodgealum

Showing 2 responses by nandric

What about ''indirect conclusion''? Our most productive member
from Australia ( I mean productive in our forum) just demonstrated
or suggested that Sony XL 88D is ''the best '' there is. The shape
of its stylus is super elliptical. But this may also mean that stylus
shape is not as important as, say, chakster thinks. 
From what I have learned from logic is that ''if the premise are not
true'' the deduced statement can't be true. There are to many
assumptions by your deductions dear chakster. If I am well informed
the records (old and new) are not as ''sensitive'' as you assume.
Even 5 g VTF seems to be no problem. There is also ''elasticity'' of
the vinyl involved. If your ''dramatic'' description is true we who
use ''modern styli shapes'' + tonearms with very good bearings 
would throw away all records made before, say, 70is . BTW
nobody assume, to my knowledge, that records are perfect. 
There are then obviously other reasons why we love them.