Soundsmith’s Full Stylus Explanation Here
https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/stylus-shape-information
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essentially 3 types of Stylus: conical; elliptical; advanced (see chackster’s list of advanced shape types/names above)
each providing progressively more groove side-wall contact surface.
both fidelity and stylus life increase progressively as side-wall contact surface increases. As noted, advanced shapes need more careful alignment to get the benefit, and avoid damage they can cause if misaligned. they also go deeper in the grooves, so the lp’s cleanliness is more important for quiet play.
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Shape/increased groove side-wall contact also reduces wear of the lp’s groove.
Required tracking forces vary, the force increases/decreases wear of both stylus and groove wall
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The material of the shaft/cantilever the tip is mounted on varies: light weight and stiffness both desirable, aluminum/boron/gems saffire, ruby, / rare earth metals .. thin/stiff equals brittle, so progressively more caution is advised.
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then you get into the cartridge body type and refinement, the specifications reveal some/much about that, but only your ears count.
https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/stylus-shape-information
..................
essentially 3 types of Stylus: conical; elliptical; advanced (see chackster’s list of advanced shape types/names above)
each providing progressively more groove side-wall contact surface.
both fidelity and stylus life increase progressively as side-wall contact surface increases. As noted, advanced shapes need more careful alignment to get the benefit, and avoid damage they can cause if misaligned. they also go deeper in the grooves, so the lp’s cleanliness is more important for quiet play.
.........................................
Jico gives the amount of playing time where a stylus will maintain its specified level of distortion at 15kHz in 4 categoties, breaking the advanced into 2 categories:
- Spherical / Conical - 150hrs
- Elliptical - 250hrs
- Shibata/Line contact - 400hrs
- SAS/MicroRidge - 500hrs
..............................................
Shape/increased groove side-wall contact also reduces wear of the lp’s groove.
Required tracking forces vary, the force increases/decreases wear of both stylus and groove wall
...................................
The material of the shaft/cantilever the tip is mounted on varies: light weight and stiffness both desirable, aluminum/boron/gems saffire, ruby, / rare earth metals .. thin/stiff equals brittle, so progressively more caution is advised.
.........................................
then you get into the cartridge body type and refinement, the specifications reveal some/much about that, but only your ears count.