Matching favourite Stylus to another Cartridge

Regards, samplivist:

The answer to your question is yes and no. 
 
First, the stylus assembly should be dimensionally correct for your replacement cartridge.
 
Next, styli and cartridges are "tuned" for best frequency response (paraphrased from Shure data base):

1)  The mechanical response of the stylus, which typically has a resonance just past 20 kHz (ibid), this raises the frequency response as you go up in frequency.
2)  The electrical response of the coil in the cartridge (resistance and inductance) loaded by the cable and preamp it’s attached to which lowers it (with a high slope - 12 dB/octave)
3)  The magnetic response (eddy current losses) of the pole pieces in the cartridge (this lowers it with a low slope – 3 dB / octave).

  Laminated pole pieces reduce eddy currents, if non-laminated there will be roll-off due to loss from eddy currents. If cantilever resonance introduces unwanted high frequency emphasis  cantilever damping may be necessary so it's not always a case of "if it fits, it sits".

  To name a few, some Goldring, Shure and Audio Technica share cartridge bodies across a wide range of cartridge designations, the difference being the supplied stylus. There is a wide range of appropriate substitutions within these "families" of cartridges.

  Although purists may rightfully object, others have experimented with these substitutions and even if not entirely appropriate, have found the results pleasing.

  It should also be mentioned that cartridges rarely fail. A little additional information such as the model of your cartridge and a description of why you believe your cartridge is faulty would be helpful.

Peace,  

Guys,
thank you for all your responses!

@timeltel you're right- my cartridge has been physically damaged during the transport (long story- not my fault- don't want to go too deep, it's too sad :-(  :-D 

Yeah, you're right to ask this question, and i feel responsible for answer, although i'm kind of shy - it's Ortofon Arkiv and i'm planning to buy either OM 10 or OM 20 cartridge as a replacement  https://www.ortofon.com/om-series-p-550

So you’re talking about Ortofon Arkiv cartridge designed for deejays, this is professional series of cartridges. You’d better use a styli from similar concorde or om series with it.

If you want a better cartridge just buy entirely new cartridge with better stylus
Arkiv is a muddy souding cartridge like every model in Ortofon professional line, they are durable and stable, this is the only benefit of them, but not the sound quality.

Something like very cheap Grado Black or Grado DJ200i (Moving Iron) is much better for about $110-150

@chakster actually i like this kind of muddy sound, that's why i don't want to change it :-)

I'll check Grados anyway.

Then you have plenty of time to learn and try much better MM/MI cartridges to understand what analog playback is all about, because Ortofon professional cartridges are not about sound quality, it’s all about high output and durability for professional needs where the signal heavily EQed on deejay mixers (and often compressed on club’s PA). I tried them all, absolutely all of them when i used to run a small recordshop, we’he been selling Ortofon cartridges, not only records. And i’ve been using them myself 15 years ago expecting that Concord Gold could be better than Concord Night Club (or OM), it was a waste of time. They are all have bonded (not nude) diamonds with only two profiles like spherical or elliptical. Styli often cracks (plastic holder). They are all low compliance for use with very high tracking force (record wear factor is high). 

My advice is to stop using them and open much better sound for yourself, you can do that with Grado and with Grado you can upgrade with different styli on the same Grado Black (or Grado DJ100i or 200i) cartridge. Take a virtual tour of Grado factory in NYC.

If the budget is low you can also look for Nagaoka MP150 series or Audio-Technica cartridges made for hi-fi, not for professional market. They are all much better than professional Ortofon series.