2. analog
  3. 156658-74804

To guard stylus or not?

I’ve not had good results with stylus guards. Recently ruined a perfectly good cartridge (ruby cantilever, nude contact line stylus) trying to install the stylus protection. My revised approach going forward is to use the stylus guard only when moving or adjusting the arm/table. For normal record playing, I will leave the guard off. I think it’s safer that way.
Thoughts?
cakids
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
If you can lock the armwand then no need for stylus guard (imo)
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,838 posts
 
On my Lyra, I always utilize the stylus guard between listening sessions. I am VERY pleased that the Lyra’s feature this design.
Admittedly not a good idea to remove or put on the guard if you are drunk or otherwise impaired, lol. So, like all things analog, a steady hand is a must, and carelessness does NOT get rewarded. 
tooblue
1,898 posts
 
Always install my stylus guards after playing music, too many things going on in my house to leave to chance, cat, dog, 7 year old, me and cleaning lady. Have a Grace F9 OCL stylus coming for my back up cart upstairs and have already built a stylus protector for it as it does not come with one. Awoke  one night after playing music wondering if I had put the stylus guard on my Dynavector XV1s, rushed downstairs to discover I had not, installed it and went back to bed where I slept like a baby. Enjoy the music
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,511 posts
 
I say not. I can't even find one for the installed cart. The other 3 are covered.
Flux busted it without. 
Of course if I had a strain guage I'd revisit that thought.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,253 posts
 
I never realized audiophiles were so anal retentive. 
More to discover