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The Hardest Naturally Occurring Substance on Earth

Yep - You all know from grammar school that is the diamond, which incidentally is what is used to make the stylus of our turntable cartridges.  If it is so hard, and it is going up against some fairly soft vinyl, why do we worry about poor quality LPs damaging the cartridge or stylus?  Sure, I understand the cantilever, but the actual Stylus?  The old phrase for me is "Does Not Compute".   What are your thoughts and insights?
pgaulke60
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Just who is this "we"? Audiophiles, is my bet.
Exactly what I asked and apparently there is a thread where these worry warts hang out......

"two turntables, why"

Apparently......
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Ever see that hard thing fall off the other thingamajig it’s attached to?
Unfortunately I had my first experience of this a few weeks ago, pretty depressing to watch the arm sail right across the record!

Fortunately it was not mine, it was my daughters and a $15 needle for the AT cart on her Teac TN300 and she was back in business and hopefully a little wiser......

"Dad, I think there is something wrong with my record player......."
lol
petg60
1,486 posts
 
Hi,
Styli wear out from continuous high pressure and heat. Playing at correct tracking weight, have LP's in good condition and match complience with arm will meet their life expextancy.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
Does it have to be naturally occuring hardest substance?
thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
4,888 posts
 
Not sure that make a lot of styli out of wurtzite boron nitride.🗼
If they did, I bet they would cost more than six dollars...
It's no nuclear pasta, but that stuff would be too hot a commodity.
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