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
Not bad, better than usual. But I was expecting better. It just wasn’t funny. Maybe it’s time for your time out.
Do we need some marriage counseling here? If we get to the Jane Curtin-Chevy Chase banter, then I am definitely calling for a time out!  :)

So, the only way to check to see if one's stylus is at or nearing the end of life is to put in under a scope, correct?  Then if you have a turntable that doesn't have a removable head, in order to scope your stylus you need to remove the whole cartridge, correct?  Then, if you have to do that you need to re-install and re-calibrate your cartridge, which is time consuming (couple of hours or so), correct?  I can comfortably admit that I have a dickens of a time even seeing my stylus and cantilever reasonable well with the naked eye given my age related lenses.  Argh.  
@millercarbon Your post certainly progresses the context of this conversation.  NOT, again.