Kuzma 4Points and Lyra carts

@boothroyd, That is an interesting observation.  I don't think I've heard about the styli shape influencing to arm length. I think i might have even expected the opposite observation with spherical styli being the most tolerant of the increased offset angle of a 9 inch arm.

Dear @boothroyd :  The 103R is a low compliance cartridge and what you experienced with could be generated for that compliance and depends too of the tonearm quality in what is mounted and its alignment set up as its playing hours time.

I own some medium/high compliance cartridges ( MM/LOMC ) and comes to my memory the Fulton blue that's a medium complaince LOMC cartridge and never had that problem with 9" tonearms.

So, for me what you posted is not necessary a spherical stylus tip characteristic.

R.

Spherical/Conical tip still in use by professionals because it’s more forgiving to tonearm adjustment errors. This is the only benefit of this type of stylus shape. In other words: if your tonearm (or cartridge in the headshell ) can’t be adjusted properly for some reason then only conical tip is optimal for such arm. 
On any other tonearm (adjusted properly) for specific cartridge , the music flow is much better with advanced stylus profile. Practically it is better, because the life span is at least 4 times longer and record wear factor is so much lower since the weight distributed over the larger groove contact area. The quality is better, resolution is higher, tracking ability is better. 

But personal taste is personal taste, some people enjoy gramophone sound with steel needle.

1+ Chakster

@karl_desch,@karl_desch, I will be very interested to hear your comparison of the Lyra to the Soundsmith. 

You bet @mijostyn.  From my time with Lyras (Delos, Atlas, Etna SL) and SoundSmith (MIMC star and Sussurro ES) I've identified some house sound characteristics that probably won't surprise anyone. The Lyras have that amazing openess and high frequency energy that does justice to cymbals and drums. The Atlas and Etna add a heft to the mids and low end that make them more complete hi rez pickups. I hear very good things about the lambda versions as well. The SoundSmiths on the other hand are almost as resolving but don't call attention to themselves like the lyra. They just get out of the way. The Sussurro adds a bit more nuance and resolution compared to the MIMC.  Would love to hear a Hyperion some day. The SoundSmith also has a lower background noise compared to the Lyras (which are also very quiet). These general observations were all using the Morch DP8, Pass XP-27. So we will just have to see what the Kuzma brings out of them.