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MONO Cartridge Stylus Shape: WHAT? WHEN?

Some want 'best'.

My approach is not 'best' but to get the true advantages of playing Mono LP's with a Mono Cartridge. So far it's going well

I started with a Grado MI Elliptical Mono, currently using for Mono Jazz, early and late 50's., some earlier 40's.

Then, why not: I had VAS put boron/advanced stylus shape on an AT-33 MC Mono Body for alternate 'advanced stylus' mono. Haven't used it yet.

I see some Spherical Mono Cartridges for sale, including some for a lot of $.

................................................

How do we know which era of Mono LP's grooves and which Stylus Shape is 'best' for them?????

IOW, an advanced stylus shape is just 'wrong' for this era of mono groove shape?

Is elliptical ok (just not best) for LP's where Spherical is 'proper'?

How much of a compromise is using Elliptical for all Mono LP's for instance?

thanks in advance as always for your contributions, Elliott

elliottbnewcombjr
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

There is little if any difference in tracking requirements. 16 kHz at 33.3 RPM is exactly the same be it in mono or stereo. The best styluses are long contact area fine line like the microridge styluses, the Replicant 100 and the Gyger S. They have the best high frequency tracing and are also much quieter. The very expensive Mono cartridges use the same stylus as the stereo versions. 

For 78 RPM records it is a much different story. The groove is much wide and Shellac is softer and more fragile than PVC. Large conical styluses are the rule and companies like Ortofon make a 78 specific cartridge.  

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,829 posts
 

Not sure if this helps. From Miyajima Labs.

Stylus size of Zero MONO $2250

0.7mil is suitable for reissue monaural LP and a monaural LP of after 1960.

1.0mil is suitable for the monaural LP of a deep groove of the first press of the 1950s.

However, both styli can trace the monaural LP of all generations without a problem. When you listen to the monaural LP of all generations, we recommend 0.7mil.

When you listen to a monaural LP of the first press of the 1950s mainly, we recommend 1.0mil

elliottbnewcombjr OP
5,473 posts
 

 

noromance, thanks for the Zero Info.

I want to be in the Will of anyone who pays $2,250. for a Mono Cartridge.

Also notice: Miyajima Mono Cartridge's tracking force: 3.5g or 4.0g

from Miyajima Labs

Kotetu
I produced "Kotetu" to lower a price.
However, Kotetu thinks sound quality to be important.
The structure is the same as Spirit and Premium.
The user can listen to a monaural LP by real sound quality.
The stylus of Kotetu MONO was changed from conical to elliptic on October 2, 2017.
The trace ability slightly improved by elliptic.

"MONO" 0.4x0.7 mil bonded elliptical diamond stylus

Tracking Force: 4.0g.

 

Spirit

"Spirit" is a representative cartridge of the vertical axis concentration method.
It is steady deep clear sound quality.
And the delicate, speedy sound can express the feelings of the musician.
The stylus of Spirit MONO was changed from conical to elliptic on October 2, 2017.
The trace ability slightly improved by elliptic.

 

"MONO" 0.4x0.7 mil bonded elliptical diamond stylus

Tracking Force: 3.5g.

 

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dogberry
672 posts
 

I want to be in the Will of anyone who pays $2,250. for a Mono Cartridge.

I paid a mere $1,765CDN +15% tax for a Cadenza Mono, so I don't meet your criteria. I'll tell the lawyer to cross you off the list. 😉

hdm
1,062 posts
 

Put your modified AT on. I am confident that you'll be very pleased and its performance will be exemplary on almost all your mono records. 

I had Steve put a Namiki boron cantilever with MR stylus on an AT 33 Mono a few years ago-it is a fabulous cartridge and a serious improvement on the stock item.

 

Might even give a few of those $2k mono cartridges a run for their money. 

 

 

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