While tripping merrily through the mail, Terry Smith was overheard
 JB> Isn't that why they use line contact styli? I know 
 JB> elliptical is a definite
 JB> blunder, but maybe it is a conical one that they should be looking for?
 TS> Actually, most DJ's use a 4x7 mil wide ellyptical stylus tracking at
 TS> around 3-4 grams.  Assymetrical fancy linear contact ones don't backcue
 TS> well, and usually are designed for light tracking and self destruction
 TS> under abuse.  Small ellyticals cut up vinyl and polystyrene (of which
 TS> some records are made) rather severely, and so are generally also not
 TS> made in DJ duty construction.  Some lower quality DJ applications may
 TS> use a conical tracking at around 5 grams.   
 TS> That generally means Stanton 680 EL's for better applications, and 500
 TS> series with one of several styli for rougher and cheaper ones.  
I know in radio we always preferred a conical stylus.  Actually, I don't
think the shape of the stylus itself is as important as whether the
stylus is at exactly a 90 degree angle to the disc or not.  Some
cartridges lay the stylus in the groove at an angle slightly off
vertical, which causes increased record wear when back-cuing.
Don
... 82.6% of statistics are wrong...
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