Frequently Asked Questions
We have built a considerable depth of knowledge with analogue sound products over decades. Staff comprise a blend of older experience with vintage products and young staff with knowledge relating to newer audio technology and social media.
FAQs
Here are some of the more commonly asked questions. If you have others, please email us.
What is the difference between conical/spherical and elliptical diamond tip?
The fundamental difference between a conical/spherical stylus tip and an elliptical tip lies in their physical shape and how deeply and precisely they contact the micro-grooves of a vinyl record.
With the conical/spherical tip think used pencil tip. Cone shaped like the pencil and spherical (ball like) tip of a used pencil. NOT a newly sharpened pencil with a sharp nail like tip which damages records. Unfortunately there a cheap styluses on the market which are exactly like this. The conical sits higher up and touches a smaller, broader point on the groove walls.It tracks fewer high-frequency modulations and offers lower stereo separation/fidelity, meaning it misses some ultra-fine detail.
Elliptical tips have an oval or bi-radial design featuring a narrower front/side radius that tapers inward. It has a narrower contact width across the groove wall and sits deeper down, allowing it to trace smaller, more complex modulations.This delivers vastly improved frequency response, better detail retrieval, enhanced stereo imaging, and significantly lower distortion compared to a conical needle, but at a higher cost. Elliptical cartridges also need careful setup to extract all the "goodness" that elliptical produces.
Nude elliptical diamonds are a listening improvement over normal bonded ellipticals, but that is another story...
Regardless what you have, using a quality anti-static stylus cleaning brush regularly and cleaning records make a big difference.
How often do I need to change a stylus?
This is a tough one. A stylus can last 800-1000 hours. That said, the decrease in audible detail will be very significant by that time. Many regular vinyl users change stylus after 300-400 hours. Some sooner. Our suggestion is play some tracks that you are very familiar with. If you are thinking that it lacks the detail you recall then it is time. We receive so many comments from users expressing amazement at how a new stylus transformed their listening. Some may have left the change too long.
What is the difference between a ceramic cartridge, moving magnet cartridge and moving coil cartridge?
Ceramic, moving magnet, and moving coil cartridges are different types of transducers that convert the mechanical movement of a stylus inside a vinyl record groove into an electrical audio signal. They differ significantly in how they generate this signal, their output levels, sound quality, and maintenance needs.
Ceramic cartridges use a piezoelectric ceramic crystal connected to the stylus cantilever. When the stylus vibrates in the record groove, it bends or twists the ceramic element, which generates an electrical voltage. They are found mostly in vintage, low-cost, or entry-level record players from past decades. They are rare in modern high-fidelity audio. They are however a popular retro collector's item. Think HMV, Kriesler, etc furniture units where the BSR or Garrard turntable is built into the furniture piece.
The Moving Magnet fundamental principle of operation comprises the effect caused by the movements of the stylus in a magnetic field, generating a current in the nearby coils. Here, the magnetic field emanates from a tiny, fixed magnet that is fastened to the remote end of the cantilever. When the magnet is set into motion, which occurs when the stylus follows the modulations of the record groove, the magnetic field through the coils changes, and electrical voltages are generated in these coils. Although a moving magnet cartridge uses tiny, powerful magnet on the cantilever, the weight of the magnet will still be a strain on the cantilever, increasing its mass and reducing its ability to react precisely to transients in the music.
The reverse principle is applied to the Moving Coil cartridges. Here, a powerful fixed magnet is used and the coils are mounted on the cantilever itself. When the coils move in the field of the magnet, they cut the flux lines of the magnet and voltages are generated in the coils. Moving Coil cartridges provide greater linearity and lower distortion. They are more expensive and require a specialised phono pre-amplifier.
Most modern cartridges are Moving Magnet.
Do I need a phono pre-amplifier for my system?
Yes, you need a phono preamp somewhere in your audio setup to play vinyl records, but you may already have one.
A phono preamp performs two tasks. It boosts the extremely low signal from a turntable cartridge up to standard line level so you can hear it, and it applies RIAA equalization to restore correct bass and treble balance. Without one, your music will sound whisper-quiet and completely lacking in bass. You may have a pre-amp built into the phono section of your amplifier, built into modern turntables (often as a switchable feature) or you may have a separate phono box between your turntable and amplifier input.