top of page
Conical (Spherical) Stylus
A conical stylus has a spherical tip, similar to that of a ballpoint pen. Because of this shape, spherical styli have a large radius and subsequently track less of the smaller high-frequency groove modulations. You get a little less detail than other stylus shapes, but they are the least expensive and most widely used stylus type.
One distinct advantage of a conical stylus is that tracking less of the groove can result in less surface noise from any dust and debris trapped deep in the groove. A spherical stylus shape can also be kinder to your records and result in less record wear, but only when they’re tracked light (typically under 2grams). Sadly, there aren’t many models on the market that will allow you to track much lower than 3grams. Most spherical DJ cartridges use spherical styli for their performance in scratching and backspin applications.
Examples of cartridges including a conical tip include the highly affordable Ortofon OM 5S. Fantastic for those concerned with record wear as the tracking force is a nice and light 1.75g.
The Audio Technica AT-XP3 is a DJ-style option with a higher tracking force of 3g, but it claims to offer all the benefits of a DJ cart, only with a more ‘HiFi’ sound.
Elliptical (Bi-Radial) Stylus
An elliptical (or bi-radial) stylus has dual radii and makes contact across a larger area of the groove wall, which allows for more precise tracking. The result is richer frequency response and detail, improved phase response, and lower distortion — especially in the inner grooves that are harder to track. The drawback is faster tip wear, and you’ll need to pay particular attention to cartridge and tonearm alignment for the best results. The more precise the instrument, the more crucial proper setup and alignment become. As the stylus covers more of the groove wall, an elliptical stylus may be less forgiving than a conical stylus if the record is damaged, poorly cut, or dirty.
For an affordable entry to elliptical performance, try the Audio Technica AT-VM95E.
One step up, but still in the affordable category is the Ortofon 2M Red. This very popular stylus comes pre-installed on many turntables. For a very simple, but effective performance upgrade, try swapping the red stylus for the nude-elliptical blue model.
Conical Vs Elliptical Stylus – Which is Better?
The bottom line is, there are no right or wrong decisions when it comes to selecting the right stylus profile, only pros and cons. Conical styli are often affordable, more forgiving, and perfectly suited for DJ use. Audiophile listeners will likely prefer the richer, more detailed, and precise performance that comes from an elliptical tip.
If you own a half-inch headshell mount turntable, you might consider owning both so you can select the most appropriate cartridge for each record. As mentioned, a conical stylus might offer a more forgiving playback experience if the record has imperfections, so owning one you can plug in for those older, more ‘loved’ records could have its benefits.
Conical and elliptical tips are by far the most common and affordable types of stylus, but the story by no means ends here. For more indepth information, keep reading:
Vinyl Stylus Shapes Explained
The hi-fi world is full of technical jargon and vinyl records are certainly no exception. In the following article, you’ll learn about the most common stylus shapes on the market designed for vinyl playback.
So what exactly is a stylus?
In simple terms the stylus (or needle) is the tip that tracks your vinyl record. Most styli are made from industrial diamonds (sometimes sapphire), but diamond is the material of choice as it’s the hardest material known to man. (On the mohs scale of mineral hardness, diamonds rank at number 10; sapphires come a close second at 9).
The two most common stylus shapes are spherical styli (also called conical) and elliptical styli (also referred to as bi-radial). Both types have positive and negative attributes…
Spherical stylus
A spherical stylus tip, by definition, resembles a sphere – similar to a ballpoint pen. Because of their shape, spherical styli have a large radius and subsequently trace less of the smaller groove modulations that represent higher frequencies. They are the least expensive and most widely used stylus type.
Record wear
There is much debate in the hi-fi community as to how spherical styli perform from a record wear standpoint. Some claim that spherical styli have the greatest record wear because the contact area of the diamond is restricted to two very small points. Others claim spherical styli produce less record wear. The video below features some great images taken using an electron microscope showing actual record wear between different spherical and elliptical styli at varying tracking forces. From the evidence shown, it would appear spherical styli are kindest to your records when tracked light.
Elliptical stylus
An elliptical (or bi-radial) stylus has a dual radii and makes contact across a larger area of the groove wall, which allows for more precise tracking. The result is improved frequency response (particularly highs), improved phase response, and lower distortion, especially in the inner grooves that are harder to track. The drawback is faster tip wear and you’ll need to pay particular attention to cartridge and tone arm alignment for the best results.
Hyperelliptical Stylus
Also known as shibata, fine line, or stereohedron, hyperelliptical styli take the elliptical design further for greater contact with the record. When properly aligned, hyperelliptical styli offer fantastic high-frequency performance, longer tip life, improved tracking, and low record wear. They are, however, harder to manufacture than elliptical styli, and therefore expensive.
Micro-Ridge
The Micro-Ridge (or Microline) stylus is a very advanced, computer designed tip shape that comes very close to the shape of a cutting stylus used to produce original master discs. They are difficult to manufacture, and very expensive, but when aligned correctly are capable of the best high-frequency performance with extended record and stylus life. Such performance is made possible by the advanced multilevel “ridge” shape of a MicroLine tip.
Stylus for 78 RPM records
The groove of a 78 RPM record is about 3 to 4 times wider than the a typical 33 1/3 RPM record. To play 78 records, you must use a stylus designed specifically for the wider grooves. The tip radius should be at least 2.0 mil. If a standard microgroove spherical stylus tip is used, it will ride very low in the groove and produce a very noisy, unlistenable signal. Not to mentioned it will destroy your standard stylus very quickly!
Note About Stylus Shank Construction:
There are two primary methods of attached a stylus to the cantilever:
a. Nude diamond. Where the stylus is a whole diamond that’s glued or fastened to the cantilever. Nude styli have lower mass and therefore track more accurately.
b. Tipped diamond. Here, a diamond stylus tip is mounted on a metal shank. Such designs often have increased mass which can impair tracking and reduce transient reproduction.
The Bottom Line
There are no right or wrong choices when it comes to selecting the right stylus for you. Every shape and design is a balance between performance, price, and application. DJ’s tend to use spherical styli for their performance in scratching and backspin applications. Hi-fi enthusiasts will appreciate the sonic accuracy of elliptical, hyperelliptical, or micro-ridge designs; the one you settle on will very much depend on your budget.
In any case, it’s important to keep your stylus clean as this will extend its life and prevent deterioration in sound quality due to a build up of dust and grime. Keeping your records clean will reduce the amount of work required here, of course, but inevitably, all styli wear out eventually and need to be replaced.
bottom of page