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Re: Nude stylii on '50s Ortofons !!! Bonded stylii can b good

I believe the nude styli you are referring to is a different construction from what I wrote about. Grados, for example, used a form of the nude stylus in mounting the stylus in a socket punched in the aluminum cantilever shaft. IIRC the edges of the socket were urnished around the stylus assembly. This form of a nude stylus did have a tendency to lose their styli as the aluminum corroded, however.

Please, I did not say that I preferred one form or another, just reiterated some of the arguments pro and con. As for tip mass, it really does make a difference, but that difference is also compounded by the suspension of the cartridge body. One can easily negate the other.

For a hands on comparison, try comparing the current Grado styli with the older ones with a larger tip mass. Perhaps the sonic differences may be attributed to modifications in the stylus shape (Grado makes no claims, so I am assuming they are the same), but there is a sight difference in the sound.

The Benz people actually claim a lower mass because of the nature of their bonding. They also claim the gap necessary for the insertion of the laser cut nude styli means that there is a gap which is filled with glue and hence a source for unwanted movement versus the direct contact that the bonding technique they use provides.

Cartridge body weight has no bearing on the stylus/cantilever assembly. The stylus/cantilever has to move and track the groove. The overall cartridge weight is static and easily counterbalanced by the arm's counterweight. A truly frictionless arm would be modulated by the motion of the groove. It is the mass which provides inertia enabling the cantilever to move and create the generator's output.

Overall, I believe we are on the same side. I certainly believe every engineering solution has its own unique qualities, pro and con. It is the balance of numerous factors which is more important for the overall sound.


Stu

PS. I like the Benz cartridges.


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  • Re: Nude stylii on '50s Ortofons !!! Bonded stylii can b good - unclestu52 12:53:17 05/15/07 (0)


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