David
Chief Content Editor at - searchturntablesSarah, a Philadelphia-based product review writer, boasts 7.5 years of experience in musical equipment, specifically turntables. She has contributed to various online publications, offering expertise on the latest gear. Outside of writing and attending concerts, Sarah enjoys family time and her pets.
David
Chief Content Editor at - searchturntablesSarah, a Philadelphia-based product review writer, boasts 7.5 years of experience in musical equipment, specifically turntables. She has contributed to various online publications, offering expertise on the latest gear. Outside of writing and attending concerts, Sarah enjoys family time and her pets.
The stylus is an important part of a turntable because it reads the grooves of a record and turns the movements into sound messages. The form of the pen has a big effect on the sound quality, with the conical and elliptical stylus being the most popular. This answer will discuss how conical and elliptical stylus are different, their pros and cons, and show a table that compares their features. We will also show you data about how people use turntables and which pen they prefer.
- Conical Stylus Characteristics
- Elliptical Stylus Characteristics
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Conical and Elliptical Stylus
- Comparison Table: Conical vs. Elliptical Stylus
- Turntable Usage and Stylus Preference Statistics
Conical Stylus Characteristics
A conical stylus, also known as a spherical stylus, has a rounded tip that resembles a sphere. This design makes it easy for the stylus to track the grooves of a record, as the rounded shape allows for greater tolerance of imperfections in the vinyl. Conical stylus are commonly found on entry-level turntables due to their relatively lower cost and ease of use.
Elliptical Stylus Characteristics
An elliptical stylus has a smaller, more oval-shaped tip that can make more touch with the record grooves. This can lead to better information recall and more accurate tracking of the groove’s modulations. Turntables and tapes that cost more often have elliptical stylus, which make listening to music more enjoyable.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Conical and Elliptical Stylus: Conical Stylus Advantages
- Lower cost: Conical stylus are generally more affordable than their elliptical counterparts.
- Greater tolerance for imperfections: The rounded shape of a conical stylus can better navigate imperfections in vinyl records, such as scratches or warps.
- Lower wear on records: The larger contact area of a conical stylus distributes pressure more evenly across the groove, potentially reducing record wear.
Conical Stylus Disadvantages
- Lower detail retrieval: Due to the larger contact area, conical stylus may not extract as much detail from the record grooves as elliptical stylus.
Elliptical Stylus Advantages
- Improved detail retrieval: The narrower contact area of an elliptical stylus allows for better tracking of the groove’s modulations, resulting in more accurate sound reproduction.
- Enhanced high-frequency response: Elliptical stylus can capture high-frequency information more accurately, providing a more detailed and dynamic listening experience.
Elliptical Stylus Disadvantages
- Higher cost: Elliptical stylus tend to be more expensive than conical stylus.
- Less tolerant of imperfections: The narrower contact area of an elliptical stylus can make it more sensitive to imperfections in vinyl records, potentially affecting playback quality.
Comparison Table: Conical vs. Elliptical Stylus
Aspect
Conical Stylus
Elliptical Stylus
Shape
Rounded, spherical tip
Narrower, oval-shaped tip
Cost
Lower
Higher
Tolerance for Imperfections
Greater
Less
Detail Retrieval
Lower
Higher
High-Frequency Response
Standard
Enhanced
Record Wear
Lower
Potentially higher
How People Use Turntables and Which Stylus They Prefer
Even though there isn’t a lot of data on how turntable users choose a stylus, it’s clear that both conical and elliptical stylus have their benefits and downsides that affect user choices. Discogs did a poll in 2020, and 58.9% of the people who answered it owned a turntable.
This shows that vinyl records and the tools that go with them are very popular. In the same poll, 42.9% said they had changed their turntable or cartridge in the past year.
Considering these numbers, it seems likely that the choice of the stylus may be influenced by the listener’s budget, sound quality tastes, and the state of their vinyl collection. For example, people starting with turntables may choose a cylindrical stylus because it’s cheap and can handle more imperfections. On the other hand, audiophiles who want a more polished listening experience may choose an elliptical stylus because it’s better at getting details and high-frequency responses.
Summary
The choice between a cylindrical and an oval stylus for a turntable depends on costs, sound quality, and how forgiving you are of flaws in vinyl records. A conical stylus is usually less expensive and more accepting of flaws, but they may not be as good at getting details and high-frequency responses as elliptical styli. On the other hand, circular styli offer better detail recovery and high-frequency response, but they may be more sensitive to imperfections in records and cost more. Ultimately, the choice comes down to what the viewer wants, how much money they have, and how good their vinyl collection is.