Cantilever Diameter
Cantilever diameter is the width across a round cantilever, usually stated in millimetres (mm). The cantilever carries the stylus tip and transmits its movement within the cartridge.
The symbols Ø or φ mean diameter. Cantilever length measures end to end; stylus-tip radius describes the tip’s curvature. Neither is the cantilever’s diameter.
Cantilever Diameter — Cartridge
Read the shape as well as the number. A square cantilever’s size is its side length, not a round diameter. A tapered cantilever narrows along its length; a stepped one changes size in steps. Keep the stated dimensions and their positions: the largest width alone does not describe the whole shape.
For a cartridge, read diameter alongside the material and whether the cantilever is solid or hollow. Diameter alone cannot establish moving mass, stiffness or playback quality. A thinner cantilever is not automatically better.
Sources
- Cantilever dimensions and construction — Orbray
- Cantilever function and diameter — Audio-Technica
- Square cantilever and stylus specifications — Audio-Technica
- Tapered pipe cantilever construction — TechDAS
- Cantilever diameter and stylus-tip radius — Audio-Technica