Stylus Tip Radius
Stylus tip radius describes curvature at the tip that touches a record groove. This specification records the smaller, or minor, radius when two are given.
A conical tip has one radius; shaped tips may have two. A profile name such as elliptical describes shape; shank dimensions describe the supporting body.
Stylus Tip Radius — Cartridge
For r/R 8/18 µm, the minor radius is 8 µm. In 2.2 × 0.12 mil, it is 0.12 mil. Retain both figures, their printed order and units. One mil is a thousandth of an inch, or 25.4 µm.
A smaller side radius can help trace high-frequency groove detail, but does not alone establish a better cartridge. Check the full profile: complex shapes are not fully described by radius. Check the intended groove format too; 78 rpm styli can need larger radii than LP styli.
Sources
- Stylus radius and shank terminology (page 34) — Audio-Technica
- Stylus shapes and cartridge specifications (pages 7, 43–46) — Audio-Technica
- OMEGA technical data — Ortofon
- VM stylus shapes and 78 rpm application — Audio-Technica