Original ORTOFON Stylus type - Spherical  Stylus tip radius - R 65 µm for Mono 78rpm Records

Replacement stylus for the 2M 78 moving magnet cartridge. 

The 2M 78 features an improved True Mono engine, which provides a high level of sonic accuracy, as well as expertly cut Spherical diamond that is perfect for playback of 78 rpm records (which require a larger stylus profile).

The 2M 78 stylus is designed to offer optimum sound performance from older 78RPM records.

Please Note: If you purchase this replacement stylus to use on any other 2M cartridge, apart from the 2M 78, the sound performance will not be true mono. We only recommend using this stylus on the 2M 78 cartridge body.

More on the 2M 78.

Key Technical Data:

Output Voltage (at 1kHz, 5cm/sec):
4mV
Frequency Range (at -3dB):    20 Hz - 22 kHz
Tracking Ability at 315Hz:
Typically 70μm
Stylus Type:    Spherical
Recommended Tracking Force:    1.8g (18mN)
Cartridge Colour Body / Stylus:
Black / Grey

Ortofon True Mono cartridges
The history of recorded music on phonograph records spans over a century. Over a half century ago, beginning in the 1940s, modern vinyl began to take shape and to resemble what we know today.

The era of high fidelity sound reproduction

The history of recorded music on phonograph records spans well over a century.  But just over a half century ago, beginning in the 1940s, modern vinyl began to take shape and to resemble what we know today. The tape machine had arrived in studios, cutting was made on a cellulose nitrate lacquer with a sapphire cutter, and the V-shaped groove became standard using a lateral cut mono signal.

Ortofon also greatly influenced this process by developing and producing a new and improved cutterhead in 1946. This cutterhead made it possible to achieve an upper frequency limit of 14kHz, which was far beyond the former limit of 8kHz.  This gave way to the era of high fidelity sound reproduction.

The records of the early 1940s were coarse-groove shellacs, and playback was made with both mechanical and electronic “cartridges” using an extremely high tracking force. Many cartridges now used a diamond stylus, and for the records produced in this era, a spherical stylus with a 65µm radius was considered state of the art.

In 1948 the microgroove vinyl record was introduced

The process of launching this new record type was very time consuming: It required a new and better material (which became known as what we now call vinyl), new cutterheads, new recordings that lasted an entire record side, and new turntables that could spin at 33rpm. 

Even more notably, new lightweight tonearms and cartridges were required to significantly lower the 100+ grams tracking forces that were common for use with 78rpm shellacs. Ortofon took part in this new technology with both the development of cutterheads and also high quality cartridges.

In 1948 Ortofon launched the first series of moving coil cartridges.

SPU A 25
A, AD and C models

The three models: A, AD and C were built around the same generator, which is still used in our SPU CG cartridges today.
The A-type was a rugged standard cartridge with low compliance and high tracking force: up to 15 grams on coarse groove 78s and 7 grams on microgroove 33s.
The AD was made solely for the Ortofon A 212 tonearm, and it had a twistable collar to make the change between 78 and 33 rpm easy. This was also a rugged design capable of up to 10 grams on 33s.
The last cartridge in the series, the C-type, was designed for professional use and could run at 3 grams VTF on 33s. For all types, there was a choice of styli ranging from spherical 95um for old 78s, down to a spherical 25µm for microgroove records. The C-type with 25µm stylus has the same unit as the SPU CG 25 which is still produced today.

The Mono Microgroove

The mono microgroove geometry is fairly easy to understand, as it only has to contain one signal. That signal is cut in the lateral dimension only, meaning that the V-shaped groove will have constant width and depth. The groove angle of the V-shape will vary a bit from record to record but will always be close to 90 degrees. The top width of the groove will, according to the different standards, have a minimum dimension in order to ensure that the replay stylus can sit comfortably inside the groove.  Over the years, this minimum width has varied due to changing standards but has always been close to 50µm until the mid 1960s. The latest standards from the 1980s were revised for a minimum width down to around 30µm. This offered a unified standard, congruent to the minimum width of stereo records.

Regarding the bottom groove radius, old microgrooves from around 1950 could approach 15µm, or even larger if the record stamper was used for too long.  Records like that need to be played only by a cartridge with a spherical 25µm stylus, otherwise there is a risk of the stylus bottoming out and causing poor fidelity.  From around the mid 1950s, the bottom radius was reduced to around 8µm, which corresponds to the IEC98 standard from 1958 where 7.5µm is stated as maximum radius. Later on, up to the stereo age, this was further reduced down to 4µm.  The bottom radius is one of the important factors determining which styli will replay the record satisfactorily as can be seen by the drawings below.

Understanding the differences in groove types

A stereo record contains the left-right information on the two opposing groove-walls that are angled at +/-45 degrees, as is seen in the figure. Cutting the groove this way leaves us with a complicated shape with both lateral and vertical information which a stereo cartridge is able to read.

A mono record contains only one signal corresponding to left+right which is cut in the lateral direction, so there is no vertical information.

Advantages of using a mono cartridge to play mono records

If you play a mono record with a stereo cartridge you will not achieve the same signal in the two channels due to imperfections such as crosstalk, noise, phase errors, tracking error, antiskating and distortion. This difference between the channels will result in an unstable and partially fuzzy image. A mono switch, to some extent, can improve this.

Playing the same record with a mono cartridge will have none of the aforementioned problems, as this cartridge only produces one signal, which afterwards is directed to both channels in the system. This will provide a much more forceful and stable image with a fuller sound.

Another significant advantage of using a mono cartridge to play mono records is the absence of response to vertical movement. This means that a mono cartridge is essentially impervious to the pinching effect which comes into action when the stylus is pushed vertically upward in very narrow grooves. In addition, the response to dust, dirt and wear will be reduced substantially as the vertical component will not be heard. The final result will be a much more clean and noiseless reproduction of the mono record. These effects simply cannot be achieved merely by the use of a mono switch.

The Styli

Spherical styli were the most commonly used geometry up to the beginning of the 1960s. Consequently, most records from the first 15 years of microgroove records have been played with a spherical stylus. This will not, however, mean that mono has to be played with a spherical stylus.

In fact, elliptical types as well as line contact types can be highly beneficial for mono records from the mid 1950s and upwards (see figures on the left). The line contact types, specifically, will ensure an improved high frequency response due to the slim shape. Also the distortion from the pinching effect, which occurs when the stylus is pushed upwards due narrow high frequency grooves, will be reduced substantially.

25µm spherical stylus used in SPU Mono and SPU CG25 Di MkII.

mono range
Replaying an old mono record, which probably has been played only with a 25µm spherical stylus can be replayed in a different unworn location of the groove by using an 18µm spherical stylus or, even better, an elliptical or line contact stylus. Choosing one of these diamond profiles will dramatically increase the stylus’ ability to reproduce the inscription with detail and accuracy.

Lastly, a mono record cut with a properly aligned stereo cutterhead will be no different to using a mono head, as long as the signal supplied is the exact same for both channels. The cutting stylus chosen should also ensure the production of sufficiently deep and wide grooves in order to accommodate those users wanting to replay mono with a traditional spherical 25µm stylus.

18µm spherical stylus used in 2M Mono.

2M Mono SE is the one mono cartridge to play all the old and new mono records in existence

The LPs in The Beatles in Mono box has, according to GRAMMY®-winning engineer Sean Magee from Abbey Road Studios, been cut with a minimum groove width of 60µm. This kind of groove will make it possible to use most modern mono cartridges without any problems. However, to get the most out of the grooves, a line contact type like the Fine Line on the MC Cadenza Mono or the Shibata on the specially developed 2M Mono SE will be perfect.

Line contact stylus used in MC Quintet Mono, MC Cadenza Mono and 2M Mono SE.

A Worn stylus can cause Serious ( Irreversible Damage ) to your records, and provide poor sound quality

Replacement Stylus ONLY - Cartridge Shown NOT Supplied  

 We recommend that you purchase at least two replacement styli ( Spare ) especially if you are buying for an older cartridge. Manufacturers have been phasing out many replacement styli for decades  & so the next time you need one a spare for your older cartridge you may not be able to find it. & many 100s of suppliers of Cartridges & Turntables have ceased production or went out business .

Genuine Stylus - Original as fitted by Cartridge OEM ( Original Equipment Maunfacturer )

Copy/Pattern/Replica - If no longer in production Aftermarket Replacement

a. NUDE Diamond.- Best & Most Expensive Option

The stylus is a whole diamond, specially shaped and glued or fastened to the cantilever.
b. BONDED / Tipped diamond - Least Expensive option

. Here, a stylus tip of diamond is mounted on a metal shank.It is usually made of diamond  the hardest material known - to give it maximum durability. However, the fact that it is of diamond is not sufficient in itself, for its construction and shape are also crucial factors in sound quality. Many less inexpensive Hi-Fi cartridges use a so-called “tipped” diamond, where the diamond tip is mounted on a metal shank. However, such a shank may increase the stylus tip mass and thus impair the cartridge’s transient reproduction, in comparison with a cartridge that uses a nude untipped diamond. 

Stylus Profile

The SPHERICAL ( Conical ) Stylus
The spherical shaped stylus is the simplest and cheapest to produce and it is, therefore, the most common. Spherical styli can be recommended in all cases where robustness and economy are taken into consideration in the purchase of a cartridge.

The ELLPITICAL stylus
The elliptical shaped stylus bears greater resemblance to the triangular shaped cutting stylus that is used when cutting master records.The elliptical stylus is able to follow the groove oscillations more accurately than the spherical type, and its distortion and phase error will,therefore, be less.& stylus life will be extended compared to a Spherical Stylus 

Advanced Stylus Profiles

The HYPER ELLPITICAL stylus

Hyper-Elliptical is an extreme elliptical tip.which are precision ground and are actually often closer to Contact Line than most ellipticals.  Stylus life will be extended compared to a Elliptical  Stylus

The SHIBATA  stylus

Various cartridge manufacturers have been inspired by the Shibata shape and now produce cartridges with stylus shapes that give the same advantages as the Shibata. quadraphonic systems never really caught on with consumers, but they have helped to speed up the development of stylus types that improve playback of stereo records in the form of a more precise treble reproduction, lower distortion, and less record wear.  Stylus life will be extended compared to a Elliptical/HE  Stylus

The SAS ( Super Analogue Stylus )

Designed to mimic as close as possible a record cutting head/cutting lathe for highest fidelity & lifespan usually fitted to a precision boron , sapphire , ruby or zirconium ultra light & rigid cantilever

SAS -Natural single-crystal, nude-mounted octahedral diamond stylus tip , The stylus tip is of optimum height and a uniformly ultra-precision finish. The Super Analogue Stylus has a curvature with a smaller radius that was impossible with the Micro Ridge Stylus. As thin as a razor blade and machined with ultra precision, the stylus tip ensures unsurpassed fidelity. Polished finish that virtually preserves your record's grooves.World-class polishing technique is used on each stylus. This is designed to preserve the details of the record groove structure for a very long time — virtually for the life of the vinyl.

Other Advanced Profiles & Trademarks include

 BI-ELLIPTICAL , PRAMANIC , QUADRAHEDRAL , HYPERBOLIC , PATHEMAX , FINE LINE , LINE CONTACT , MICRORIDGE MICROLINE  PARATRACE , REPLICANT , FG , VDH , SUPER FINE LINE

Advanced Stylus Profiles as used on Hiend Cartridges offer much improved Sound Quality , Extended Stylus Life , Extended HF Response & Tracking almost exactly duplicates the shape of the cutting stylus used to produce the original master disc from which records are made. This enables it to track portions of the groove other styli simply cannot reach. The result is extremely accurate tracking of high-frequency passages and ruler-flat frequency response within the audible range

Due to Stylus Shape & Profile advanced stylus make greater contact with the record groove wall for better sound quality 

CANTILEVER

The cantilever of a Phono cartridge, like the stylus itself, is an important part of the vibration system and is necessary in order to faithfully transmit the vibrations from the record to the Stylus.

A variety of materials such as Aluminum,& Expensive cartridges use  Sapphire, Beryllium and Boron are used to make cantilevers of different shapes and dimensions. The lighter and stiffer the material, the better and more accurately the cantilever can transmit vibration.

In today’s high-end cartridges, precision is also required for the materials, processing, and assembly of magnetic circuit parts as well as the suspension mechanism connected to the cantilever.

Notes on Mono Records & Cartridges Styli

Modern Microgroove Records have a V profile Groove & Modern Mono Microgroove Re-issues 

0.7mil is Suitable for Reissue Monaural LP and a Mono LP of after 1960.
1.0mil is Suitable for the Monaural LP of a deep groove of the first press of the 1950s.
However, both styli can trace the monaural LP of all generations without a problem.
When you listen to the monaural LP of all generations, we recommend 0.7mil.
When you listen to a monaural LP of the first press of the 1950s mainly, we recommend 1.0mil.

3.0mil usually ideal for 78rpm mono records

Why Mono ?
A mono cartridge is mechanically different from a stereo cartridge.  Simply switching a stereo cartridge to mono does not work perfectly.  Despite what manufactures claim  mono switches invariably add the two channels  by simply shorting the two channels together, even very" expensive units do this.  Hiend units can  sum the two channels with extra electronics to eliminates the vertical response and improve the signal to noise by 3dB.  However even summing does not provide the ultimate, a cartridge designed for mono, with a single coil and no vertical movement reduces surface noise, vertical noise and fits the groove properly. 

Older Mono records have a U type Groove Mono/78RPM 3.0mil is the accepted norm & Steel Needles for gramophone records

other types used by collectors are 2.0/2.5/3.0/3.5/4.0/8.0 ( MIL = 1/1000th of a inch )

2.0MIL -  2.0 X 0.4 mil Elliptical diamond - worn LPs, some transcriptions.
2.5MIL  - 2.5 X 0.5 mil elliptical diamond - late unworn 78s
3.0MIL -  3.0 X 0.5 mil elliptical diamond - most 1905 to 1940's, slightly worn 78s & transcriptions, & some Edison discs.
3.5MIL    3.5 X 0.8 mil elliptical diamond - old or worn 78s, transcriptions. 
4.0MIL    4.0 X 1.0 mil elliptical diamond - Edison Diamond & very old/worn discs, raw aluminium, RCA home recordings., also Pathé vertical discs
8.0MIL     8.0 mil conical sapphire - RCA home recordings, and worn Pathé vertical discs.