Biradial stylus? Confused about differences.

[Detailman]

I've been trying different cartridges that I have lying around.
Grado Blue, Shure M55EM, and an AT3500E.
The AT sounds about as good as any and with the E I just assumed it was elliptical.
When I checked the cartridge database it said biradial and I don't quite understand the differences in conical etc.
Would anyone enlighten me?

[jcmjrt]

Check out this link:

http://stereos.about.com/od/gtgtturn...rntables_2.htm

[hakaplan]

Yep, very good intro site.

All those cartridges are elliptical (or biradial).

[Joey1127]

Good Question...

The thing is, ALL "Elliptical" labeled styli are truly Bi-Radial, not Elliptical. In a 2-d world, I guess you could say the stylus is Elliptical, but in the "real world" they are really Bi-Radial in design. Even Shure originaly called them Bi-Radial untill it became cool to say Elliptical.

[ferninando]

it's the small radius of the ellip that contacts the groove more better than conical. conical is just that, shaped like a cone, 1 radius. Nothing wrong with them but biradial/elliptical is much better for tracking and getting the most info out of the groove. ie: hi'er fi.
Altho conical is used extensivly in lower cost stylii, it is a good choice for 45s and 78s, where grooves are larger.

[Detailman]

Thanks all.
Good link with understandable explanation.
Cleared up my question. Just like a college course with the experience and knowledge on this forum.
The help is really appreciated.
Found this AT3500E on a thrift tt and must say I don't think it's an expensive one but a pretty good all around cartridge.

[hakaplan]

Originally Posted by Detailman

Thanks all.
Good link with understandable explanation.
Cleared up my question. Just like a college course with the experience and knowledge on this forum.
The help is really appreciated.
Found this AT3500E on a thrift tt and must say I don't think it's an expensive one but a pretty good all around cartridge.

Yep, decent cartridge. It's either a rebadged AT11E or AT12E depending on whether it's green or blue.

[Detailman]

It's green and one time when ordering some stuff got a new stylus cause the orig suspension was shot. It's pretty decent but I have a hard time making up my mind about what is best.
Guess that's what keeps us going!!!!!!!!
Sometimes it's amazing what you can get for a couple bucks from the thrift with a beat up tt.

[Detailman]

Originally Posted by hakaplan

Yep, decent cartridge. It's either a rebadged AT11E or AT12E depending on whether it's green or blue.

You are right on the money cause the stylus I bought was ATS 11E.