Are these styluses still OK to use?

[RaduB]

Hello!
I bought 2 cartridges at a very good price (Shure M95ED + Excel ES-70S) and I had an Audiotechnica AT-15Sa for 2 years.
Yesterday I bought a cheap digital microscope and I was curious to see if the styluses are still OK to use. Unfortunately, I have a little experience in styluses/cartridges, so I have no idea if they are OK or not.
Can you help me, please? I attached a couple of photos that I took. Hope to be enough clear.
Thank you a lot!

 

[Govany]

Impossible to say anything about the condition by looking at these images..except they need cleaned

 

[kirk57]

All we can tell from those pics is that the stylus hasn't come unglued from the cantilever...

See post #13 of this thread to get an idea of what you need to view in order the determine stylus wear.
You need much more magnification and a special light setup to do it right.

 

[melofelo]

Align each cartridge properly to a known geometry such as Stevenson or Baerwald. Dial in the correct tracking force and antiskate setting for each cartridge.Use a non-valuable album in good physicial conditon that you don't mind using as a sacrificial test play. Play the innermost track and listen carefully for increased surface noise, sibilance on S sounds and any mistracking. Headphones might help. If a stylus plays quite well and the following stylus plays quite well also without any increase in distortion, mistracking or sibilance, then it's a reasonable assumption that the first one is still usable. Repeat the process . If you hear increased distortion, go back to the previous stylus that sounded ok to see whether groove damage has occured or you came across one that isn't still in good conditon.

The sound will also depend to some extent on what shape the stylus, how much surface noise is present ( vinyl quality) , whether previous groove damage had occured, how much stylus wear is present on each sample, and, what profile the stylus had originally, ie elliptical or spherical. You should be able to tell which are usuable and which are not after a few plays, rotations of each stylus. Perhaps make a recording of each to help assess which sounds good and which doesn't. It's nto a fool proof method obviously as you are dealing with an unknown, but a worn or damaged stylus will face its sternest test of the last track on an lp where the grooves are much more condensed.

 

[RaduB]

Thx a lot all!
@Govany: I cleaned all of them 2-3 times today, but I will do again tomorrow. Anyway, the stylus of Shure M95ED is genuine black or mine it's very dirt?!! I cleaned it for 4-5 times and it looks as in the pictures. It seems not to be an original one (it's an aftermarket) and seems to be enough new.

@kirk57: I looked at the post that you recommended, but it's beyond my possibilities and skills right now. Maybe in the future

@melofelo: Right now I'm learning how to align properly a cartridge and I'm waiting for some tools that I bought to arrive. I have a Pioneer PL-117D with a new Nagaoka MP-200 and the only one thing that I don't know how to set properly it's the anti-skating. I used a test LP and I got some strong distortion at the tests 315 Hz +6/+8 dB A-B (Vertical) and less at the +3dB one. Using the anti-skating didn't eliminate it.

 

[melofelo]

Thx a lot all!
@Govany: I cleaned all of them 2-3 times today, but I will do again tomorrow. Anyway, the stylus of Shure M95ED is genuine black or mine it's very dirt?!! I cleaned it for 4-5 times and it looks as in the pictures. It seems not to be an original one (it's an aftermarket) and seems to be enough new.

@kirk57: I looked at the post that you recommended, but it's beyond my possibilities and skills right now. Maybe in the future

@melofelo: Right now I'm learning how to align properly a cartridge and I'm waiting for some tools that I bought to arrive. I have a Pioneer PL-117D with a new Nagaoka MP-200 and the only one thing that I don't know how to set properly it's the anti-skating. I used a test LP and I got some strong distortion at the tests 315 Hz +6/+8 dB A-B (Vertical) and less at the +3dB one. Using the anti-skating didn't eliminate it.

Set anti skating by ear as the dial readings are often inaccurate due to the spring rate being non linear as you increase it much beyond 0.5gm. Start at the same as tracking force..then reduce 1/10 at a time until the stylus looks vertical from the front of the cartridge without any sideways deflection / pull left or right *while* playing a record.. Then , fine tune around that anti-skate point using headphones for sound quality.
No matter what anti skate you set it to...the sideways force acting upon the arm is never the same across an entire record surface and it constantly changes as it gets closer to the center. So really it's just a compromise setting to keep the stylus relatively straight and with relatively similar force exerted on both side of the groove.

 

[RaduB]

Set anti skating by ear as the dial readings are often inaccurate due to the spring rate being non linear as you increase it much beyond 0.5gm. Start at the same as tracking force..then reduce 1/10 at a time until the stylus looks vertical from the front of the cartridge without any sideways deflection / pull left or right *while* playing a record.. Then , fine tune around that anti-skate point using headphones for sound quality.
No matter what anti skate you set it to...the sideways force acting upon the arm is never the same across an entire record surface and it constantly changes as it gets closer to the center. So really it's just a compromise setting to keep the stylus relatively straight and with relatively similar force exerted on both side of the groove.

Thx for your advice! What seems strange to me it's that Dynavox scale shows 1.7g, while the mark on the tonearm is set at 1.5g. It's OK? I set the antiskating at 1.7g.

 

[doctor fuse]

If you have some junk records or records that are indecent condition but you really don’t care if they get wrecked, try listening to them with the styluses. If they track and trace well, and sound undistorted with good frequency response, I would use them on my daily listen albums that are already on the way out (usually a double of a favourite album that I have one or more other copies of, in good condition). These discs are useful because you most likely really know how they sound and you will be able to tell when a worn stylus has problems on playback with them.

This is just my take, others will say my words above are sacrilege and throw them out and buy a new stylus or two.

Just my two bits, and I hope you understand you could irrevocably damage records this way.

 

[BluesWalk]

Hello!
I bought 2 cartridges at a very good price (Shure M95ED + Excel ES-70S) and I had an Audiotechnica AT-15Sa for 2 years.
Yesterday I bought a cheap digital microscope and I was curious to see if the styluses are still OK to use. Unfortunately, I have a little experience in styluses/cartridges, so I have no idea if they are OK or not.
Can you help me, please? I attached a couple of photos that I took. Hope to be enough clear.
Thank you a lot!

To me each stylus looks exceptionally clean, either the previous owner took very good care of them are they were hardly used. I would closely heed @melofelo's post and go from there.

I would also seek out one of these https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/accessories/hifi-news-test-lp-producers-cut/ which includes a Stevenson protractor and excellent instructions, an alignment block https://www.amazon.ca/Hudson-Hi-Fi-...fix=hudson+alignment+block,handmade,61&sr=1-1, a spirit level https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-Lev...23c139ff610769431d73f51&qid=1729151987&sr=8-9 and a tracking force guage - something like this https://www.amazon.com/sspa/click?i...d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1 but most of these are throw away but you can spend more to get something decent or use an old standby like the Shure SFG 2 if you can find one in good shape which will always be reliable and last forever.

 

[RaduB]

If you have some junk records or records that are indecent condition but you really don’t care if they get wrecked, try listening to them with the styluses. If they track and trace well, and sound undistorted with good frequency response, I would use them on my daily listen albums that are already on the way out (usually a double of a favourite album that I have one or more other copies of, in good condition). These discs are useful because you most likely really know how they sound and you will be able to tell when a worn stylus has problems on playback with them.

This is just my take, others will say my words above are sacrilege and throw them out and buy a new stylus or two.

Just my two bits, and I hope you understand you could irrevocably damage records this way.

Thx doctor fuse! I did what you said, but I am afraid that I can make mistakes (I am enough old not to hear very well) and to damage irreparable records that I like very much (and which are expensive JP/UK/US editions). So I tried to find a method to test styluses that is more objective.

 

[RaduB]

To me each stylus looks exceptionally clean, either the previous owner took very good care of them are they were hardly used. I would closely heed @melofelo's post and go from there.

I would also seek out one of these https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/accessories/hifi-news-test-lp-producers-cut/ which includes a Stevenson protractor and excellent instructions, an alignment block https://www.amazon.ca/Hudson-Hi-Fi-Turntable-Phonograph-Cartridge/dp/B0771Z3XMH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HR9SGTNAZ5OU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U7FnjHcs9Xtopbd6YvuDa_C_GsJvtfsDKv8KdLp5CaPGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.UbjGBY1t0GZp0Hj2mckhaGvzmwgkJnZvk_v0wmqcpYU&dib_tag=se&keywords=hudson+alignment+block&qid=1729151878&s=handmade&sprefix=hudson+alignment+block,handmade,61&sr=1-1, a spirit level https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-Level-Bubble-Turntables/dp/B002DO9H0K/ref=sr_1_9?adgrpid=1345802797169326&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-Y0VuiX_rDLSDzOuTv8w4kzByksrY26y7B1noTla-Z_j7od1gmCe2tVW_hAc_bff7FVV5CyngvRE_XJQXJXNvUpd9CDl4AorlPDjAH-g3t_AD-U3YzeMFCT3rgjPvZYUPc1tbRRBIO5qX43eerxZVUdqgnoHND73socEP-vlKT7rD576oXOlF-xKt2yZuxXsDUqPwCrtKVWNeggMPF9SNyp9p4FGgZg_VGI9BmQUklw.nmEPQUds8Lv1pOq0jxNCDP8GCAboLoPjV_d3bSpm9Co&dib_tag=se&hvadid=84112913811424&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=103453&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-84113022011097:loc-190&hydadcr=8796_13529756&keywords=turntable+spirit+level&msclkid=44911184f23c139ff610769431d73f51&qid=1729151987&sr=8-9 and a tracking force guage - something like this https://www.amazon.com/sspa/click?ie=UTF8&spc=MTo0OTk4Njc1NTY1NDc0ODMzOjE3MjkxNTIwODA6c3Bfc2VhcmNoX3RoZW1hdGljOjMwMDE3NzQzNDI5OTEwMjo6MDo6&url=/DIGITNOW-Precise-Turntable-Backlight-Cartridge/dp/B08DLJ676B/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?adgrpid=1340306405806265&content-id=amzn1.sym.140400a7-1208-46ad-8d2a-eb6e8eac81b5%3Aamzn1.sym.140400a7-1208-46ad-8d2a-eb6e8eac81b5&cv_ct_cx=tonearm+tracking+force+gauge&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YC5VEVMvJqJsoru55cNAMKNNHlgWCpPqnwMBoYsBwZEzXkzU8rNHLlo8mPvBfD_MzCGhZ3B_79HtlCJIlf0ofg.77E0qA4L5wwPKaXggY46c-sbJFzgiSmz8OPkxRBH_g0&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83769440069142&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=103453&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83770221045157%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=15019_13491883&keywords=tonearm+tracking+force+gauge&msclkid=6c41c72e86db1346eef5a03e4297c3af&pd_rd_i=B08DLJ676B&pd_rd_r=5f6301c7-0862-482a-b0cc-3d5118ff1919&pd_rd_w=OedWG&pd_rd_wg=YLT2Z&pf_rd_p=140400a7-1208-46ad-8d2a-eb6e8eac81b5&pf_rd_r=D3ZK2YP55M64SWSC52FP&qid=1729152080&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=1-1-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1 but most of these are throw away but you can spend more to get something decent or use an old standby like the Shure SFG 2 if you can find one in good shape which will always be reliable and last forever.

Thx BluesWalk! Excepting for the test LP (I had an old Romanian one, but in a good shape), I have all the tools or they are on the way to me Now, I will try to learn how to align all parameters very well.

 

[melofelo]

Thx for your advice! What seems strange to me it's that Dynavox scale shows 1.7g, while the mark on the tonearm is set at 1.5g. It's OK? I set the antiskating at 1.7g.

If you mean tracking force, then remember to zero the dial before setting tracking force. I.e Rotate the entire counterweight to Balance the tonearm and cartridge so that the stylus just hovers a couple of mm above the record/platter surface without the needle making contact. Then calibrate the downforce dial scale ring *only* to read *zero* without rotating the entire rear counterweight stub. That's your zero reading ( tonearm floating ) . Then to set downfoarc accurately , Rotate the entire counterweight from that zero reading on the calibration dial so that the dial registers 1/7gm ( or whatever setting you want for your cartridge. Next, rotate the anti-skate dial and set it to the same amount. ( it may have a clockwise dial setting for spherical stylus or anti clockwise for elliptical ( or the other way around) on some turntables or just a single direction adjustment., When listening to a record, adjust the antiskate dial *only* upwards or downwards from that 1.7gm sideforce setting in 1/10th increments ( it's usually downwards on some of the turntables I've adjusted, but yours might be different in terms of how much sideways force the spring exerts on the tonearm). Adjust until the stylus looks dead vertical when playing a record , and, both channels sound evenly balanced and detailed at the beginning, middle and end of an lp. A Shure SFG-2 scale can be used to check how accurate your tonearm's downforce dial is..but they are usually not too far out.