Ortofon Red - why such hate?

[jrtrent]

I'll go ahead and mount the conical again and put some hours on it and report back in a AT95 thread.

In that article you mentioned as being a prod to ordering the VM95C, it was a shame that Reichert left out the first half of Dudley's comment about stylus shapes. A more complete quote would have been, "Record lovers who enjoy the extra shimmer, sparkle, detail, and air brought to the listening experience by elliptical or more radical stylus profiles have nothing to be ashamed of: those choices are sonically and musically valid. But I continue to prefer the spherical experience—to me, it emphasizes musical content over air, allowing instruments and voices to sound more substantial, and music to sound, overall, less fussy than with other tip types." Whatever you prefer, it will be fun to hear your comments after a second listen.

 

[beans]

I found a Stanton replacement stylus at LP Gear and bought it. I had to go cheap. Flame retardant suit on. I really wanted the AT with the shibata tip but had to go the cheap route.

 

[jrtrent]

I found a Stanton replacement stylus at LP Gear and bought it. I had to go cheap. Flame retardant suit on. I really wanted the AT with the shibata tip but had to go the cheap route.

You mentioned earlier finding one for about $110. Is it the one described as LP Gear replacement for Stanton D6800EEE MKIII (D6800 EEE MKIII) stylus, Code: STAD6800EEEMK3? If you end up liking it, be sure to let us know. I never tried an aftermarket stylus with it, but I did love the 681EEE Mk III that I bought in 1993!

 

[Heller]

I’m not sure how to rate this, but I have to say that my 2M RED stylus seems to have a remarkable tendency of collecting dust, fluff, lint. Of course: other factors may be contributing to this, so it could very well be an issue not only connected to the given stylus.

 

[Mr Boochie]

I’m not sure how to rate this, but I have to say that my 2M RED stylus seems to have a remarkable tendency of collecting dust, fluff, lint. Of course: other factors may be contributing to this, so it could very well be an issue not only connected to the given stylus.

The cartridge magnets may collect metal dust particles from the air or surfaces. Because the tip has a small area, the magnetic force density (force per unit area) can be high.

Small metal ions in the air may be attached to non-ferrous dust.

 

[Heller]

I tend to think that the »height« of my 2M Red stylus is rather small. Smaller than the one in my little drawing here:

 

[Mr Boochie]

Small changes in that distance shouldn’t affect the sound quality. Maybe it slightly changes the vertical tracking angle.

Photos are from the Ortofon site.

 

[Heller]

Small changes in that distance shouldn’t affect the sound quality.

Sure. But the smaller that distance the lesser is the space for »collecting« dust&fluff.

 

[Mr Boochie]

Sure. But the smaller that distance the lesser is the space for »collecting« dust&fluff.

I suppose. I found that the sticky, goombah-like gunk that collects on the stylus comes from surfactants left on the LP surface. Surfactant remains because you didn’t rinse thoroughly after using soap to clean the LP, or because one used aftermarket sprays on purpose.

A cleaned surface without surfactants will not have as much sticky residue on the stylus, after play.