Stylus Shape Breakdown: Elliptical, Nude, and Beyond

Your stylus is a small, yet highly effective piece of hardware, tasked with converting a record's physical groove into rich, analog audio. All styles are not the same. The stylus tip's design and construction have a direct impact on its ability to track the groove, extract detail, and cope with your records over time.

From elliptical and nude elliptical to sophisticated profiles such as Shibata and microline, this guide explains the most popular stylus types employed in modern phono cartridges, assisting you in selecting the appropriate one in consideration of performance, cost, and listening tastes.

1. Conical (Spherical) Stylus

The most elementary and lowest-cost stylus is the conical stylus. It has a rounded tip that lands on a smaller part of the groove in the record.

Pros:

• Tracking on worn or older vinyl
• Cost-effective and simple to align
• Ideal for entry-level systems

Cons:

• Increased distortion in the inner grooves
• Less accurate high-frequency response

2. Elliptical Stylus

The elliptical stylus has a narrower, oval-shaped tip. It traces the groove more precisely than a conical stylus, particularly in the top frequencies.

Pros:

• Shoulder, More detail, and greater clarity
• Improved high-frequency tracking
• A popular option in midrange cartridges

Cons:

• A bit more wear for records than finer stylus tips
• Bonded elliptical tips are heavier and less accurate

3. Nude Elliptical Stylus

In contrast with bonded types, a nude elliptical stylus is a complete diamond installed straight into the cantilever. It is lighter and more responsive.

Pros:

• Better tracking and resolution than bonded tips
• Lower distortion and improved stereo separation
• Fine value-for-money equation

Cons:

• Somewhat more expensive
• More revealing of worn or poor setup

4. Shibata Stylus

Quite literally invented for playing quadraphonic LPs, the Shibata stylus has an extended, intricate tip that contacts more of the groove walls. Now, audiophiles prefer the design for its capacity to extract subtle information.

Pros:

• Superb high-frequency response and imaging
• Reduces wear by spreading pressure over a greater area
• Ideal for well-kept records and hi-fi systems

Cons:

• Needs exact alignment
• More costly

5. Microline / Microridge St

It is one of the most advanced stylus geometries to be produced. Its extremely fine tip is a replica of a record cutting lathe, and it is able to play back the most precise signal possible. Note:

Pros:

• Maximum detail and groove accuracy
• Longest stylus lifespan
• Minimum inner groove distortion

Cons:

• Expensive
• Demands precise setup and upkeep
• Best appreciated with high-end systems

Which Stylus Shape Is Right for You?

Stylus Type	Sound Quality	Groove Tracking	Ideal For
Conical	Basic	Good	Entry-level or vintage setups
Elliptical	Clear, Dynamic	Better	Budget-conscious audiophiles
Nude Elliptical	Detailed, Balanced	Excellent	Mid-range systems with MM preamps
Shibata	Precise, Rich	Outstanding	Audiophile systems with clean records
Microline	Hyper-detailed	Best-in-class	High-end reference setups

Stylus care and maintenance

Regardless of the shape you go for, stylus care is essential in maintaining sound quality and record longevity.

• Clean your stylus every few plays.
• Utilize an alcohol-free cleaner and a brush.
• Do not play dirty or scratched records.

Final Thoughts

Stylus shape is perhaps the most influential factor in how your record sounds. Ranging from the accessible performance of elliptical tips through to the supreme tracking of nude and microline designs, there's a stylus for any kind of music lover.

Whether you're upgrading for audiophile performance or building your system for greater detail, becoming familiar with stylus shapes enables you to make a more knowledgeable and fulfilling decision.