Glossary · Cartridges
Stylus Profile
The tip shape — conical, elliptical, microline, Shibata.
The stylus tip shape sets how much groove it reads. Conical (round) is cheapest and most forgiving; elliptical reads more detail; microline and Shibata are narrow, tall profiles that trace the finest modulation and last longest, but demand careful alignment and setup.
Terms on the same stage
Cartridge
The transducer that turns groove wiggles into a signal.
Moving Magnet (MM)
A cartridge with a moving magnet and a replaceable stylus.
Moving Coil (MC)
A low-output cartridge prized for detail; needs an MC stage.
Moving Iron (MI)
A hybrid generator — MM-like output, MC-like low mass.
Cantilever
The thin arm carrying the stylus to the generator.
Compliance
How springy the cantilever suspension is.
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Groove Weight goods
Original groove, tonearm and VU artwork — made to order.
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