Cartridge-making dictionary Audio‑Technica’s guide to cartridge-making terminology
Replacement Stylus Stylus assembly of Moving Magnet cartridges are field replaceable. When the diamond is worn out, (between 600 and 1000 hours) or if the cantilever becomes damaged, the stylus assembly needs to be replaced. The Stylus assembly represents between 60% to 80% of the cost of a complete cartridge (depending on the nature of the diamond tip). It makes sense, not only for economic reasons but also to avoid work on the cartridge wiring or mechanical position, to replace only the Stylus assembly instead of the complete cartridge. RIAA RIAA stands for: Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade organization that represents the recording industry in the United States. Early RIAA standards included the RIAA equalization curve, the format of the stereophonic record groove and the dimensions of records. RIAA equalization A specification for the recording and playback of phonograph records. The purpose of the equalization is to permit greater recording times, improve sound quality, and to reduce the groove damage that would otherwise arise during playback. RIAA equalization is a form of pre-emphasis on recording and de-emphasis on playback. A recording is made with the low frequencies reduced and the high frequencies boosted, and on playback the opposite occurs.
Special Line Contact
Transient Response The transient response is the behaviour of a system when a signal is changing from one value to a specified higher value. Rise time (the time required for the signal to change) and Overshoot are among the most important parameters entering under the generic definition, Transient response. A transducer having a good transient response will result in perceiving that the music material is sharp, with fast accelerations, capable of reproducing accurately and in a realistic manner the fastest impulses of musical instruments. On a record, the signal is present in the groove, the cartridge is transforming the mechanical groove of the record into an electrical current, and the transient response of the cartridge will essentially respond to fast changing sound waves present into the groove. Under Transient response, the capacity of the moving parts such as cantilever/stylus/tension spring assembly to be controlled and not to produce parasitic oscillations is also part of the transient response quality. The capacity of the system after changing to revert to its equilibrium is also important.
(form factor of specific stylus diamonds) Audio‑Technica uses Special Line Contact shape stylus on several high-end cartridge styli. The tip of the diamond is such that it allows a contact surface between 50 and 75μm 2 . The shape is “similar” to other
diamond tips known as Shibata.
Spherical (diamond, see conical)
Square Shank
Square shank styli cost more than round shank to make but mounting them in laser cut holes in the cantilever locks them precisely in correct alignment with the record groove. This is the reason why they are used for shapes that need a precise orientation (Line Contact, Microlinear). Step-up Transformer An MC cartridge has both a low output voltage (generally below 1mV) and a low output impedance compared to a MM cartridge. The role of the step-up transformer is to raise the output voltage while, at the same time, match the required impedance between your cartridge and the phono preamplifier.
Vertical Tracking Angle Vertical Tracking Angle is the angle between the record surface and the axis “cantilever-pivot-point” to “stylus- contact-area”.
Pivot point
Vertical tracking angle
Stylus Holder (Stylus Assembly) The plastic part of an interchangeable stylus that holds the cantilever and the vibrating part, both forming the Stylus assembly. On Moving magnet cartridges, the removable stylus assembly is held in place on the cartridge casing.
RIAA input (Also known as Phono input)
Input of a preamplifier section providing the de-emphasis equalization needed to support the signal originating from a phono cartridge playing a vinyl record. (Note: Most 78 rpm shellac records produced after 1942 can be played with RIAA equalization, nevertheless we recommend you check the nature of the pre-emphasis used by the record company.)
Vinyl (see also LP record) Vinyl for most people denotes a 12 inch, 33 1/3 rpm, micro- groove LP record. The word Vinyl comes from the chemical form of the material used to produce LP records: vinyl chloride. An important industrial application of this molecule is PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride), the plastic commonly known as vinyl. Vinyl was used for the first time to produce records by Columbia in 1946. During the early 50’s the Vinyl record replaced the 78 rpm Shellac SP record as the standard.
Tilt (see also Azimuth)
Tilt adjustment
Round Shank
Specifically the shape of the shank where the tip is fitted. Round shank is generally used for shapes that require no or minimal orientation (round, conical elliptical).
Tilt is the angle between the surface of the record and the vertical axis of the cartridge. This angle should be 90° in order to ensure optimal channel balance.
VM™ (see Dual Magnet cartridge)
Shellac record Shellac records are also described as 78 rpm records or SP (Short Play)
Tracking Force To play back a vinyl disc, the stylus must make good contact with the walls of the record groove. Excessive down force (tracking force or tracking weight) will both wear and not guarantee that the stylus will perfectly follow the record groove. Audio‑Technica specifies the tracking force for each cartridge, as a range of recommended values in grams. A cartridge given insufficient tracking force is more likely to cause damage to the groove wall than one whose tracking weight is set at the high-end of the recommended range. The cartridge could lose contact with the groove wall, or “jump”, causing damage to the record as it bounces trying to regain contact.
Shibata
The Shibata stylus has two radii, similar to an elliptical stylus. However, the radii of a Shibata stylus are longer and more narrow. This allows for more surface contact and effective pick-up of ultra-high frequencies with less groove stress and distortion.
SP record (see Shellac record) SP stands for Standard Play denoting 78 rpm Shellac records, as opposed to LP (Long Play) denoting 33 1/3 rpm micro-groove vinyl records.
Tracking weight (see Tracking force)
62 - Audio-Technica Phono Cartridges Guide 2025
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