JohnMcC
28-08-2014, 19:16
Just removed the stylus of my ancient but wonderful AT120e with great difficulty. I'd forgotten that I used an "audiophile tip" about 20 years ago which suggested that you could improve the rigidity of the stylus to cartridge joint with an extremely thin fillet of blu-tack on each side of the cartridge body, just running along the top of the stylus housing. Inevitably some (a really tiny amount) of the blu-tack finds its way between the stylus housing and the cartridge body when you replace the stylus - I think that was the idea.
Now here's the funny thing - I carefully scraped off the blu-tack which remained (amazingly it hadn't hardened) and refitted the stylus. You know what? I don't think it sounds as good now - slightly shriller, perhaps. Anyway I'll do some more listening, break out my Hi-Fi Sound test record again and set up the cart and arm properly and report back.
Now here's the funny thing - I carefully scraped off the blu-tack which remained (amazingly it hadn't hardened) and refitted the stylus. You know what? I don't think it sounds as good now - slightly shriller, perhaps. Anyway I'll do some more listening, break out my Hi-Fi Sound test record again and set up the cart and arm properly and report back.