Weird blob(?) on front face of a microridge..

[narud]

in my journey to hoard vn5mr's to have as backups, i just got in a stylus today that looks like it has some weird blob on the front face. overall it looks like its only ever seen light use when looking at the top down and front face views. i measured it for frequency response and distortion using the str100 and the trackabilty tests on the shure era v test record and it measure perfectly. it still kind of bugs me though not knowing what this is. i did some serious magic eraser scrubbing and it didnt make any difference. maybe a diamond flaw? to those that have imaged styli, do you think it looks like anything i should be concerned about?

 

[ray_parkhurst]

I'd be concerned with that contamination or whatever it is. The stylus looks new, so the ridge extends beyond the contamination, with result that it is not yet affecting performance. But as the ridge wears the contamination will eventually contact the groove, and who knows what effect it will have? Luckily it does look like some detritus stuck to the tip rather than damage to the diamond, so likely can be removed, just don't know with what.

 

[JP]

Onzow or similar is what’s on it.

 

[narud]

well hearing this gave me the courage to hack at this thing. after a harrowing experience dissecting a disposable razor to take the thin blade out, i started scraping. after a couple of passes of the blade soaked in ipa and scrubbing with the magic eraser, it came off! thanks guys.

 

[JP]

Lucky.

 

[narud]

Lucky.

View attachment 513560

i take it a razor blade hasnt been able to make a dent on it? do you ever do any listening with that technics cart?

 

[JP]

I used IPA and a carbon fiber stylus brush - those boron pipe cantilevers are very fragile.

I don’t listen much to vinyl anymore. Haven’t for a few years now.

 

[narud]

I used IPA and a carbon fiber stylus brush - those boron pipe cantilevers are very fragile.

I don’t listen much to vinyl anymore. Haven’t for a few years now.

yeah that would be a bummer trashing one. as much as i didnt want to bork that stylus, i kept telling myself vn5mrs are pretty common and the whole cart was only 167 bucks.

if not for nostalgia and the connection it gives me to my dad, id probably stick to cd's!

 

[JP]

I enjoy testing and measuring, but the rare and only available on vinyl stuff I laidback to digital so no need to mess with the records.

 

[tineared]

Electrons -
Perfect every time

Sorry. Couldn't help myself