In
order for any cartridge to track a record properly, without causing
distorted sound or damage using a tonearm with a single pivot point
(most turntables have this unless they are linear tracking), the arm
must have two things; overhang and offset. Unfortunately a lot of DJ-specific record decks do not have either of these prerequisites, as they are a very
specialised record deck intended for serious DJ use only. The increased
usability (from a cueing and scratching point of view) of the straight
tonearm (with no overhang or offset) will cause irreversible damage to
records and distorted sound, but this is generally an accepted side
effect for DJs, and as such, DJs tend to replace worn out 12” singles
and styli regularly.
Because the stylus will never be
oriented properly in the groove with this type of tonearm/turntable, only a spherical diamond must be used with this
set up, because it has the same profile presented to the groove whatever
angle it is positioned at. If you use a Hi-fi elliptical stylus, it will
rip up the sides of the groove very quickly, destroying the record and
itself.
In light of the above, we cannot recommend any
elliptical stylus for these types of decks. You could use a spherical
diamond like the
E1 or
E2, but the geometry of the arm would still cause
it to damage records in the short term. This is true of
any cartridge,
DJ or Hi-fi, including the one it comes with, so we would advise
against using these types of record player for Hi-fi listening - they should only be
used for very specific DJ use.