The Stylus 30 is a replacement diamond designed by the Danish manufacturer Ortofon, a reference in the field of phono cartridges and accessories for turntables since 1918. This diamond is specifically intended to equip Ortofon cartridges from the OM series (OM 30, OMP 30, OMB 30), Super OM, LM (LM 30), Concorde (Concorde 30), and certain models from the SME (SME 30H) and TM (TM 30H) series.
The uniqueness of the Stylus 30 lies in its Nude Fine Line tip profile. Unlike spherical or elliptical diamonds, the Nude Fine Line tip offers a reduced curvature radius of only 8 µm at the front and 40 µm on the sides (r/R values). This geometry allows the diamond to explore the finest details engraved in the groove, delivering highly precise sound reproduction, especially in the high frequencies.
The Nude profile means that the diamond is directly mounted at the end of the cantilever, without an intermediate piece. This design reduces the moving mass for optimal groove tracking. With only 0.3 mg, the equivalent mass of the Stylus 30 tip allows for great responsiveness.
Thanks to its refined profile, the Stylus 30 can read groove modulations with an amplitude of 90 µm at a frequency of 315 Hz, with a tracking force of 1.5 g (15 mN). This indicates excellent tracking ability, allowing faithful reproduction of the most demanding musical passages without distortion or groove wear.
The lateral dynamic compliance of 25 µm/mN also ensures good coupling of the diamond with the groove, while maintaining smooth and dynamic playback. The vertical tracking angle is 20°, a standard value ensuring good contact without premature wear of the diamond or the record.
Equipped with the Stylus 30, an Ortofon cartridge can cover a bandwidth ranging from 20 Hz to 29 kHz. The frequency response is particularly linear from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with only +2/-3 dB variation. This promises balanced reproduction across the entire audio spectrum, from deep bass to crystal-clear highs, without coloration or emphasis on any part of the spectrum.
To fully realize its capabilities, the Stylus 30 should be used with a tracking force between 1.25 and 1.75 g (12.5 to 17.5 mN). Ortofon specifically recommends a value of 1.5 g (15 mN) for optimal performance. It is important to precisely adjust the tracking force using a diamond scale, to avoid damaging the diamond or the record with excessive pressure, or conversely, generating distortions with insufficient pressure.
Compatible with cartridges:
Eric
Good sound quality. I switched from an Ortofon OM10 to an OM30 and the difference is significant: a more open soundstage, no regrets about my purchase, I can only recommend it
Comment from March 16, 2026 — Experience from March 05, 2026
