Ortofon Stylus 5S

Ortofon Stylus 5S Replacement Diamond

The Ortofon Stylus 5S is a spherical diamond, specially designed to replace worn or damaged diamonds in Ortofon OM 5S and OM 1S phono cartridges. Thanks to its carefully studied technical characteristics, it allows you to rejuvenate your cartridge and fully enjoy your favorite vinyl records once again.

Originally mounted on many entry-level and mid-range turntables like the Pro-Ject Essential and T1, the Stylus 5S can breathe new life into a tired cartridge by restoring its original sound. It is also an interesting option for improving the performance of an entry-level OM cartridge at a lower cost.

A Spherical Diamond for Extended Compatibility

The spherical profile is the simplest and most common type of diamond, especially on entry-level cartridges. Easy to produce, it is also more robust and cheaper than an elliptical diamond.

With a large radius of 18 µm, the spherical tip of the Stylus 5S offers a significant contact surface with the record groove. This allows it to adapt to grooves of various shapes, including old or slightly damaged vinyl. The spherical diamond is therefore a good choice for versatile use.

Dynamic and Precise Sound Reproduction

Despite its affordable price, the Stylus 5S provides surprisingly dynamic and precise musical reproduction when mounted on a quality cartridge and turntable.

The extended frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz allows you to enjoy the entire audio spectrum with a good balance between bass, midrange, and treble. The high tracking ability of 60 µm at 315 Hz reduces distortion and crosstalk, for a stable stereo image and good channel separation.

With a compliance of 20 µm/mN, the Stylus 5S pairs well with light to medium tonearms. The recommended tracking force of 1.75 g offers a good compromise between groove tracking quality and diamond and record wear.

Easy Installation and Maintenance

Replacing a worn diamond with a Stylus 5S is very simple on an Ortofon OM cartridge. Just gently pull the old diamond forward to remove it, then insert the new one by pushing it until it clicks. Anyone can perform this operation themselves without risking the cartridge.

Ortofon recommends changing the diamond after about 1000 hours of use, or sooner if sound degradation is noticed (loss of dynamics, distortion, sibilance…). A worn diamond can quickly damage record grooves.

To prolong the life of the diamond and vinyl, it is recommended to regularly clean the tip with a special brush after each use. Cleaning the records is also important to limit diamond fouling.

In summary, the main advantages of the Ortofon Stylus 5S diamond are:

• Excellent value for money
• Extended compatibility with Ortofon OM5S and OM1S cartridges
• Robust and versatile spherical profile
• Dynamic and precise sound reproduction
• Extended frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• High tracking ability of 60 µm at 315 Hz
• Compliance of 20 µm/mN suitable for light to medium tonearms
• Tracking force of 1.75 g for good groove tracking
• Easy replacement requiring no tools
• An original Ortofon product benefiting from over 100 years of expertise

Technical Specifications

Physical Characteristics

• Diamond: spherical
• Tip color: black
• Stylus tip radius: 18 µm
• Mass with counterweight: 5 g
• Mass without counterweight: 2.5 g

Electrical Characteristics

• Output voltage (1,000 Hz, 5 cm/s): 4.5 mV
• Internal impedance: 750 Ω
• Internal inductance: 450 mH
• Recommended load impedance: 47 kΩ

Audio Performance

• Frequency response: 20 - 22,000 Hz
• Frequency response at -3 dB: 20 - 20,000 Hz
• Channel separation:
  • at 1 kHz: 20 dB
  • at 15 kHz: 12 dB
• Channel balance (1 kHz): 2 dB

Playback Parameters

• Tracking ability (315 Hz at recommended tracking force): 60 µm
• Dynamic lateral compliance: 20 µm/mN
• Tracking angle: 20°
• Tracking force range: 15 - 20 mN
• Recommended tracking force: 17.5 mN