stylus

A stylus, plural styli or styluses, is a writing utensil, or a small tool for some other form of marking or shaping, for example in pottery. It can also be a computer accessory that is used to assist in navigating or providing more precision when using touchscreens. It usually refers to a narrow elongated staff, similar to a modern ballpoint pen. Many styluses are heavily curved to be held more easily. Another widely used writing tool is the stylus used by blind users in conjunction with the slate for punching out the dots in Braille.

Styluses were first used by the ancient Mesopotamians in order to write in cuneiform. Egyptians (Middle Kingdom) and the Minoans of Crete (Linear A and Cretan Hieroglyphic) made styluses in various materials: reeds that grew on the sides of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and in marshes and down to Egypt where the Egyptians used styluses from sliced reeds with sharp points; bone and metal styluses were also used. Cuneiform was entirely based on the "wedge-shaped" mark that the end of a cut reed made when pushed into a clay tablet; from Latin cuneus = wedge. The linear writings of Crete in the first half of the second millennium BC which were made on clay tablets that were left to dry in the sun until they became "leather" hard before being incised by the stylus. The linear nature of the writing was also dictated by the use of the stylus.
In Western Europe styluses were widely used until the late Middle Ages. For learning purposes the stylus was gradually replaced by a writing slate. From the mid-14th century improved water-powered paper mills produced large and cheap quantities of paper and the wax tablet and stylus disappeared completely from daily life.

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  1. T

    Denon DP450 stylus boned ?

    Hello can someone tell me please is this Stylus Boned i caught it the over day while cleaning and it seems to have bent it still works and plays just wanted to know if i need to replace it
  2. D

    Help me decide: add phono stage or upgrade stylus

    Hi all, I am officially stuck in analysis paralysis over trying to determine what to do first: add an external phono preamp or upgrade my cartridge. Here is my current setup: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo w/Sumiko Rainier MM Onkyo TX-NR686 (using onboard phono stage) Definitive Technology BP-10s...
  3. corbetta

    Question Replacement/Upgrade Stylus/Cartridge - Audio Technica AT-LP3

    Hi, I’ve had the Audio Technica AT-LP3 for sometime and I’m conscious this nis an entry-level turntable, but suits me fine. I have it going into the Denon PMA-600NE and Q Acoustics 3020 speakers on stands. I’m wondering whether to upgrade the factory-fitted AT-91R MM cartridge and/or AT-HS3...
  4. DJTipster

    Pro-ject Pick it Pro Cartridge/Styli Upgrade

    Hello everyone. I have had a Pro-ject Deubt Pro turntable for coming up to 2 years, and have enjoyed every second of it. It still has the supplied Pick it Pro cartridge, and I have also really enjoyed listening to this. To me there is lots of excitement that comes out of listening to this and I...
  5. E

    Can worn stylus symptoms be intermittent?

    When I play the first record on my TT, it sounds harsh and shrill and it seems like the whole soundstage has been crushed into a corner and then from the second side onwards the TT plays as it should do. It seems to fit the description of a worn stylus but are the symptoms of a worn stylus...
  6. A

    Striving for the best cartridge, stylus, headshell combination

    I've been striving for the best stylus, cartridge, headshell combination for my mid-range Denon DP-450 USB deck. I ended up choosing an AT VM540ML cartridge as the basis. I then modified it by replacing its plastic body with a RigB red-anodised aluminium one (you can find them on Facebook). I...
  7. S

    Stylus cleaners

    Just wondering what people use and think is the best kind, brushes, gel? Has anyone used these, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275842591386?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3kpda80tQee&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ZrYkpFw7Rv2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY they're very cheap, which is...
  8. S

    Possible damage?

    So, Im panicking slightly. I was just changing records and the arm slipped out of my fingers and the needle went skittering across the record making an awful noise. Do things like this cause damage or can the stylus cope with it? The record seems fine.
  9. A

    Denon 400/450USB owners: try this

    I've tried a few cartridges on my DP-450USB and have now decided that the following sounds the best: An Audio Technica VM95ML microline stylus It needs setting up really accurately using a dedicated protractor ... I got mine from The Vinyl Source | Top Hi-Fi Components made in Britain It needs...
  10. A

    Stylus azimuth adjustment .. a spirit level ... is that any good?

    I don't have any fancy adjustments, tools or LPs to get my stylus azimuth set correctly. I've decided that the easiest way for me to do that is to use an accurate spirit level horizontally across my headshell and tighten that headshell up in that position. Obviously I've also used the same...
  11. P

    Stylus cleaning

    In the past couple of years I decided to dig out my vinyl and so bought a Planar P1 turntable. All is well, but I seem to not be able to get through a side of an LP without the sound degenerating badly and I have to clean the stylus, despite cleaning the vinyl with a liquid and cloth. This also...
  12. D

    Trichord Dino Stylus Output Query

    I'd really appreciate some advice regarding appropriate settings on my trichord dino mk 1 phono stage. I'm using an audio technica AT-VM95ML stylus and output voltage is stated as 3.5mV. On the dino should the amplifier gain setting be set to low or high?
  13. Kyle1974

    Turntable stylus help - Sony Bluetooth

    Hi So I’ve changed my stylus a couple of times when worn but in doing so tonight the entire thing seems to have dropped out of the arm (pic included hopefully) and I can’t see any way of reattaching it? Is there an easy way or am I missing something obvious? I use this all the time so am...
  14. bogart99

    Stylus expected hours

    Always been amazed by some of the quoted stylus hours from different manufacturers. For example Nagaoka mm cartridges they state 200-300 hours. So I contacted AT as interested in one of their mc cartridges. Following results. AT-OC9XEB/XEN – around 300/400 hours AT-OC9XML - around 1000 hours...
  15. Stylus replacement for Admiral Dual Speaker High Fidelity turntable

    Greetings. New to forum. I'm trying to find a replacement stylus for the following: Admiral Dual Speaker High Fidelity turntable Model: RC7F5A-74AV
  16. M

    Bought AT-XP3 cartridges, is there something wrong?

    Hi everyone, I've recently replaced my 23 year old Stanton 500AL MKII cartridges and stylus with Audi Technica AT-XPS's. I'm noticing a few things: 1) There seem to be bass responsive, i.e. the bass seems louder/boomier. Is this a characteristic of the cartridge? 2) After playing a record...
  17. E

    replacement Stylus for Sony PS-T22 recordplayer

    Hi all, I recently acquired a Sony PS-T22 record-player and am searching for a new stylus as this one still has the original one from 1980 Sony PS-T 22 | Hifi-Wiki I am stuck between the Ortofon M series ( M5e being the cheapest ) and the AT-VM95 series (C or E ). the question I have is...
  18. calebonmttam

    Audio Technica AT110E Phono Cartridge- Upgrade Stylus Question

    I have a lovely old Technics SL-D2 turntable with an AT110E cartridge with no needle. I want to put on an Audio Technica MicroLine stylus. Do you know if they make a microline that fits or do I have to stick with replacing it with the original model stylus? I have an VM540ML mounted on the...
  19. I

    Rega Planar 1 upgrade stylus?

    I am looking to get a new stylus as the Carbon stylus on my Rega P1 is a few years old. I would like to upgrade it if possible but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with changing the cartridge, what are my options?
  20. Mattyxboxfan

    Advice Needed - Best budget tablet with stylus for notetaking please?

    Hi, I have lots of work meetings and I am tired of using traditional paper. Can anyone recommend a cheap/buget tablet with stylus for taking notes? Thanks Mat
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