Ortofon OM 20 Stylus

The Stylus 20 — Where the OM Range Goes Nude

Ortofon's replacement stylus for the OM 20, sold singly. The tip radius reads the same as the rungs below — 8/18 µm — but Ortofon specifies this one as a nude elliptical, and that word is the whole difference.

A bonded diamond is a small tip fixed to a metal shank. A nude diamond is one piece, mounted straight to the cantilever. Less mass sits at the end of the arm, so the tip changes direction more readily — which is what a groove spends its whole length asking it to do.

Fit, Profile and Compatibility

Which Bodies It Belongs On

This is the matched stylus for the Ortofon OM 20. Ortofon covers the whole family in a single user guide headed “OM & Concorde MkI,” which is the clearest statement of what shares this mount: the OM bodies and the original Concorde take the same styli.

The body is the same casting that carries the cheaper tips, which is why moving to a nude diamond costs a stylus rather than a cartridge and needs no work on the arm.

The Numbers That Matter at Setup

Ortofon quotes tracking ability of 70 µm at 315 Hz against 60 µm lower down, dynamic lateral compliance of 25 µm/mN, and a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20 kHz held to +2/–3 dB. The tip radius stays at 8/18 µm.

Tracking force runs 1.25 to 1.75 g with 1.5 g recommended. Higher compliance means a more loosely suspended cantilever, so an accurate setting matters more here than it does on a stiffer, cheaper assembly.

Who Is the Stylus 20 Best For?

• Your OM 20 is worn — the nude diamond is the part that wears, not the body
• You want lower tip mass on an OM body you already own — a nude diamond for the price of a stylus
• Your records are demanding — 70 µm of tracking ability handles heavily cut passages the rungs below struggle with
• You would rather not disturb the arm — the assembly pushes on and off the front, leaving alignment intact
• You own a 2M, Concorde Music or 500-series cartridge — this is not the matched stylus for any of them, and each takes its own; they are listed in replacement styli

How Do You Fit It?

Keep the cartridge on the headshell. Pull the fitted assembly straight off the front of the body by its housing, then press this one on until it clicks home. Set tracking force to 1.5 g with a gauge — with 25 µm/mN of compliance, guessing shows.

Pairs Well With

What most OM 20 owners shop alongside.

• Stylus force gauges — how you set the 1.5 g this one asks for
• Stylus cleaning — what decides how long the new tip lasts
• Record cleaning solutions — a clean record is the cheapest stylus insurance there is
• Record brushes — a pass before each side keeps grit out of the groove

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it fit my cartridge?

It is the matched stylus for the OM 20, on the mount Ortofon's user guide covers as “OM & Concorde MkI.” The 2M, Concorde Music and 500-series ranges each take their own.

What does “nude” mean here?

The diamond is a single piece mounted directly to the cantilever, rather than a chip bonded to a metal carrier. That removes mass from the tip, which is where mass costs the most.

What tracking force should I set?

Ortofon specifies 1.25 to 1.75 g and recommends 1.5 g. Use a gauge — the higher compliance of this assembly makes it less tolerant of a rough setting.

How long does a stylus last?

Around 1,000 hours is the usual figure, though it turns on how clean your records are and how accurately the cartridge is set up. A worn tip damages records, so replace it on schedule rather than by ear.

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