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RE: I have the 312STR, so I wonder how they differ. Vinylengine

I happen to have a copy of a brochure describing the entire Acutex product line ca 1980. First, there were two series. The earlier series (probably mid to late 1970s) have the outward appearance similar to most other cartridges of the day, essentially a box shape with the cantilever protruding from the bottom front. In that shape, they made models designated 320, 315, 312, and 310, in reverse order of cost and features. There was also a 200 series product line for budget minders. Then they introduced the series that used the same numeric designations but with the prefix "LPM", for Lowest Possible Mass. These were made to minimize weight, because the cartridges were very high compliance. The LPM series can be mounted via a unique adapter to a conventional headshell. (Not exactly a P-mount, but like a P-mount.) Or they could be inserted into an ultralight weight shell, called a "Saturn V", for even lower total mass. I have two of those Saturn Vs, but I have never tried to use one; I use the headshell adapter. My regular Acutex is named "LPM320STRIII"; it's the lightweight version of the 320.

This brochure is very nicely done and shows with good drawings the differences in shape among the various stylus options, but to answer your question about 320 vs 312, the stylus of a 320 is "Vital STR", which has radii of 0.3X1.6X0.5 mil. The stylus of the 312 is called just "STR", with radii of 0.3X1.6X0.6. Thus the 320 stylus has slightly lower tip mass. Both cartridges put out 3.5mV at 1kHz (5cm/sec). The 320 has slightly more linear frequency response, 20-20kHz, and a wider bandwidth (20-45kHz vs 20-35kHz). The 320 bests the 312 by a bit in the other typical cartridge specs, as well. Compliance of the 320 is listed at 42; compliance of the 312 is listed at 32. I have a feeling that you could put a 320 stylus on a 315 or 312 body and have effectively a 320.

Based on this brochure and everything else I've read, the 300 series Acutex are all Induced Magnet types, not MM. I had one apart, quite by tragic accident, and internally the structure is not at all that of an MM. Later on in the 1980s, Acutex did make the 400 series, which were indeed all MM types. I've got a 412 but never used it so far.


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