Original Elac D896 H 24 SP (Van den Hul II Stylus)
- Tracking force: 1.35 g tested (recommended: 1.25–1.75 g)
- Sound character: Harmonious, smooth, very detailed
- Listening experience: Playback is smooth yet balanced across all frequencies. The soundstage appears precise and stable. Higher frequencies may occasionally reveal minor surface noise from the record.
- Recommended music genres: Classical, jazz, acoustic music
This stylus is unfortunately no longer available.
D 793 HE (Hyperelliptical Stylus) | JC
- Tracking force: 1.25 g
- Sound character: Lively highs, slightly recessed mids, overall louder than the original stylus
- Listening experience: Feels fresh and lively, tonally the furthest from the original stylus of the ones tested. Especially suitable for older amplifiers and turntables as it reduces hum sensitivity. Well suited if the audio chain could benefit from a bit more brightness.
- Recommended music genres: Pop, rock, electronic music
Jico D 793 SAS/B
- Tracking force: 1.35 g
- Sound character: Calm highs, clear mids, very focused and precise soundstage, tonally unobtrusive
- Listening experience: Very balanced, closest to the original sound, suitable for a wide range of music genres without emphasizing specific frequencies.
- Recommended music genres: Universal – jazz, pop, classical
D 796 SH (Shibata Stylus) | JC
- Tracking force: 1.15 g
- Sound character: Highly detailed, particularly fine mids, clear highs, slightly louder than the SAS/B
- Listening experience: Offers a very detailed portrayal of the music. Particularly well-suited for classical music and orchestral recordings. Less suitable for heavily warped records due to the soft suspension.
- Recommended music genres: Classical, orchestral, chamber music
Setup from 7.12.2022:
Thorens TD 124 with SME 3009, VTL D Luxe, SINO VT on KLIPSCH Belle K-457
Setup from 10.9.2025:
Turntable DENON DP-47 F, Nakamichi CA-5E preamp, Sony TA-N80ES power amp, Ecouton Audiolabor LQL 155 (Dieter Fricke update)
