Tonar BSR Flippable Stylus - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

phyi1996 · 29th Oct 2025, 4:39 pm

Hi all, I bought some Tonar aftermarket ST9 stylus replacements for my BSR X3M cartridge on a KB036 record player. The replacement stylus comes with one side for 78 while the other side for LPS.

The stylus tip marked "78" is coloured black. I was told that the black tip should be used to play 78rpm record. However, this would mean that the mark "78" will be facing downward while the opposite marking "LPS" will be facing upward while playing. Is this correct? My understanding has been that in BSR flippable stylus, we usually see the marking facing upwards (when the cartridge is placed on the record) to determine which stylus tip to use for the record?

I observe that both stylus tips (the black tip and the other tip in white/transparent) seem identical size, save that the white/transparent may seem more rounded at the tip.

Appreciate your guidance on this.

Edward Huggins · 29th Oct 2025, 5:09 pm

The 78 tip will be more round. When you want to play a microgroove 45 or 33 rpm record the stylus should be flipped to the LHS of the tone arm head and it will show LPS. When flipped to the RHS it will show 78.

Techman · 29th Oct 2025, 5:25 pm

I think that's technically the wrong stylus for that cartridge. It's got the 'all-in-one-piece' plastic shank and these have very poor compliance and are really suited to the high output crystal cartridges, which have the last letter of the model number as 'H', rather than 'M', as yours does, being a medium output type. It'll fit, but won't do the cartridge or the records any good. It's worth doing a bit of research on this sort of thing before going out and purchasing the wrong item. I just typed 'ST9 stylus replacement' into the search box at the top of this page and literally pages and pages of information came up!

john600601 · 29th Oct 2025, 6:41 pm

The plastic shank ST8/9/10 is the right stylus for the X3M and X3H, it's the later X5H which uses the plastic shank version only for the high output version and metal shank ST12 for the medium output version.

af024 · 29th Oct 2025, 6:53 pm

More info here if needed:-
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=119339&page=4

29th Oct 2025, 4:39 pm	#1
phyi1996 Diode Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Posts: 7	Tonar BSR Flippable Stylus Hi all, I bought some Tonar aftermarket ST9 stylus replacements for my BSR X3M cartridge on a KB036 record player. The replacement stylus comes with one side for 78 while the other side for LPS. The stylus tip marked "78" is coloured black. I was told that the black tip should be used to play 78rpm record. However, this would mean that the mark "78" will be facing downward while the opposite marking "LPS" will be facing upward while playing. Is this correct? My understanding has been that in BSR flippable stylus, we usually see the marking facing upwards (when the cartridge is placed on the record) to determine which stylus tip to use for the record? I observe that both stylus tips (the black tip and the other tip in white/transparent) seem identical size, save that the white/transparent may seem more rounded at the tip. Appreciate your guidance on this. Attached Thumbnails

29th Oct 2025, 5:09 pm	#2
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 9,180	Re: Tonar BSR Flippable Stylus The 78 tip will be more round. When you want to play a microgroove 45 or 33 rpm record the stylus should be flipped to the LHS of the tone arm head and it will show LPS. When flipped to the RHS it will show 78. __________________ Edward.

29th Oct 2025, 5:25 pm	#3
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,602	Re: Tonar BSR Flippable Stylus I think that's technically the wrong stylus for that cartridge. It's got the 'all-in-one-piece' plastic shank and these have very poor compliance and are really suited to the high output crystal cartridges, which have the last letter of the model number as 'H', rather than 'M', as yours does, being a medium output type. It'll fit, but won't do the cartridge or the records any good. It's worth doing a bit of research on this sort of thing before going out and purchasing the wrong item. I just typed 'ST9 stylus replacement' into the search box at the top of this page and literally pages and pages of information came up!

29th Oct 2025, 6:41 pm	#4
john600601 Pentode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Craven Arms, Shropshire Posts: 156	Re: Tonar BSR Flippable Stylus The plastic shank ST8/9/10 is the right stylus for the X3M and X3H, it's the later X5H which uses the plastic shank version only for the high output version and metal shank ST12 for the medium output version.

29th Oct 2025, 6:53 pm	#5
af024 Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch (it's not by the sea) Posts: 1,341	Re: Tonar BSR Flippable Stylus More info here if needed:- https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=119339&page=4 __________________ Now where on earth did I remove that from?