The Stylus 520 MK II is a mid-range replacement stylus within Ortofon's 500 Series of moving magnet cartridges. It sits a step above the entry-level 510 MK II and below the line contact 530 MK II and Fritz Gyger profile 540 MK II, offering an upgrade path for owners of the 520 cartridge body without committing to a full new cartridge purchase.
Stylus Profile
The 520 MK II is fitted with a nude elliptical diamond. The nude construction (the diamond mounted directly to the cantilever rather than bonded to a metal shank) reduces moving mass and improves transient response compared with bonded designs. With a contact radius of 8/18 µm, the elliptical profile traces high-frequency groove modulations more accurately than a spherical tip while remaining tolerant of typical record wear.
Compatibility
The 520 MK II stylus fits the Series 520 MK II, 520 and 520 P cartridge bodies. All cartridges within the 500 range share the same stylus mount, so the 520 MK II stylus can also be installed in the 510, 530 and 540 cartridge bodies as a performance upgrade or downgrade. The 520 MK II also serves as a direct replacement stylus for the Ortofon Alpha cartridge fitted to selected Pro-Ject turntables, making it a common upgrade path for owners of those decks.
Tracking
Ortofon specifies a tracking force range of 1.25 to 1.75 g, with 1.5 g recommended for typical setups. Tracking ability is rated at 70 µm at 315 Hz with a 20° tracking angle, and dynamic lateral compliance is 25 µm/mN. Frequency response is quoted as 20 Hz to 20 kHz at +2 / -3 dB.