How do you clean your stylus?
- Thread starter DaveyF
- Start date
It’s interesting the cleaned ones tip is black, could just be shadowing ?
I was wondering could a ultrasonic stylus cleaner damage the stylus mount or the suspension of the cantilever
I was wondering could a ultrasonic stylus cleaner damage the stylus mount or the suspension of the cantilever
I too thought it was the light's angle creating the shadow, but from searching further it wasn't.
Some stylus are completely transparent, others are black, some have a different material termination. ...We have diamonds, sapphires, etc.
Some stylus are completely transparent, others are black, some have a different material termination. ...We have diamonds, sapphires, etc.
I also own one similar - that I often use, but dry, without any cleaning fluid. Although people often call it ultrasonic, as far as I remember the frequency of operation is around a few hundred Hz.
Please see: https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=27421 . The most complete thread I have ever read about this subject.
Ok so I grabbed a Magic Eraser pack from Ace... This is now my go-to without a doubt. All I did was dip the needle into it several times and it was super clean. It's WAY better than the ZeroDust/SolidState type stuff. I don't think there's any need to brush it. Just a few dips and it's golden. Everything else seems silly at this point.
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I also have this exact same HyperBRUSH ... the replacement/alternative to Allsop's Orbitrac 2
• https://www.analogplanet.com/content/orbitrac™-replacement
"TRACKMATE's patented HyperBRUSH technology contains three different types of fibres. 1. The first row of fibres is designed to remove the surface dust. 2. The second row of micro thin fibres dive into each groove to dissolve, absorb, and remove oils and debris. 3. The third row of conductive black fibres removes static electricity. A remarkable stylus brush surrounds and cleans the stylus and lower cantilever."
I does the job for quick cleaning your records and removing static, and the stylus cleaning pad is good too.The other smoother felt pad that Michael doesn't know what it's for (if you are reading this Mikey ...), is simply to pass over the stylus pad to remove the debris from it.
The other link that Michael is referring to is included in his short review.
_____
Bonus: Allsop Orbitrac 3 Pro
And: http://www.soundstage.com/upton05.htm
• https://www.analogplanet.com/content/orbitrac™-replacement
"TRACKMATE's patented HyperBRUSH technology contains three different types of fibres. 1. The first row of fibres is designed to remove the surface dust. 2. The second row of micro thin fibres dive into each groove to dissolve, absorb, and remove oils and debris. 3. The third row of conductive black fibres removes static electricity. A remarkable stylus brush surrounds and cleans the stylus and lower cantilever."
I does the job for quick cleaning your records and removing static, and the stylus cleaning pad is good too.The other smoother felt pad that Michael doesn't know what it's for (if you are reading this Mikey ...), is simply to pass over the stylus pad to remove the debris from it.
The other link that Michael is referring to is included in his short review.
_____
Bonus: Allsop Orbitrac 3 Pro
And: http://www.soundstage.com/upton05.htm
The ST-50 is nice after a day of use:
(1) The cantiver doesn't disappear into the goo as with Onzow. The stylus sinks in and just a bit of the cantilever. The cart body can't touch the goo.
(2) Under 10x mag, the ST-50 looks to be doing a better job than Onzow. I have a USB microscope that I've not yet used for closer inspection.
I'm going to get the Magic Eraser next. A few dips into the ME followed by a couple "clean up" dips in ST-50 to remove particulates sounds like a winning combo.
Props to @DaveyF for starting the thread. I now think I've somewhat neglected my carts, having only relied on Onzow up until now.
(1) The cantiver doesn't disappear into the goo as with Onzow. The stylus sinks in and just a bit of the cantilever. The cart body can't touch the goo.
(2) Under 10x mag, the ST-50 looks to be doing a better job than Onzow. I have a USB microscope that I've not yet used for closer inspection.
I'm going to get the Magic Eraser next. A few dips into the ME followed by a couple "clean up" dips in ST-50 to remove particulates sounds like a winning combo.
Props to @DaveyF for starting the thread. I now think I've somewhat neglected my carts, having only relied on Onzow up until now.
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Thank you Bazelio. I am going to be very interested to see what you think after you have had a chance to look at the stylus under your USB microscope. Also, what your impressions are after trying ME. I'm still very skeptical about ME, has anyone had long term ( more than seven years continuous) experience with this stuff on their best cartridges?
That's an interesting point. According to some vintage cartridge lovers, that is not correct, they can last indefinitely without a re-tip!
I would surmise that it would depend on the amount of usage that the cartridge sees on an annual basis. I picked seven years as that certainly would seem to me to be the expected maximum life without a re-tip of an average use cartridge. Perhaps that is too long...so maybe five years?
Well, dust and crud causes uneven wear... So whatever the ME does it's very insignificant compared to that.
It' depends of cartridge. My mark levinson mlc1 got a few retip and was working fine for31 years, and now I am going to send it for suspension repair.
My zyx airy 3 after 6 years and 1100 hours had suspension down. The English importer GT audio has recognised on pink fish media that generally suspension get off before they need retip.
My zyx airy 3 after 6 years and 1100 hours had suspension down. The English importer GT audio has recognised on pink fish media that generally suspension get off before they need retip.
How long a stylus can last? How long a cartridge can last? It all depends ...
? https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/what-is-the-average-lifespan-of-a-phono-cartridge
? https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/how-long-do-a-cartridge-and-stylus-last.6637/
Any other high-end analog audiophile forum website are all in those lines from the two above links; vinyl engine, audio karma, analog addiction, record player, phonograph world, TT nirvana, diamond rings, ...
There are synthetic diamonds and natural genuine diamonds, there are records purchased brand new and second-hand, there are properly set cartridges and improperly ones, ...everything is important and will determine the true lasting of a stylus and of a cartridge.
Always trust your ears first, and when in doubt examine your stylus with a powerful magnifier (30x to 60x). Some people will use one cart and stylus for years, others they change every year ... same with cars...it depends of the road's conditions, the tires, the weather and the money supplies.
Say between anywhere from 500 to 3,000 hours? 2,000 hours seems to be a number that comes back often.
? https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/what-is-the-average-lifespan-of-a-phono-cartridge
? https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/how-long-do-a-cartridge-and-stylus-last.6637/
Any other high-end analog audiophile forum website are all in those lines from the two above links; vinyl engine, audio karma, analog addiction, record player, phonograph world, TT nirvana, diamond rings, ...
There are synthetic diamonds and natural genuine diamonds, there are records purchased brand new and second-hand, there are properly set cartridges and improperly ones, ...everything is important and will determine the true lasting of a stylus and of a cartridge.
Always trust your ears first, and when in doubt examine your stylus with a powerful magnifier (30x to 60x). Some people will use one cart and stylus for years, others they change every year ... same with cars...it depends of the road's conditions, the tires, the weather and the money supplies.
Say between anywhere from 500 to 3,000 hours? 2,000 hours seems to be a number that comes back often.
What are the telltale signs that a cart is in need of a retip? I've never done one. And I figure that tip wear is sooo gradual that it may be difficult to know when "it's time".
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