Longevity Of Your Rock

[Argonaut]

An interesting thread ,elsewhere, discussing the subject of stylus longevity :

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thre...-of-1000-or-more-hours-on-cartridges.1213097/

Perhaps members here might like to add their own user experiences within this new WBF thread .

 

[KlausR.]

Hi,

bought my Shure V15VxMR back in 1999, tracking force set to 1 g. My dealer had a microscope for checking wear of the diamond, after 10 years and 1000 hrs he could observe the presence of facets, not sharp enough to cause damage, but I decided to get a replacement stylus. I am playing much less records now so the stylus has only about 300 hrs on the clock.

Klaus

 

[Zuman]

J.R. Boisclair??? Really interested in your take! Some of the posters in the Steve Hoffman thread are claiming notable wear at fewer than 300 hours...

 

[Argonaut]

J.R. Boisclair??? Really interested in your take! Some of the posters in the Steve Hoffman thread are claiming notable wear at fewer than 300 hours...

Indeed , In part why I considered that re posting the Hoffman thread might prove to be a worthwhile exercise .

 

[Lagonda]

J.R. Boisclair??? Really interested in your take! Some of the posters in the Steve Hoffman thread are claiming notable wear at fewer than 300 hours...

They should stop buying their cartridges from Temu !

 

[Argonaut]

They should stop buying their cartridges from Temu !

And your considered opinion upon the wear of your cartridge collection Is ?

 

[Kingrex]

JR saw wear on mine after 200 hours or so. He said it wasn't anything to worry about at this time.

 

[Lagonda]

And your considered opinion upon the wear of your cartridge collection Is ?

I hear little difference at 500 hours, at 1000 hours a little less treble extension. My Benz LPS did 2000 hours in good form. I clean my records and remove dust before every side is played.

 

[MRubey]

I don’t track hours but my stylus began to show sonic wear after four years. Peter Ledermann confirmed it was worn. A rebuilt good as new Paua cost me $550.
That is a big part of why I am a Soundsmith customer. The rest being that it is a great cartridge.

 

[Scott Naylor]

JR saw wear on mine after 200 hours or so. He said it wasn't anything to worry about at this time.

That’s certainly consistent with a MicroLine profile used under optimum conditions, at least according to conventional wisdom. Good on you having it checked at 200 hours just to be sure.

One question I’d like to add to the mix is what is the impact of mounting/re-mounting cartridges over time? I often read here of cartridges being changed out many times over their useful life. Without a thorough visual exam each time how does one know “dialing it in by ear” isn’t masking wear issues?

Thanks for starting this thread, Argonaut

 

[Jackl3y]

I wouldn’t put weight into any hypothesis or info gleaned from that place.

 

[Kingrex]

That’s certainly consistent with a MicroLine profile used under optimum conditions, at least according to conventional wisdom. Good on you having it checked at 200 hours just to be sure.

One question I’d like to add to the mix is what is the impact of mounting/re-mounting cartridges over time? I often read here of cartridges being changed out many times over their useful life. Without a thorough visual exam each time how does one know “dialing it in by ear” isn’t masking wear issues?

Thanks for starting this thread, Argonaut

I had the cartridge and wanted to have to have it analyzed to get it installed properly. It wasn't to check wear. That was just an aside to the process. I was actually surprised to hear it had wear. I have been cleaning all my records after destroying 2 cartridges after about 500 hours on dirty records.

The cartridge plays much better after JR gave me analysis.

 

[Argonaut]

I wouldn’t put weight into any hypothesis or info gleaned from that place.

Thank you for your input to this thread , most informative !

 

[mtemur]

Without a thorough visual exam each time how does one know “dialing it in by ear” isn’t masking wear issues?

Nobody really knows. Dialing it by ear might achieve the desired sound in some situations, and you might say, “It’s not the correct alignment, but I like it this way.” However, it can never match the precision of a proper alignment done with tools.

 

[morricab]

An interesting thread ,elsewhere, discussing the subject of stylus longevity :

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thre...-of-1000-or-more-hours-on-cartridges.1213097/

Perhaps members here might like to add their own user experiences within this new WBF thread .

26 tons per square inch! Granted the contact area is probably in square micrometers but I guess needle drag is not a myth afterall...

 

[DasguteOhr]

Actually, only two pickups have happened where wear was audibly noticeable. Denon DL 103 after about 800 hours, more noise when playback, rough high tones. EMT TSD 15, but there was a different problem, porous rubber cantilever. A very well-known problem with cartridges. Never had any problems, with Ortofon cartridges like Vero, Vienna, both pickups were in daily use for over 6 years(more then 2000 hours). The ZYX ( 1500hours no problem)is a dirt collector, Microridge 3x70um, no matter how well adjusted it is, only listen to washed LPs with it. Records bought from the flea market, just listen to them, works not, starts to distort very quickly. my lyra cartridges then i had buyed on the used market i don't know how hours i think more then 1000 hours no problems.

 

[Zuman]

I understand how changes to a stylus profile could negatively impact playback, and also how debris on a record's surface could wear a stylus. But wouldn't this cause infinitely more wear on a record's groove profile?
I would have thought that enough friction to wear a diamond down must do even more damage to the surface on the other side of the debris: our beloved vinyl. So my question is this: if 200 or 300 hours of playing wears a diamond stylus, how can the musical information on our records possibly survive?

 

[Scott Naylor]

I understand how changes to a stylus profile could negatively impact playback, and also how debris on a record's surface could wear a stylus. But wouldn't this cause infinitely more wear on a record's groove profile?
I would have thought that enough friction to wear a diamond down must do even more damage to the surface on the other side of the debris: our beloved vinyl. So my question is this: if 200 or 300 hours of playing wears a diamond stylus, how can the musical information on our records possibly survive?

Maybe some answers for you here?

GROOVE DEFORMATION IN GRAMOPHONE RECORDS By D. A. BARLOW, M.Sc., Assoc.i.E.R.E.

https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Wireless-World/60s/Wireless-World-1964-04.pdf

 

[Zuman]

Maybe some answers for you here?

GROOVE DEFORMATION IN GRAMOPHONE RECORDS By D. A. BARLOW, M.Sc., Assoc.i.E.R.E.

https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Wireless-World/60s/Wireless-World-1964-04.pdf

That's great! Thank you, Scott!