2. analog
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Cartridge burn-in

Hi to all analog friends here,

Any time I purchase a new cartridge, when I set it up and sit down to listen to it, I cringe a little. It always sounds stiff, harsh, glassy, shrill. Then, after a few days/weeks of playing, it appears to 'break in' and start sounding relaxed, more musical, sweeter, less straining, presenting the music with better flow and finesse.

Common wisdom teaches that the cartridge, being a mechanical component, needs to loosen up its suspension. So, the only way to really hear what the cartridge is capable of is to play it for at the minimum 20 to 30 hours (some sources even say 50 hours).

OK, makes sense (kinda). But an alternative explanation is also possible: whenever we replace our current cartridge with a new one, the new one will sound different. Maybe it is this different, unfamiliar sonic character of the new cartridge that is causing us to feel that the sound is harsh, metallic, unpleasant, strenuous? Then, after a few days/weeks with the new cartridge, our ears and our listening habits get adjusted to the new type of sound, and we grow to like it.

This gradual conditioning to the new type of sound is then called 'cartridge break-in'. But maybe the cartridge doesn't really break-in; maybe it is our ears and our listening habits that gradually break-in and get accustomed to the new sound?

What do you think?

crazybookman

Showing 4 responses by crazybookman

crazybookman OP
24 posts
 

Are there any published objective data that measure (using quality recording equipment) the difference in sound as the cartridge breaks-in? Or are all conclusions merely subjective?

crazybookman OP
24 posts
 

essentially you should get what you paid for.... right from the get-go.

I wish that were the case. But any time I install a brand new cartridge (regardless of the price), at first I get annoyed by the stiff, strenuous sound. After a few days, that impression recedes and the cartridge starts sounding nicer, sweeter, more musical.

So, to repeat my question: is the cartridge really breaking in, or are my ears starting to get used to the new sound?

 

crazybookman OP
24 posts
 

Makers of such esoteric cartridges ought to run them in before sale, don't you think?

Which brings up another question: if indeed cartridges need break-in, why don't manufacturers perform that break-in when the cartridge gets assembled? Doing that would minimize the hassle of handling return items from people who get disappointed when listening to their new purchase. You know what they say -- you have only one chance to make the first impression.

Doing the break-in before they ship the cartridge shouldn't be a big deal for the manufacturers, no? So, why aren't they considering doing it?

crazybookman OP
24 posts
 

A pretty decent experiment would be to take one cartridge that has over 50 or over 100 hours on it, and then get another brand new cartridge (the exact same model), and play the two side-by-side on the same turntable, same tonearm, same setup, same phono, same preamp, same amp, same speakers, same room. That should tell us if there are audible differences between the cart that is broken in and the cart that is brand new out of the box.

To make that experiment more 'objective', the listening test between the two cartridges should be blindfold. The listeners must not know which cartridge is playing when. They are to make notes after listening to each cart, and then compare notes with the layout of the experiment.

Who's game?

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