Demagnatizing a ZYX Cartridge

I run the Cardas record's de-mag sweeps past my UNIverse every month or so. It helps clear out a few cobwebs, though the ZYX doesn't need it nearly as much or as often as my old Shelter 901.

I would not risk an active demagnification unless nakatsuka-san himself said it was safe. AFAIK, he hasn't.

Cheers,
Doug

Some cartridges can apparently be damaged by active demagnetizing. VdH specifically advises against it for example. I don't know that it would hurt a ZYX, but to actively demag any cartridge without checking that it's safe would be imprudent. I'd do what Rgurney said first.

The Cardas record's demag tracks are simple frequency sweeps. Why playing a two minute frequency sweep demags anything is beyond me, but it's even harder imagining it doing any harm.

I do appreciate Raul's sense of caution. We are talking about some pretty expensive cartridges here.

Still, like Lugnut I have a hard time imagining any harm from playing a normally-cut record. We're not talking Telarc cannons here.

The damage Tubes108 experienced came from multiple uses of an active demagnetizer. As I said originally, I would hesitate to use such a device before checking with the cartridge manufacturer. His unfortunate experience, which I thank him for sharing, confirms that some caution is necessary.

Raul,

I suppose I first heard about demagnetizing here. It does seem ridiculous at first: how could copper/silver coils become magnetized in the first place?

Paul (PhD in metallurgy) theorizes that impurities in the coils become magnetized. He hasn't attempted to verify this in a metallurgical lab, but if he's correct the same could happen in the voice coils of speakers.

Albert Porter and others reported positive results from demagnetizing their Koetsus several years ago. While reluctant to risk active demagnetizing, we decided to try the Cardas record two years ago on our Shelter 901. At worst we figured it could do no harm.

In fact, the improvement was substantial. As with Albert's Koetsu we found weekly sweeps beneficial for the Shelter. ZYX's also benefit, though they don't seem to need it quite as often. OTOH, friends using Denon 103's and Benz's reported no change at all. One imagines that different coils have different impurities, which react differently (or not at all) to magnetic fields.

Regards,
Doug

Raul,

What damage do you hypothesize could be done by playing a 30-30K Hz frequency sweep? Our cartridges play these frequencies every day. The only difference is that the sweep covers every frequency in a minute or two. How would that harm a cartridge?

Tubes108,

What kind of demagnification did you use. Active device? Cardas record? Or...?

Many thanks,
Doug

Raul,

I answered your question in my post of 9/27. Please read it before repeating questions that have already been addressed.

Paul's education and 22 years of professional experience qualify him to understand whether coils can be magnetized. He knows more atomic and molecular level metallurgy than all the audio engineers on the planet. He says it's possible, even probable.

What are your qualifications in metallurgy? Your "common sense" is of little use in understanding metals at the molecular level. It is of no use in understanding ANY material at atomic or sub-atomic levels. Common sense Newtonian physics just don't apply there.

BTW, suggesting that what every person on this thread hears as an improvement is "distortion" is arrogant, absurd and insulting. You haven't heard what we have, so your "common sense" should have deleted that statement before you posted it.

Doug