Kristian, although I presume that the reply that you received is correct regarding the M20FL, I believe that it may be stretching the truth to extend that explanation to every cartridge.
When it comes to cantilever metallurgy and corrosion resistance, or chemical composition in the damper elastomers, suspension, coil lacquer and so on, there are too many differences between brands and even individual models to apply hard-and-fast rules.
And although Ortofon may be one of the oldest cartridge manufacturers, they have managed to lay a few eggs in production models. For example, at least one model that I know of combined silver coil wire with damper elastomers containing sulfer. The sulfer in the dampers would gradually penetrate the lacquer insulation protecting the wires, attack the silver, and sooner or later the coils would corrode and break. Needless to say, the follow-up to this model was substantially revised.
A couple of other models from several manufacturers (unfortunately all very nice-sounding cartridges) didn't incorporate sufficient strain relief on the coil lead-out wires, and with the constant flexing that regular use would impose on the lead-outs, they would gradually work-harden and eventually break.
Other cartridges used certain aluminum alloy cantilevers that had good performance when new, but were prone to corrosion failure over time (particularly in humid environments), and the cantilevers would tend to collapse after a few years.
All of that said, I agree that an 18 months replacement cycle is much too short for any model that has been designed reasonably competently and used carefully.
hth, jonathan carr (cartridge designer)
When it comes to cantilever metallurgy and corrosion resistance, or chemical composition in the damper elastomers, suspension, coil lacquer and so on, there are too many differences between brands and even individual models to apply hard-and-fast rules.
And although Ortofon may be one of the oldest cartridge manufacturers, they have managed to lay a few eggs in production models. For example, at least one model that I know of combined silver coil wire with damper elastomers containing sulfer. The sulfer in the dampers would gradually penetrate the lacquer insulation protecting the wires, attack the silver, and sooner or later the coils would corrode and break. Needless to say, the follow-up to this model was substantially revised.
A couple of other models from several manufacturers (unfortunately all very nice-sounding cartridges) didn't incorporate sufficient strain relief on the coil lead-out wires, and with the constant flexing that regular use would impose on the lead-outs, they would gradually work-harden and eventually break.
Other cartridges used certain aluminum alloy cantilevers that had good performance when new, but were prone to corrosion failure over time (particularly in humid environments), and the cantilevers would tend to collapse after a few years.
All of that said, I agree that an 18 months replacement cycle is much too short for any model that has been designed reasonably competently and used carefully.
hth, jonathan carr (cartridge designer)