Big Difference between wire, bearings, and rubber elastomers. I have stated this before. Experts before, in the age of vinyl nirvana, in the 1980's always recommended that cartridges be replaced every 18 months regardless of useage, including NOS, never used. This is due to the oxidation that occurs naturally. This happens to Pinch Rollers, Belts, etc...on tape decks as well. But these are much easier treated with rubber cleaner/conditioner to restore the rubber. This is not easy, and almost impossible to do with the damper in a cartridge. Its definately risky buying old, NOS cartridges for this reason. its human nature, gonna happen, you cant change that. so, much safer to buy New Cartridges that are within proper date. i know that many of you post here whatever Raul says, but thats his opinion, and he is entitled to it. But doesn't make it right. Id be wary of NOS cartridges, unless you can buy new quality replacement stylii, like those from JICO. Then its a different story. Ray |
Hi Stan,
I have exchanged posts with you in the past, regarding VPI and SME. You tolld me that you were pretty well lost in todays audio, since you gave up business many years ago. I have the source of the writings of this info, regarding cartridge life, and being on the safe side, in replacing cartridges, after certain amounts of usage. As for NOS in a box, it mentioned 18 months, as for usage, some recommend 500-700-1000 hours of usage, depending. Its not something as easy as looking at the stylus tip under high magnification, that can show serious problems, but not really a gauge for replacement. There is a book, that you may well want to invest in, it has many of the experts in Turntables, as well as cartridges as contributors. Its called "Good Sound" by Laura Dearborn....Im not at all looking for an arguement, but posting recommendations from sources far more knowledgeable in this field than myself. Kind of like getting your car oil changed every 3,000 miles. Others will argue that they have gone farther without changing their oil. Thats fine, but much safer, for the guy who follows a schedule, and the 3,000 mile methosd thats been around for years. This was not an attempt to sell more cartridges, but I can see how there are those people out there that would have that be the first thing that pops into their head. I believe that you may not recall reading this, but maybe its something that you missed, after all, this advice was given during the Heydays of Vinyl and Turntables, along with the best of cartridges....the 1980's....Ray |
I will provide the information that I have. But a good starting point is Good Sound...by Laura Dearborn. This book is not biased, like calling a company like Ortofon. This book uses experts in the fields opinions. Creators of Table, Tonearms, etc... and they give the take on cartridge replacement. I would say they are more informed than I am. And whoever you spoke with at Ortofon, I did the same here at their USA plant, and got faulty information regarding a MC3Turbo Cartridge. So, you never know what kind of nimrod is on the other end of the phone. But as a start, it would help you, and many others here, to look for the Book called Good Sound, By Laura Dearborn. Best, Ray |
There is a guy on the Vinyl Engine, who forgot more about cartridges and stylii than you and I will ever know. And not only him, but others like him, in the business for years, and plenty of experience with the wide cariety of cartridges, and classics for the past decades, late 60's onward, and still very much into cartridges. He and the others have stated that High Power Microscopes, especially ones by Aidio Technica, Technics, and some others were a good way to examine the stylus. AS far as seeing any damage, or possible defects of the stylus tip, and wear pattern, but was not a way to gauge how much time has been put on a stylus, or how much time is left on a stylus. A microscope just was not designed to do this, they are as I said, for examination of the status of a stylus, to know if there were any obvious problems, that would or could be damaging your precious Vinyl. As to how long a stylus will last, in hours, there is no rule that 1000-2000, much less 3000 hours is the norm for the life of a stylus tip that is in proper use. Most I have read, have stated typically 500 hours, to possibly 1000 hours. There may be special, expensive stylii that claim 1000 to 2000 hours, but that is not the norm to anything I have read.
Also, while your having a good time poking fun, at the book "Good Sound" by Laura Dearborn....it was for many years a book that most audiophiles, during the real heyday of the 1980's and onwards would order from most of the Vendors that sold Cartridges, Equipment, etc...The Internet was not so popular during this time, or it would have been dominant there as well. There was a second Book published, for Home Audiophiles that was a thinner, in pages,Book that also sold very well. "Good Sound" covered every technical aspect of Turntables, Design, Setup, Tonearms, Amplifier/Preamps and designs of those, Speakers and Placement, also the Designing of these Speakers...it was a very detailed book. Even chapters on Tape Decks and Tuners even though these were on their way out at this time. I would not be without this book, and if you get a chance to get your hands on a copy, and look at it, I promise you, you will not be able to put it down. It does not focus as much on recommending Brands or any peice of equipment, but does have lengthy writeups, on the design and theory of theTop Dogs in this business from ever area. Such as Bill Firebaugh from Well Tempered, and VandenHul, Nelson Pass, Joe Grado, and so many more, like the owners and designers of these companies, Shure, Krell, Audio Research, Pink Triangle, George Merrill, Acoustic Research, Tandberg, Revox, Koetsu, and on and on...thes people comment on all aspects of Audio/Stereo and the design factors that they like in all areas, not just the things that they made, but all areas. Incedible Book, around 300 pages or so, or valuable knowledge. This is my most honest Opinion, and meant to be a help, and enjoyment for all people posting here. The amount of pages dedicated to just Cartridge Setup is amazing, and many little tricks that help in the setup process that save time, and mistakes that lead to doing things twice when not necessary. It also recommends many ways of buying items that are not the most expensive, but most reasonable. You would love the book, I promise you that. Ray |
Stan,
These words are not mine. I am repeating things, statements I have read in audio books, and magazines that afre informative. Some are designers. In fact, one is named Les Watts, a cartridge designer for Shure for many years, and he was cautioning many members of the Forums, such as Audio Karma, Audio Asylum, Vinyl Circle, and others, about how these parts deteriorate over time, even in NOS Stylii. This was a direct conversation that I had with Les Watts, again, a cartridge designer for Shure, not some Salesman, or the like. And he is from the days of Vinyl from 1970's and 1980's. And also a Audio Consultant besides a designer. I am not talking with some of these young kids, or guys that are hired today, that in conversations you can tell, that they know no more than I do, by their responses, and the need to look things up in books because they have no clue of what Im asking. Not everything has to be a moving part to age, and become brittle, its human nature, like Science. I dont care whether you want to accept it ot not, thats on you. But my sources are very reliable, and the cartridge designing was their specialty. Not sales. Les Watts is well known, and worked with the Berrylium cantilevers, the best cartridges that were ever available. I still have his email for contact. So Stan, this may not be advertised on a box, but is in nearly all informative books and magazines about audio, and cartridges/stylii. Ray |
Jcarr,
I personally felt the same way, when I read this info regarding the shelf life of anew cartridge. That is why I always tried to find audio dealers that sold alot of cartridges, didn't overorder, and was able to buy as new and fresh a cartridge as possible. Because for me, its alot of money to spen on cartridges. Only to have to worry about shelf life. But being in the business, and from a repair/technician point of view, I myself knew that it does make sense. So, I tried to buy as new as possible, and it gave me something to be wary of when buying used cartridges, or old new cartridges. But this was well known by those with the technical know in business back in the day. Im only telling you what was known, and stated by dealers, who has constant conversations with dealers, and me as with the designer, Les Watts from Shure. Ray |
Stan, I could care less whether you agree with what I said or not. You sound like a hostile gentelman. I dont expect everyone to agree with me. Or with what I have heard. I hope you dont get a lemon on that Ortofon, because several already have, if its the M20FL. Also, another thing, I didn't stste Shure was the best cartridge ever made. Again, you take me out of context. Im sorry if you feel you salon is threatened by your lack of knowledge. But thats on you, insecurities are something that with work, you may be able to get over. I dont think any particular cartridge is the best.
As to LewM, I dont think Laura Dearborn has the qualification to make any statements. Other than she did alot of research and interviews. The book is something compiled by her, and is a source of experience, wisdom, knowledge, experimentation, theory and more all by experts in the field. The designers that make all of this gear, cartridges, turntables, speakers, amps, their designs, why they chose them, etc.....how some great tables vary so greatly in their design, and theory. Its the people in the book, that have the valid information, and opinions and facts that I believe, and are qualified to make such statements. All you could do, is get your hands on a copy, browse through it, and make your own decisions. Im not forcing anything. It seems that you forget when you point the finger, 4 are pointing back at ya. Really, none of this info is my own, but that of experts in this field for many years. And I realize that no single statement hold 100 percent true in all cases. Thus, some cartridges last far longer than others, of the same model even. I cant explain this, but hope your on that lucky end of the stick. Im not here to argue, but to pass on useful info, that came from experts. Its just another way of looking at things, than the way you guys all look at the same thing, all the same way, and attack like ravens anyone that doesnt agree with you, or may have another way of looking at things. I would only accept, or post info that I got from very reliable sources. And that is all I did. Sorry if that offend you Stan. But as you say, I can do this, and Science was just the first word that popped in my mind, I maybe could have used one better. But you get the idea. Read one, look for books and info like I have found. Ray |
