Stylus Warm-up Time

...I should also comment "....and suspension" ;^)

Thanks Larry.

Not that I'm trying to "impose a view" here. I've noted that some people will put an LP on then flatly refuse to listen until at least 30 minutes have elapsed. If that were me then I guess I'd be using old 2nd hand LPs rather than burn out a favourite when I'm not even there to appreciate it. ;^)

So I'm really trying to get an insight into this phenomenon :)

Lol !!!! :D :D

Dear DGarretson,

Interesting solution! J

So, 65F is about 18.3C. I used to listen at those temperatures in Winter but didn’t do anything to compensate other than adjusting the VTF from e.g. 1.65g to 1.68g.  At the time, the Linn Ittok was excellent for this purpose as it gave a very precise readout of the downforce (better than some gauges IMO).

At the moment I’m using the Phantom II and it doesn’t allow visibility of the VTF setting so I always have to re-check with a gauge as a precaution.

Currently, I maintain the ambient temp within reasonable limits whenever listening and leave the VTF alone.

Did your friend consider the low-power filament bulb fitted to an anglepoise holder? ;^)

(I never liked those things – just something else to catch your sleeve on and cause an expensive accident!) :D

All the best,

Not to be too pedantic, "warm up your stylus" is a figure of speech, Don, but your input is much appreciated. ;^)

While diamond is an excellent thermal conductor the contact area is minute and generated heat has to go somewhere so I would surmise it will both manifest in the vinyl and travel elsewhere. Since the interface is small the heat-sinking effect of the cantilever would be similarly small. Whether that transmitted heat has an influence on the suspension I'll leave open to discussion.

I would also imagine the vibration of the elastomer generates a certain degree of heat as well. Would it be as much as the former? I don't know.

How any change of state affects SQ is the reason why were here ;^)

Here is a related aside. An interesting little factoid for your mental archive. I’ve maintained this viewpoint for decades and I’ve never seen an "official" confirmation until now but, even today, many folk are still surprised when it is mentioned. The only difference here is that received wisdom indicated the recovery time was 24 hours but this source indicates that the LP could be played 50 times in succession without severe/audible effect and that it might take hundreds of plays (or more) before you start to hear a difference. Please bear in mind it is the writer’s opinion so stay safe! Quote :-

"Records are made from a polyvinyl chloride/polyvinyl acetate copolymer at 90/10 mix roughly and its melting point is between 110 and 120 degrees centigrade. I was a record production and development chemist at EMI for 6 years and mucked around with various record mixtures. The stylus does indeed ’melt’ the plastic at a macro level, the plastic immediately resetting itself back to where it was: there would be no noticeable degradation of the record in the short term but repeated playing, especially the heavy modulated grooves of the record, will over thousands of playing, eventually give a degradation that is discernable. Nowt to worry about in the short term though: dust is probably a greater enemy as is plasticiser migration from record inner sleeves."

Oh no! Now we have to worry about anti-static sleeves. Aaaaaarghhhh!!!

A final note : This report had me wondering how they could tell the difference between "thermal wear" and "physical wear" i.e. measure the heat at the interface? Then it dawned on me....thermal camera trained on the "hotspot" (?????)

Just watch out those 3 fingers don't become 18 fingers ;^)

I remember a study on the perils of drunk-driving when subjects were each plied with a drink then invited to write a simple statement after each additional drink, "I'm not too drunk to drive".

After a few one bloke eventually wrote, "I'm not too drunk to drink" ;^) :D