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Vinyl Lovers-- Cartridges!!!! Do you have a daily driver?

About a decade ago, some kind soul told me that the phono preamp was ever so important and that I could keep spending here and there, but to get to Oz I'd need a good one.  Since that time I've had a Manley Chinook and now Modwright's reference phono stage. 

These pieces have allowed me to get deeper into vinyl.  I have a lovely LTA Aero DAC (tubes and R2R), which I adore. Yet, nothing is the same as vinyl.  Ok--maybe my reel-to-reel stuff but I only have about a half dozen albums. 

At any rate, here's my dilemma.  I'm finding cartridges just don't hold up that long.  I keep a clean shop and my records are in very clean shape. I do not, however, have a laboratory clean room here. I run VTA generally at the middle of the spec. Still, cartridges are easy to run through--or so it seems to my ear.  

I've had mixed results retipping moving coils.  Sometimes it's fabulous!

I think I'm getting a little tired for buying cartridges only to wear them out. I've run through a Benz Micro LPS, Kiseki Purpleheart, Dynavector 20x something, Audio-Technica ART9, Ortofon 2M black, and a few others I cannot recall.  The initial outlay doesn't bother me. What's getting me is they just seem to fade off.  I doubt I'm getting more than 1000 hours before they sound raggedy. Yet, I've never counted. 

I've noticed with a high quality phono preamp you can use a lower priced cartridge to amazing results. So, I just scooped up an $800 Nagaoka MP-500, hoping I could use it as a daily driver to spare my Goldring Ethos (fantastic cart by the way). I don't have the Nag yet to evaluate.

What are others doing? If you're someone who plows through lots of vinyl in their listening sessions, do you just pony up ever year for a new $2k, $5k cartridge?  Do you run lower priced, value carts? 

jbhiller

Showing 6 responses by lewm

lewm
13,447 posts
 

"How about a threesome?" Is what it might say.  Cartridges can be kinky.

lewm
13,447 posts
 

Whereas you can get in trouble for having more than one household, both financial and emotional, there is much to be said for polygamy when it comes to cartridges.

lewm
13,447 posts
 

This is a meaningless conversation because none of us has defined what is meant when you say a cartridge is “lasting” or has reached the state of being “worn out”.. In previous threads 500 hours or thereabouts was often quoted as the typical lifespan. These numbers are way higher but without specifics. At 2500 hours, what do you see under a microscope? Or even how do you keep track of hours?

lewm
13,447 posts
 

tomic, I've got the SS ruby cantilever/OCL stylus in a Grace Ruby, AND I've got an MP500.  Grace is terrific, could live with it, but MP500 is a bit superior, IMO.  I'm also living with an Acutex LPM 320STRIII (whew!), a Koetsu Urushi, a Stanton 9981LZS, AT ART7, and a Dynavector 17D3. All but the Grace are mounted and available to use. Maybe that is why I have no problem with one cartridge wearing out.

lewm
13,447 posts
 

If you want to minimize use of an expensive MC that needs to go to the factory or to a re-tipper or to be discarded apparently, when the stylus is worn out, then it seems to me you want as a daily driver a cartridge that has a user-replaceable stylus. That means either MI or MM. Seems to me the OP is already on the right track with the MP500. IMO, you cannot do much better than that, in fact. But also remarkable to me is that the OP seems to be buying a new MC every time his stylus wears out (the criteria for which judgement are not stated), when in fact the cartridge can go back to its maker or to any good retipper for restoration, at a lower cost compared to buying an entirely new cartridge. Seems to me this is a tempest in a teapot.

lewm
13,447 posts
 

Among the data for cartridge life span that are bandied about with no supporting evidence, 1000 hours seems pretty good. Usually it’s a subjective judgement unless you are using a microscope for visual evidence of wear. You will like the MP500, and the stylus is replaceable in the comfort of your own home. Other than that, maybe you can develop another hobby or force yourself to listen to your other sources more often to reduce the rate of cartridge decline. Cars and photography are fun.

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