When to change a cartridge?

IMHO, once you hear an issue you have already damaged your records. 800 hours seems to be the maximum life for a fine line stylus, and likely much less, but it’s pretty easy to send it off to Joseph Long or Steve at VAS for an inspection. And barring an incident that causes the diamond to cleave, a properly aligned stylus, with the correct anti-skate setting, will wear more, or less, linearly, much like a set of tires on an automobile.

This is a scholarly work that looks at much of the available information, and it’s implications:

https://thevinylpress.com/the-finish-line-for-your-phonograph-stylus/

The folks over at Hoffman are doing some interesting stylus wear studies as well, though they seem to be hitting some bumps in the road.

mofimadness, Bill Hart who owns that site is a contributor here. If you poke around the site, he has also published Neil Antin’s scientific deep dive into how to clean records. Antin was a Navy scientist whose expertise is quite extensive.

https://thevinylpress.com/precision-aqueous-cleaning-of-vinyl-records-3rd-edition/

Apologies for taking the thread a bit off topic.

Audio memory is notoriously short. For those that want an empirical (sonic) solution, which is actually quite subjective, it is best to just make a recording of the stylus after it has broken in, and then record another sample, with the same record, at 400 and 700 hours. That way you can compare them directly, back to back without relying on memory.

Since stylii wear like tires, the decline is gradual and, in some respect, the finish line is somewhat arbitrary. Some set it at 3% IM distortion, which should be measurable, and this typically comes at 500-800 hours with a fine line stylus.

Not sure where the forum has recommended 2000 hours as I do not see a consensus. Dogberry suggested 2000 hours at a max, Mr. Newcomb suggested 1000 hours, I suggested 500-800 and the paper that I linked puts it around 400 hours, but if you averaged it out, it would come to under 1000 hours.

Another way to look at it is, if you have a $2500 cartridge, and retire it 20% too soon, which really shouldn’t happen, as it should be professionally inspected, you throw away $500, and if you waited too long you have compromised every record that you have played. It’s a lot easier for one to replace a cartridge than replace 2000, or 3000 records, probably cheaper, as well.

Audio-B-dog, I take no issue with any decisions that folks make and apologies if I gave the impression that I felt differently. As I said what many consider the end of life is a somewhat arbitrary demarcation. And I was quick to point to the disparity of information given by participants in this thread. And that’s kind of it. Opinions are often repeated without a firm grasp of the very minimal scientific data available on the topic. And it really is perplexing how little data is available considering the billions of records that have been pressed.

I am only participating because I have studied the topic at length and some may find the information of value. But we all pay our money, and make our decisions. Exactly as it should be. Knowledge is, however, power.

Old audiophile, I think that the Microline and it’s analogs, Microridge, etc. are a very special case. Because the groove wall is contacted by two wings, it really does not flat spot, and retains it’s shape more, or less, throughout it’s life. Which probably ends when it starts contacting the bottom of the groove, rather than when the contact surfaces are no longer usable. IMHO, this shape is going to last quite a bit longer than others, and the data in the article that I linked was collected mostly before the invention of this shape.

Oh, and I have the Stylus Timer and am such a dunce that I forget to use it. I ended up switching to numerical clickers off Amazon. I have one for each of my cartridges. Hey ya gotta find out what works for you.

Audio-b-dog, I would just spend the $50 to have it evaluated by a professional, they may tell you they are good to go. Or as you suggest, perhaps if you can't hear it, then it is not an issue. I'm not here to drum up business for retippers.