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Re: Longest you've used a cartridge [message #97380 is a reply to message #97378]

Tue, 23 January 2024 12:50

Rusty
Messages: 1247
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri

Illuminati (3rd Degree)

Not much to break in them Strum Drum. As long as the coils stay intact in the body of a cartridge. The only thing to replace is the diamond styli. MM, MI's make that easy. And why I like them. The one LOMC cartridge I have is very nice. But so are most of my MM cartridges. Without all the fuss and expense of getting the stylus replaced or matching step up transformers to them. And the vintage cartridges I've amassed are from the time when the state of the art was being improved upon all the time. The innovation from then hasn't been improved upon really.

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Re: Longest you've used a cartridge [message #98138 is a reply to message #97338]

Wed, 18 December 2024 14:08

Kingfish
Messages: 565
Registered: November 2012

Illuminati (1st Degree)

The link in post #2 still works. I used to play ALOT of records, and you just acquire an ear for when the needle/stylus needs to be changed out. The acquired dust depends on how dusty the room is where everything is. That's been my experience, at least.

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Re: Longest you've used a cartridge [message #98142 is a reply to message #98138]

Thu, 19 December 2024 11:39

Rusty
Messages: 1247
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri

Illuminati (3rd Degree)

You'll do your cartridge styli justice also by keeping your records clean and dust free. A good record brush prior to play helps. Many types of record cleaners on the market for those used records we buy. And I always use a cheap trick, (not the band) I found on the SoundSmith website for removing crud from your styli. That blue tack stuff you can find in the stationary area of a store. A clay like material that works well pulling off that buildup of lint and crud. I do it prior to every listening session.

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Re: Longest you've used a cartridge [message #98278 is a reply to message #97338]

Sat, 25 January 2025 11:27

Kingfish
Messages: 565
Registered: November 2012

Illuminati (1st Degree)

In a perfect world, things would be made to last. People would buy the product and the people who made the product would then expand on the product to make it better. Keep expanding on an existing product, that is still made to last, and we would have a more quality-driven society.

Sadly, that is not the case though.

I think there needs to be a benchmark of time, so to speak, that tells us when to replace the stylus and cartridge. The stylus especially.

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Re: Longest you've used a cartridge [message #98282 is a reply to message #98278]

Sat, 25 January 2025 12:32

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18832
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Opinions differ, but not by much. The general consensus appears to be that a stylus lasts between 300 and 1000 hours. Some say shape matters, and most say that tracking weight matters too. All agree that stylus and record care and cleaning are important as well.

Audio-Technica on stylus longevity
Ortofon on stylus wear

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Re: Longest you've used a cartridge [message #98283 is a reply to message #98282]

Sat, 25 January 2025 13:58

Rusty
Messages: 1247
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri

Illuminati (3rd Degree)

One thing too is if you have collected cartridges. You can rotate their use to extend their styli lifespan. I have a good bakers dozen or so of contemporary and vintage carts. Which I can put on the tonearm since I have one that you can unscrew the headshell off the arm wand and put another headshell with aligned cart on. Just change the vtf if needed, height adjustment, check the antiskate and away you go.
I call it my cartridge harem.

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