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Cartridge burn-in

Hi to all analog friends here,

Any time I purchase a new cartridge, when I set it up and sit down to listen to it, I cringe a little. It always sounds stiff, harsh, glassy, shrill. Then, after a few days/weeks of playing, it appears to 'break in' and start sounding relaxed, more musical, sweeter, less straining, presenting the music with better flow and finesse.

Common wisdom teaches that the cartridge, being a mechanical component, needs to loosen up its suspension. So, the only way to really hear what the cartridge is capable of is to play it for at the minimum 20 to 30 hours (some sources even say 50 hours).

OK, makes sense (kinda). But an alternative explanation is also possible: whenever we replace our current cartridge with a new one, the new one will sound different. Maybe it is this different, unfamiliar sonic character of the new cartridge that is causing us to feel that the sound is harsh, metallic, unpleasant, strenuous? Then, after a few days/weeks with the new cartridge, our ears and our listening habits get adjusted to the new type of sound, and we grow to like it.

This gradual conditioning to the new type of sound is then called 'cartridge break-in'. But maybe the cartridge doesn't really break-in; maybe it is our ears and our listening habits that gradually break-in and get accustomed to the new sound?

What do you think?

crazybookman
crazybookman OP
24 posts
 

Are there any published objective data that measure (using quality recording equipment) the difference in sound as the cartridge breaks-in? Or are all conclusions merely subjective?

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

Just let it all happen. Give the cartridge a couple weeks to settle in, adjusting VTA as necessary. Experiment with the amount of anti-skate. Let your ears adjust to the cartridge's personality. Come to appreciate the qualities the cartridge bring. Use your head to decide if you like the component, but let your emotion and heart quide your choice, as well.

slaw's avatar
slaw
21,692 posts
 

Trust your ears dude. 

This ain't hard.

tablejockey
3,916 posts
 

Just another thing we audiophools think we need to quantify and come up with techno explanations.

So you buy a $10K cart for your uber setup, install it and it sounds...just okay, because you have to "wait" for a "breakin?"

I don't think so.

Your cart properly setup should sound essentially as good as it will right out of the box.

Things need to "loosen up" and so on...I'll buy that to some degree, but essentially you should get what you paid for.... right from the get-go.

crazybookman OP
24 posts
 

essentially you should get what you paid for.... right from the get-go.

I wish that were the case. But any time I install a brand new cartridge (regardless of the price), at first I get annoyed by the stiff, strenuous sound. After a few days, that impression recedes and the cartridge starts sounding nicer, sweeter, more musical.

So, to repeat my question: is the cartridge really breaking in, or are my ears starting to get used to the new sound?

 

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