Elevick, the short answer to your question is yep. But there's a cheap fix, popular with reviewers in the 80s from Stereophile and The Absolute Sound. Buy some Stylast stylus protector from a high-end shop (not the Last cleaner, but the Last "Stylast", if it still exists), load up the little brush with the fluid, turn your cartridge upside-down, and rub the brush on the cantilever gently so you see one drop of the Stylast disappear into the cartridge. Leave it a few minutes, then re-install and start to play it. One hour later, the bass and dynamics will re-appear (this really works). Now, some people refuse to try it because of unknown effects in the long-term. If you are not planning to send it for a rebuild at a cost of several hundreds of dollars (at least), then this simple process will allow you to enjoy your cartridge for years to come. All things eventually die, so enjoy and don't worry! Of course, if it is a true classic which should be kept pristine, then spend the money and send it for a rebuild. I did this to a tired Kiseki Blue three years ago, and it is still the most reliable cartridge I have, always there when another of my cartridges crap out.
Do cartridges "dry" out?
I have 3 really nice sonus cartridges with low hours. Although they sound great, after several hours of use, they seem to get "tired" or "weak" sounding. If I stop an clean them throroughly they better. When fresh and clean, they blow away my Blue Point and Shure.
Someone told me that the parts in an older cartridge will dry out? Is that true? I never had this problem before with my pre-amp and don't think it's the problem.
Classe 30 pre with phono
Sota Jewel table with Jelco LMT arm
Sonus Bronze, gold and white cartridges.
Someone told me that the parts in an older cartridge will dry out? Is that true? I never had this problem before with my pre-amp and don't think it's the problem.
Classe 30 pre with phono
Sota Jewel table with Jelco LMT arm
Sonus Bronze, gold and white cartridges.
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