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Do You Play Or Save Your Best Cartridges

I suspect I am like many here, I have a small collection of cartridges. Until recently I would keep a casual playing cartridge set up and I would save my "good" cartridges for evening listening sessions where I am focusing on listening to music at the listening chair. I always had a casual cartridge mounted on an arm, maybe an Audio Technica OC9 III or something along those lines. These days its either an Ortofon MC3000 II or MC5000. 

 

Earlier this year I finally decided to use the DAC in my Trinov pre amp, and this involved getting a subscription to Roon, and hardwiring the computer and preamp to the router with CAT 6 ethernet cable. The sound is remarkably good, to the point where this can easily be my casual listening format. 

I almost wonder if its necessary to have a casual cartridge. Or should I just play my best ones as often as I want and bite the bullet and know I am getting a new diamond fitted every few years. 

 

Anyone else go through this kind of decision process?

neonknight
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 

I have a Cartridge Keeper with a selection of Cart's ranging from Ceramic, MM, HOMC and LOMC.

I have a few LOMC Cart's still remaining on Tonearms>TT's infrequently used.

I have collected Cart's with a shortish user life for R&D Purposes. These are available to be used in conjunction with owned Cart's by others, from the Same Brand and Same Model. This is for the purpose of A/B Comparison of equipment, where a Cart's change over is not desired during the demonstration, this improves the experience when comparing, when two very closely mimicking Cart's are mounted.

I also have a few Cart's that are destined to be Donor Models for a rebuild design,  that I have agreed with Third Party Service Technicians to be undertaken. These are the ones I enjoy the most, there is a lot to be discovered, by bringing a material into use not commonly found in the mainstream today. A skilled Technician also gets fired up and quite creative when the challenge is presented.     

petg60
1,486 posts
 

I rather go with the best cartridge i can have, i have only one and keep it till i listen to something better or till it goes to cartridge heaven. Then a new one.

In the past i had about five at a time but still i was listening to the one i thought it sounded best.

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

I only did it a zillion years ago, when I had a record player that could play 78's.

dogberry
655 posts
 

I am sparing when it comes to enjoying my London Decca Reference and Jubilee. John Wright has retired, and the new owner of his business is an unknown quantity. I got essentially nowhere asking if the Jubilee could be converted to mono (something John did all the time). However, reports of rebuilt cartridges are beginning to come out and the owners are happy.

All the same, I enjoy my mounted Reference once a day. The Jubilee is waiting as a backup. After the first LP of the day, the rest get played on other cartridges.

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

No good to save.  The rubbers or similar in the suspension degrade and your cart will need rebuilding before you can use it.

If you must store carts, make sure it is at low temperatures with medium humidity so that the suspension elements do not dry out.

But best to listen to them for Gxxxx sake.

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