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How many plays can you get out of a good record?

I haven't seen this question posed in the Audiogon forums, but I have seen many answers on generic audio sites, that say a record can be expected to last for "hundreds" of plays before any sonic degradation is noted, if well cared for. 

I'm wondering if they might last even longer with modern audiophile styli / styluses, which track at around 1.8 grams.  Does anyone have any real experience or knowledge about the longevity of records in such a scenario?  (If records only last 100-200 plays before some degradation, then this means that playing a record once a week could be at least partially deteriorated in two to four years, which is a real shame.)  

drbond
dinov's avatar
dinov
845 posts
 

I have yet to reach an “end of life” for an lp from normal play  Now, physical damage from mishandling situations…Perhaps. Speaks volumes for the media, and used record stores, long may each live. 

fleschler
2,015 posts
 

End of life for an LP? Maybe those I owned as a child. At 12, I started seriously taking care of my records. Even those I’ve played 100-200 times since 12.

fatdaddy2
387 posts
 

Always one more.

cey's avatar
cey
275 posts
 

i dont think anyone answered your question. i didnt read too closely, but it looks like you got paragraphs. was hoping to find the answer. cant find one. theres one joke answer and the laser TT post, which is close.

drbond OP
422 posts
 

@cey 

Yes, one answer to the question "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?", but perhaps the answer to my question is the same; however, there were good suggestions about record and stylus preservation materials from Last that I will probably use on a few LP's.  I already use the Last Stylus cleaner, and Last Stylus treatment, but from now on I plan on using them more often, as opposed to just once a week, or so.  

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