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Stylus Warm-up Time

Do you prefer to warm up your stylus before listening i.e. by playing one side (or 2) of an "expendable" LP?

How long is considered acceptable warm up time?

Do you listen immediately or do you wait until the optimisation period is up?

Also what temperature range do you listen at? (My preference is 21-23 degrees C ambient although it doesn't mean I'll stop listening if it goes to 23.5 ;^)

moonglum
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
An audiophile who I respect warms his cartridges with a hair dryer before listening at ambient temps below 70F.  In winter conditions of 65F in the listening room I sense  that cartridges need 10-15 minutes in the grooves to wake up.   
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
hair dryer?
phd
1,319 posts
 
srtweaker, how do you know which is actually warming up, the amps, preamps  or the cartridge. I'm guessing that every component is turned on at the same time?
moonglum OP
619 posts
 
Lol !!!! :D :D
moonglum OP
619 posts
 

Dear DGarretson,

Interesting solution! J

So, 65F is about 18.3C. I used to listen at those temperatures in Winter but didn’t do anything to compensate other than adjusting the VTF from e.g. 1.65g to 1.68g.  At the time, the Linn Ittok was excellent for this purpose as it gave a very precise readout of the downforce (better than some gauges IMO).

At the moment I’m using the Phantom II and it doesn’t allow visibility of the VTF setting so I always have to re-check with a gauge as a precaution.

Currently, I maintain the ambient temp within reasonable limits whenever listening and leave the VTF alone.

 

Did your friend consider the low-power filament bulb fitted to an anglepoise holder? ;^)

(I never liked those things – just something else to catch your sleeve on and cause an expensive accident!) :D

 

All the best,

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