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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
larryi
3,757 posts
 
The sound certainly improves after the cartridge has been playing for a few minutes, but, it is hardly the case that the cartridge is mistracking or doing anything that could damage the record so there is no point in playing some "expendable" record or wasting time playing something you don't want to hear.  The first few minutes will just sound a little muddy and dull sounding until the suspension of the cartridge limbers up a bit. 
moonglum OP
619 posts
 

Thanks Larry.

Not that I'm trying to "impose a view" here. I've noted that some people will put an LP on then flatly refuse to listen until at least 30 minutes have elapsed. If that were me then I guess I'd be using old 2nd hand LPs rather than burn out a favourite when I'm not even there to appreciate it. ;^)

So I'm really trying to get an insight into this phenomenon :)

srtweaker
8 posts
 
I've found that the cartridge definitely starts to bloom, letting the soundstage expand in all directions, after 1 to 2 sides. It is definitely noticeable.
whart's avatar
whart
2,976 posts
 
It takes longer for my amps to come on song than the cartridge, but I warm everything up by playing a couple of sides without any critical listening- i'm sure that's more than enough for the cartridge.  I know that the amps (Lamm ML 2) really start to open up at around the 45 minute mark, and continue to improve after that. I don't regard the cartridge warm up as risking any damage to the records if that's the question. 
dgarretson
2,593 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.   
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