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The ever lasting diamond stylus...is it a myth or??

We all believe that a stylus has a certain life...perhaps on the order of several thousand hours. However, it occurs to me that if a stylus is used exclusively on new and/or pristine and clean vinyl and that the various parameters of set up are always maintained correctly; that it would/could be reasonable to expect the diamond to last almost indefinitely! The wear and tear of the groove against the diamond, particularly if the friction on the stone is minimized should allow an immense life. The other components of the cartridge can- and will, age far before the diamond shape is lost....due to the aging of the rubber and other soft components in the motor...BUT the diamond....I think perhaps not....thoughts???
128x128daveyf
raymonda
855 posts
 
No, diamonds wear. It is not a myth, nor is it a conspiracy. To think that it is a myth is to have not have gone out to the barn and looked into the horses mouth.
daveyf's avatar
daveyf OP
2,858 posts
 
Interesting, you know this for sure....and given my parameters posted above. Or, is this just supposition?? How have you 'looked into the horses mouth'? 

Years ago, I looked through a microscope of a stylus that was supposedly worn out, I had no idea as to whether the facets on the diamond were in fact correct or not...the dealer told me they were worn. 
What does a worn out diamond stylus look like? ( a shibata shape or a micro ridge or an elliptical?)  Are the diamonds that are attached to our cantilevers that accurately reproduced? Would like to know how they are produced with such accuracy... inquiring minds etc.,

don_c55
1,025 posts
 
I have had some MC cartridges sound "like New" even after 10 or 15 years of play.

Some die after a year.

Suspensions go, long before the diamond, IMO.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
I've seen diamond tip worn out to the base of the cantilever.
They wear out just like pensil
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