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How do tell when my stylus is too much worn?

I have had my MC cartridge for about 5 years. I haven't kept a proper log but I would guess about 7-800 hrs. How can I tell BY LISTENING that it is worn enough to replace or retip? Does it get edgy or shrill or....?
I suspect that the change would be so gradual that it might be hard to tell, as the ear slowly accomodates.
Of course I should remove the cartridge and view under a microscope but un mounting and remounting is a perilous business that I would like to avoid.


rrm
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
I keep my cartridges very clean. They last a lot longer than they probably should when reading about what manufacturers/reviewers say cartridge life is. In my experience the suspension starts to go bad. When that happens things start to get muddy. 
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,180 posts
 
I always use a test record when I install a new cartridge, and use it as a reference to check the cartridge.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

I can buy a big telescope and pretend to be astronomer but the

telescope as such can't make astronomer from me. Well by

comparison with whatever miscroscope ...Consider all those

styli shapes. After loking at, say, 3 kinds one can't remember

either except the old ''trusted'' oval kind.

So the answer depends from our belief. Belief in the honesty of

our retipper as well in his capability to judge the gradations

of wear . The problem is that they can charge 500 euro for a

simple retip by which the cantilever/stylus combo is glued on

the tube rest of the old cantilever. According to Andreoli who

learned the trade by Aussie brothers he was able to do this job

in 5 minute time.

Fermi has stated: ''If I was smarter I could remember more of

those particles than I actually do''.  


czarivey
5,946 posts
 
Of course I should remove the cartridge and view under a microscope but un mounting and remounting is a perilous business that I would like to avoid.
Looks like you will void visual examining of stylus and only limit yourself to finding stylus problems only by ear which is somewhat inefficient.
Very often you may find degraded performance of inner tracks including sibilance. Also in diamond stylus less likely diamond tip is affected, but more likely stylus mount and cantilever which is visible under jewelers loupe 

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rauliruegas
13,047 posts
 
Dear @rrm: 800 hours? looks not excessive. Now, manufacturer can tell us that stylus tip can goes over 1K hours or even 2K hours.

Now, the stylus tip degradation can be faster when LP's are not well cleaned and when the stylus tip is used not well cleaned or both. These accelerates the stylus tip damage.

My take with any stylus tip is to re-tip after or near 500 hours. This gives me ( someway. ) certainty that my LPs surface can't be damaged for it and that thank's that the stylus tip has no more hours its performance will be really near as when 200-300 hours with almost no demerit in the quality performance of what I'm listening.

For me 800 hours says it's time to re-tip but this is me.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
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