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The Hardest Naturally Occurring Substance on Earth

Yep - You all know from grammar school that is the diamond, which incidentally is what is used to make the stylus of our turntable cartridges.  If it is so hard, and it is going up against some fairly soft vinyl, why do we worry about poor quality LPs damaging the cartridge or stylus?  Sure, I understand the cantilever, but the actual Stylus?  The old phrase for me is "Does Not Compute".   What are your thoughts and insights?
pgaulke60
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
No amount of dust, grime or grit on an LP is going to wear down a diamond needle, no matter how long you use it
Curious then as to what DOES wear down the diamond on our carts in your opinion?
Just the sheer action of grinding through grooves at 11,000 PSI on average?
You do not think dirty records contribute to the wear process in any way, shape or form?
rodman99999
6,171 posts
 
http://www.pspatialaudio.com/stylus_wear.htm
terry9
2,354 posts
 
@rodman99999

At last someone with the data. More or less equal parts of diamond dust, grease, and some mixture of fluff and dust. Very close to a commercial grinding compound - you know, the way they shape the stylus in the first place.

Which is why I do US record cleaning. My Koetsu has minimal wear at nearly 1000 hours. That ElmaSonic just paid for itself.
stingray26
20 posts
 
I've also wondered how soft vinyl can wear out a diamond. Other than random diamond particles in the environment or contaminating the vinyl itself, shouldn't the diamond last forever? Of course that theory doesn't pan out because we know very well that diamond styluses do indeed wear out with use. I am reminded that the Grand Canyon was all carved from stone with water.
rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
Diamonds .. huh..
I always thought the hardest natural thing on Earth was my ex mother in laws heart. Maybe I was wrong, as there’s been a lot of pubs (public bars) in Australia selling beers reportedly as cold as ex mother in law's heart..

Diamonds you say, well then..okay

And diamonds are forever, that’s nonsense eh?
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