The Lifespan of an LP?

I don't do ultrasonic clean or spin clean every time. 
I do carbon fiber brush clean each play.
However, after 50 times or so play after a few years without spin/ultrasonic clean, I start hearing more pops. With a regular brush clean I can easily see tiny dusts entrenched in record groove. After ultrasonic clean, the record plays with less pops, and usually sound better.
There is a chance that the records were damaged due to misalignment, because sometimes the cartridge force changes and need readjustment.

I purchased a newly retipped Ortofon MC20 super a few months ago, and I still hear pops on those new albums I purchased several years ago. I have about 10 cartridges used in rotation with four arms, but maybe I need another brand new cartridge to experiment with. 
By the way, even after over 50 times of play, the sound quality remains almost the same. Only a few more small pops. The fact though is, every time a record is played, the record wears out, however small may it be, and it will be noticeable sooner or later depending upon how the record is cared and the turntable is set up.

Maybe you can hear what other human brings can’t hear. 

Another reason may be your re-tipped cartridge. 

Records will outlive us. Don’t worry about them not lasting unless you don’t put them away after playing and just stack them amongst drinks and cigarettes. I don’t know of any such behavior personally😆

I have played records with scratches on my old Denon DP62L just to hear the music and despite the crackles, they don’t sound bad. I won’t play them on my main rig due to being OCD about wear on my pricier cartridges. 
I have those 78rpm shellac’s that I play on my Victrola and those are from the 1930s and 1940s.  

@fleschler,

Nice 78rpm collection. I think I have roughly 500. Bought some boxes filled with 78s and many were given to me while living in Europe. I am estimating that my normal LP collection is about 8500 and growing. Have a bedroom dedicated to the library. 


Yes, I certainly agree, that with a higher resolution system one is apt to experience musical bliss, despite a few minor scratches. I learned through varied experiences that better tonearms due in fact help with damping scratches. Combined with your high resolution system, and voila, it’s magic.