2. analog
  3. 174833-101473

How do you tell your Cartridge needs replacing?

I know this is a stupid question but I don't know how to answer it. I have a Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 on a MT-2 player. Came with it. Probably , 4 years old now. The first 2 years I was not cleaning records but have been for the past 2 years. I have no equipment beyond my ears to measure degradation of the stylus. Seems to me that the intervals between cleaning of the stylus due to muffled sound are getting shorter. That is all I can say. Maybe my brain is adapting to the sound degradation over time and what I would not consider abnormal 4 years ago is now normal. Anyways, I suspect the easy answer is just to replace it and listen but was wondering if there is any other advice out there. Thx. 

ricmci
ricmci OP
214 posts
 

Thank you for all the great advice. Sounds like since I am concerned then I should just go ahead and get another cartridge before I regret not doing so. Now I get to research what I shall purchase. Thanks again. 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,249 posts
 

check, but the AT policy probably applies to their more expensive models also, which means trade-in saves even more in the future.

lewm
12,565 posts
 

The OP owns a Sumiko cartridge, not an AT. So unless Sumiko offers a similar service to AT, the OP is best off procuring the services of an independent repair shop like the ones you, and several others before you, named.

emailists
923 posts
 

Fun off topic story that comes to mind since I’m currently sitting here without a phono cart waiting for new styli to be rebuilt at Soundsmith.

It seems different designs yield vastly different hours. After about 3000 hours of use I sent my Strain Gauge stylus to SoundSmith to be checked since it must clearly be worn after all this time.  Peter got back to me that it was not worn, and I used it for many years after that until it started sounding as mentioned above, spitty and sibilant.   Peter in one of his videos mentions a customer that played his strain gauge approximately 6000 hours before needing a new stylus.  
 

 

 

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