MM, MC, or MI cartridge

Hey @lewm - van den Hul cartridges use a unique designed.shaped stylus, and of course like all MC carts, they need to be professionally serviced, unlike the pop on MM type stylus combo pieces.

The way VDH styli fit in the record's groove (as per VDH's web site) gives them their long life as I mentioned and @ghdprentice experienced. I don't see why anyone who uses a turntable a lot would buy anything else if they are considering a MC cartridge, unless cost is not a major concern. I know some like to use multiple carts, arms, etc. I mainly am interested in the music and not swapping gear out very often. I prefer to spend $$ on records and have about equal invested in hardware vs. software.

I owned a Colibri and liked it, but I like other of my cartridges better. Since vdH make a myriad of versions of each of their major lines, it’s quite possible I’d love some other vdH, maybe even a different version of Colibri, better. But I don’t generally choose a cartridge based on lifespan of the stylus. Nor do I know of any data to support the notion that vdH styli outlast all others, though of course stylus shape seems to affect useful life span, or so I have read, and it makes some sense.

So you’re suggesting that vdH exclusively uses a stylus shape that renders its useful life significantly longer than any styli used by other makers(?)

I’ll just say I think Grado and Soundsmith have something good going with MI. But yes, implementation is everything.

Hey Lew - I haven't researched it, I just have never seen another cartridge company talking about stylus lives of 2500-3000 hours. I typically hear 1500. Maybe 1000. If you listen a lot, a VDH will last 3-4 years. If you use another brand and get 75% of the life (probably optimistic) and it costs $500 (or more) to service the cartridge and replace the stylus, that would equate to a savings of over $125 a year (5 decent records). Plus the aggravation factor, especially if you are like me and don't have quality spares laying around to use while the work is taking place.

I don't think the upper VDH cartridge stylus replacements are much if any different than the low-mid models, so if you get higher level one, your ongoing costs shouldn't be much if anything more. A dealer I trust more than any other recommended/sold a barely used VDH to me over 10 years ago and I haven't felt the need to switch. I don't enjoy constantly testing new equipment (especially cartridges) back and forth, and unless you have a multi armed table, it is not a quick and easy thing to do. It is very difficult to remember what something sounds like in an A/B test. I'm not a tinkerer and am mainly interested in having the music I like playing as close to sounding live as possible.

Dear @sokogear  : "  van den Hul cartridges use a unique designed.shaped stylus "

Your statement is a misunderstood and is wrong.

VDH S, Ortofon Replicant 100 and Paratrace all are the same stylus shape and comes from Gyger ( do you know that the humble Goldring 1042 comes with the S shaped stylus tip?, well it comes with ! !   ). Please read this post coming from a professional re-tipper that really know what he is talking about.

All these information including the Goldring characteristic are in the long MM thread:

R.