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When to change a cartridge?

I currently own an EMT HD006 cartridge that cost about $1900. That's as much as I've ever paid for a cartridge. Previously I was in thousand-dollar territory. I can't imagine spending $5K for something that's assured to wear out. I play my turntable (VPI Prime Signature 21) every day for at least a few hourse. I guage that I put about a thousand hours a year on my cartridge, which is now at about 1500 hours.

I have read forums in which people talk about putting their cartridge under a microscope every few months. I don't own a microscope and I wouldn't know what to look for if I did. After reading forums in which people talk about cartridges wearing out before the manufacturer's recommended hours, I began to hear my cartridge slowly declining. I thought perhaps the attacks weren't as crisp.

I called my online dealer to discuss replacing mine, telling him that I thought I heard deterioration in the cartridge's sound. He said it doesn't work that way. I will know when my cartridge is ready to be changed. It will not be subtle. Often the suspension collapses. 

My reaction was that a dealer wouldn't talk me out of spending about $2K unless that expense was foolish. So, I am still playing my EMT HD006 and not worrying about subtle changes as it wears down. The dealer said it might be fine for up to 3,000 hours.

I'm curious to know what other people do about their cartridges. Wait for the suspension to collapse and the thing sounds terrible, or monitor it more closely and perhaps even change the cartridge before the manufacturer's recommendation?

128x128audio-b-dog
audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog OP
61 posts
 

BTW, with this new amp change I am beginning to understand the difference between overly "analytical" systems in which the instruments are well separated, but they lack air. With my Hovland Radia, there is a definite separation between instruments both in width and depth, but the instruments sound as it they are enveloped in air, not just coming out of a black background.

My new speakers were demoed to me against Vienna Acoustics in the same price range. The Vienna Acoustics were extremely accurate, but they were not "musical" like the Sonus Fabers. Again, that had to do with the air. Some people like a system where instruments come out of a black background. They see that as accuracy. I go to the symphony and hear music live a lot. The instruments do not come from a black background. They are in a kind of musical soup, but when I listen carefully, I can distinguish were the sound of each instrument is coming from. It's not always easy, though.

inna
7,668 posts
 

Bill, what cartridge do you currently have ?

I usually need three/five recordings, one minute of listening for each to evaluate my system. And do it closer to midnight on weekdays when the wall current is okay.

limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,485 posts
 

Good advice get a new stylist replacement if you love the cartridge.Funny thing years ago I  never thought about replacement, was it because the records were cheap back in the 70s...lol.I did clean mine with a brush and cleaned the needle my ex thought I was a nut job...

robert53
496 posts
 

What is the best tool to use to inspect your stylus?

unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
1,034 posts
 

As others have likely already pointed out, change the needle!

No need to get a new cartridge.

Needle life varies wildly: from 500 to 3,000 hours. Imho, keeping track of hours only tells you when you are getting to the point where needle inspection is wise. But without a microscope, that means sending it away to someone who has a vested interest in saying OMG this needle is worn. Contrary to what someone else here has said, I keep track of hours, compare it to the backup (I have three quality cartridges) from time to time) and rely on my ears. I find that the detail is the first thing to go, then the soundstage, but that’s me, others may find differently. Once there, it’s time for a replacement.

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