Cartridge break in device

Steve,

Good point, I guess time isn't that important, as long as the journey is enjoyable.
Ken

The Cardas Sweep Record is an alternative for about $30. Frequency sweeps are valuable after you are broken in too. I like it and wouldn't be without it. $700 buys a lot of records.

Breakin can be disconcerting as the cartridge goes through personality changes in the first 10 to 50 hours (or maybe more). But, for $700 you can buy enough vinyl to distract yourself playing new records while you ride it out.

Gonners,

I keep reading threads that tell me that the first 50 or 100 hours, or more, deliver an ever increasing degree of satisfaction as the cartridge breaks in. Some say to go back and listen to what you first played to hear the bloom of the music. I think I'd take the suggestion to heart and reduce the break in period by 300 hours or so , as I will be starting out with 3 new cartridges at the same time. One hour a day would take me a year to realize the bloom of the 3 cartridges.

Hmmmm, might there be a need for a cartridge break in service? What say you, Gregadd?

Ken

Ken,

Hearing a cartridge go through its changes can be educational. OTOH, if all one wanted to do was enjoy music, that sort of audiophilia would indeed be distracting.

Some hours spinning on the Cardas record, with VTF set near the manufacturer's recommended maximum, works pretty well for speeding the process along. I don't know how the device mentioned by Fremer works so I can't offer any comparisons.

For cartridge break in on the Cardas LP you don't need to power up the system and listen to white noise. You don't need to use your primary rig. If you have a second TT, mount the new cartridge on that and let it exercise the suspension into shape while you enjoy music on your main system.

BTW, some cartridge models take much longer than others to settle in. A ZYX Airy 3, Transfiguration Orpheus or Shelter 901 typically need 150-200 hours, they go through large changes and the 901 can be unpleasant when new. OTOH, don't break a ZYX UNIverse in at all. You'd be wasting valuable listening time, since most UNIverses change very little after the 10th or 20th hour and some don't change at all. IOW, don't assume a common break in period for all new cartridges. Ask around model by model.

Good luck,
Doug