Question on Cardas Frequency Sweep & burn in LP

Neil,

Good to see you posting again. Nice summary of the issues surrounding cartridge break-in and demagnetizing.

We also hear sonic benefits from regular runs over frequency sweep tracks, as do many. Crystalline alignment (as with cryoing) is very audible, though I defer to you and Paul with regard to your fascinating explanation that it can be effected by a frequency sweep. I sort of get it but you and he could actually discuss it. He did his PhD in dynamic re-crystallization of certain metals (or something, I can't even read the thesis title).

Hmmmm, it seems to this idiot that demagnetizing an object by moving it slowly through a revolving magnetic field of slowly diminishing strength is doing something related, though opposite: randomizing the polar orientation of certain molecules. Right? (Be kind please, be kind.)

As for that smiley face with the long nose, were you evoking Pinocchio? We all know why his nose grew...

I;m sorry Doug if I didn;t quote word for word what you maybe said to me almost 3 years ago, but I think I came pretty close.

Your advice, and some common sense dictated to me, that I hadn't used such on an audio-vinyl system for the past 35 years, so why then start now? There's that old adage, that if it isn't broke, don't fix it!

And my apology to Neil, he too has been here, and also helped me personally, and others with similarly good common sense, and technical knowledge-advice pertaining to many things vinyl. Mark

hey guys, thank you so much for the comments here. Appreciate it & i understand where you guys are coming from.
I'll take your advice, and will shelf the Cardas test LP.
I'll enjoy playing regular music!!

thank you!!! have a great day everyone.

I like the Cardas record. As far as break in, I won't even consider listening to a cartridge without running each of the sweep tracks for about 20 minutes each, an hour in total.

With 3 different cartridges, there have been 2 different results. With a Denon 103R and AT 120E, the Cardas worked very well to speed up the break in process. With a retipped 103R it did not seem to work as well, but still resulted in a fairly speedy post Cardas break in.

When I read of a cartridge breaking/burning in after 5-7 hours after some time spent with the Cardas the question begs to be asked: how long would that cartridge taken to open up without that time spent on the sweeps. I don't know of many cartridges that open up at the 5 to 7 hour mark.

My experience with the Denon is at least 15 hours for partial break-in without the Cardas. The AT 120E has a reputation for 75 to 100 hours. Out of the box it was unlistenable. With an hour on the Cardas they were both different, and much better cartridges.

I like the Cardas record and use it regularly as a maintenance tool with the sweeps and wouldn't be without it with respect to burn in.

Has anyone done comparisons of the Cardas Frequency Sweep and Burn In LPs (versions 1 or 2) vs the ClearAudio Cartridge Break-In Record? If so what were your thoughts or results.