What exactly is "breaking in" on a new cartridge ?

First, Thank you to Theo and all others who have helped
shed some light on this topic.

Still though, I'm having a hard time digesting parts
of this.

I hope not to come across as arguementative or confrontational, but I have more questions. I must know !

The diamond stylus, I have been told, does not appreciably
wear.

"...moving parts developing a working motion together..."
I can only understand moving parts "breaking in" that
either contact each other, or deform (plasticly).
This would leave out all the coils, magnets, and wires.

The rubber cantilever suspension, OK, I can see that possibly.
I did not know the coils/magnets were mounted on rubber
(that doesn't seem like a good idea, but I don't know).
But I haven't heard of rubber/plastic parts in other applications needing a compliance settling-in period.
In general, rubber only hardens. But, I could well be
ignorant here.
Metallic coil springs, for example, start out with 100%
of their spring constant and it's only downhill from there
with use.

"...plus your ears and brain."
Hmm. Is this like becoming re-acclimated to a periodic
activity, or sliding into a mood, or...? Interesting.
Sounds more like "warm-up". No questions from me here.

If "...break-in is ongoing..."
If break-in is ongoing, is this not simply "wear" ?

Anyway, thanks again gents.

Neslepums; my comment on "break-in" being an ongoing phenomenon was somewhat cynical. :-) You're correct; "break-in" as used with phono cartridges is really just wear. But as I suggested, if the suspension does have a wear rate that is rapid at first and then settles in to a gradual wear rate then you might conclude that a cartridge needs to "break-in" before it settles in to it's typical state of operation and sound.

But I've always just installed the new cartridge, set a LP on the platter, and played music without paying attention to cartridge "break-in". It either sounds good or it doesn't.

Regards,
Tom

Nosleplums, as you indicate and as does Tketcham, yes you are right. The break in period is the initial wear in period. But once the related parts wear in the rate of wear is dramatically reduced. No different than the rings against a cylinder other than there is no lubricant. As far as the stylus it doesn't really break in to fit the groove. It is harder than the vinyl and played repeatedly will wear the vinyl before any visible wear occurs to the stylus. Eventually, yes the stylus does wear and then you get to buy a new cartridge and start the process all over again. But hopefully that is many many hours of enjoyment later. Just think of it as new jeans or new shoes that need to flex before they are comfortable. The moving parts a just "limbering up" to work more freeley and as mentioned earlier, to more accurately follow each and every nuance of the record groove, extracting as much information as it can.