How long does it take to run-in a cartridge?

[Clive197]

I've had an interesting couple of days. Let me explain.

Two weeks ago I became the owner of a Ortofon 2M Black. So last Monday I decided to swap it over from my Cadenza Bronze. I carefully removed the MC from the arm and this was what was found...the cantilever was angled to the right. (See photo).

To cut a long story short I contacted Henley Designs the importers for Ortofon and took it along to their service dept. it was examined very closely and the service manager shook his head and explained that he had never seen one like this but as it shows no sign of misuse he would swap it out as a manufacturing fault.

Now I've got to run it in, not to mention the 2M Black as well.

[hifi_dave]

Imagine an equilateral triangle with the apex at the top - like a mountain. As you run in the cartridge, you climb the slope to the top, then you start the slippery slope down as it wears out..:doh:

[Clive]

I recall a conversation with someone who knows a lot about cartridges. He said that quite often running in is mainly due to wearing off excess glue from when the diamond was glued on. Suspensions do loosen up but the glue is a big part of running in sometimes, takes a few hours, maybe 10.

[walpurgis]

I recall a conversation with someone who knows a lot about cartridges. He said that quite often running in is mainly due to wearing off excess glue from when the diamond was glued on. Suspensions do loosen up but the glue is a big part of running in sometimes, takes a few hours, maybe 10.

Never seen a stylus covered in glue and I've seen a heck of a lot of styli under the microscope.

[RobbieGong]

Never seen a stylus covered in glue and I've seen a heck of a lot of styli under the microscope.

:lol: Sorry but that's tickled me that has ha ha !! On a serious note I've read all sorts ranging from 20 - 50hrs which doesnt sound odd considering a lot of stylus's if looked after are good for 1000 hrs.

[Reffc]

Running in is more to do with suspension compliance freeing up on some cartridges. It needs a little break in time just like the surrounds and suspension on loudspeaker drivers. There's no hard and fast answer but anywhere between 10 and 50 hours depending on the cartridge. Glue has nothing to do with it ;)

[Thing Fish]

Something definitely happens as mine changed for the better...:)

[walpurgis]

On a serious note I've read all sorts ranging from 20 - 50hrs which doesnt sound odd considering a lot of stylus's if looked after are good for 1000 hrs.

That is probably in the ball park. ZYX quote 40 hours run in I believe and my last ZYX was definitely improving for the first 25 to 30 hours of use.

[Clive]

Never seen a stylus covered in glue and I've seen a heck of a lot of styli under the microscope.
I've not looked at new stylii, old ones yes. The comment came from someone in the business of working on cartridges on a daily basis.

[kor952]

My experience of the last few years with several new carts is that they need at least 40-50 hours to break in. Not only the suspension needs a breakin period but also the (copper) coils need a break in time just like SUTs need at least 40 - 50 hours to breakin.

Ronald.

[Clive197]

:lol: Sorry but that's tickled me that has ha ha !! On a serious note I've read all sorts ranging from 20 - 50hrs which doesnt sound odd considering a lot of stylus's if looked after are good for 1000 hrs.

That then poses an interesting question, if it takes 50 hrs to run the cartridge in, how long then before the Diamond/Cartridge is worn out?

I have read over the years that the stylus can last over 2000 hrs if looked after and by that I mean kept clean. Have any of you actually worn a stylus/cartridge out? There seem to be many cartridges out there that have lasted over forty years, which I can only assume means that they don't get used much.

I get the impression that you guys think it takes up to 50hrs to get a cartridge working at its best. Now I don't think that it's a big leap to ask how long will it last?

[RobbieGong]

Have read and been told 1000 hrs approx, however if the case is as high as 2000 hrs (cared for, looked after) then I'm well pleased :)

[prestonchipfryer]

My recent new 2M Black sounded good on first record and very good after approx. 8-10 hours.

[Reffc]

Checked under a loupe, I have had 1200 hours from a stylus before a slight hook has started to appear (probably due to bias being out). Its simply not worth carrying on until the stylus doesn't track properly or where you hear distortion due to stylus mis-tracking...by then you will have ruined a good many records. A good rule of thumb is to check set-up every 6 months or so, even if you think nothing has changed, keep your LPs clean as this can make a big difference to stylus life and budget on changing a stylus or having an MC re-tipped about every 1200 hours. For the average enthusiast that equates to about 5 years regular use. If the stylus costs £100, that's only £20 per year or 5 pints at going rates. More for a decent re-tip.

[Reffc]

My experience of the last few years with several new carts is that they need at least 40-50 hours to break in. Not only the suspension needs a breakin period but also the (copper) coils need a break in time just like SUTs need at least 40 - 50 hours to breakin.

Ronald.


:scratch:

[Ammonite Audio]

Benz state that their cartridges require around 50 hours of running-in, which would seem to correlate with my own experience. I assume that this is due to mechanical stuff, rather than electrical.

[kor952]

:scratch:

Ever heard the difference between a brand new transformer and a transformer with some 50 hours play time? Why should only SUTs or OPTs need a break in time? The coils and magnets in a cartridge do work with the same principle.

[walpurgis]

Many years ago, back in the sixties. New record players often came with sapphire styli and diamonds were for posh people. Needless to say the sapphire tips wore out in no time and sounded horrible, but people carried on using them until they just would not play at all. So it was more a case of running out than running in!