Worn Stylus

[Haselsh1]

So everyone out there in Hi-Fi land, please tell me, how can you tell when your stylus is worn or completely knackered...?

[twotone]

I presume it skates across the record like one full of fluff does and it probably sounds terrible.

[walpurgis]

There's only one proper way to check your stylus and that's to inspect visually with a microscope. It does not have to be an expensive one and there are even fairly cheap USB input types for computers that work well enough. I use one. Just look for any slightest sign of 'flats' developing on the sides of the diamond tip.

Something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-25X-200X-Magnifier-2-0-MP-Digital-Microscope-Endoscope-/390482859584?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_E quipment_ET&hash=item5aea979640

Some people just replace their stylus/cartridge after so many hundred hours. Recommendations for this vary from one manufacturer to another.

[Macca]

You can hear it - clear as day. I think it a bad idea to carry on using it after you can hear it go as it might start damaging your records. But I have known people kid themselves. It's a bit like the tyres wearing out on a car. A ballache expense you don't need, but one that is inevitable with use.

[walpurgis]

I think it a bad idea to carry on using it after you can hear it go as it might start damaging your records.

If the diamond tip wear has reached the point where you can hear its effect, you've already started damaging your records!

[Macca]

Quite possibly. Depends on how seriously you are listening. Having a microscope - and a very bright light - and periodically checking even though it sounds fine seems a bit far to go, though.

[DSJR]

Sibilance and general treble clarity starts to go off. That, and the more frequent need to clean the diamond. Some MR types 'go' all of a sudden, yet other well polished diamonds just run and run for many hundreds of hours..

[walpurgis]

periodically checking even though it sounds fine seems a bit far to go, though.

Depends how much you value your records!

I check mine every third record. :D

[Macca]

I replaced all my really valuable records with CD a while back so I'm not that stressed about it.

[Audioman]

I would guess any expensive MC cartridge should last at least 800 - 1000 hours especially if your records are cleaned with an RCM. Don't forget correct downforce and alignment have significant effect on wear. Condition of records is an important factor I would guess. Also some audible deterioration is likely in any revealing system before any real damage is done. It's also likely other parts of the cartridge will deteriorate before a high quality diamond becomes too worn. Cheap MM cartridges may have a much shorter life but in that case stylus replacement is easy and far less costly.

Paul.

[Reffc]

How long a stylus lasts depends on a number of things including:


How accurately the cartridge has been aligned
Bias and VTF used ...too light on VTF is worse than getting towards the heavier end of the range
How clean you keep your records


A poorly aligned cartridge running too light on dirty records will wear out almost twice as quickly as a properly set up one running in clean grooves. It will damage the records too.

If the cartridge has been properly aligned, then 1000 to 1200 hours is about average if the above conditions are met. It isn't worth running past 1200 hours or so (about 5 years playing for most people) because fidelity will drop off, audible distortion will increase and damage to records is likely. I change mine every 800 to 1000 hours as I value my LP collection.

[Haselsh1]

I've suddenly got a massive increase in surface noise so have stopped playing any vinyl at all until I can get a new stylus. Nothing in my system has noticeably changed so I can only think that the stylus has very suddenly gone off.

[Macca]

It isn't worth running past 1200 hours or so (about 5 years playing for most people) because fidelity will drop off, audible distortion will increase and damage to records is likely. I change mine every 800 to 1000 hours as I value my LP collection.

1200 hours about 18 months for me. With a replacement stylus at £220 a pop. Digital may have its critics but it is a hell of a lot cheaper.

[Haselsh1]

Digital may have its critics but it is a hell of a lot cheaper.

I certainly agree with that one. My new stylus is 240 quid and that is a helluva lot of CD's.

[synsei]

1200 hours about 18 months for me. With a replacement stylus at £220 a pop. Digital may have its critics but it is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Amen to that. At my current vinyl playing rate I expect the stylus on my DL160 to still be perfectly serviceable in 2025... :lol:

[walpurgis]

1200 hours about 18 months for me. With a replacement stylus at £220 a pop. Digital may have its critics but it is a hell of a lot cheaper.

£220 for a stylus/cartridge that you like? Sounds a bargain to me.