Signs of a worn MC

[RobbieGong]

Having never experienced this, How does the sound change ?

How does it sound when the stylus is done ?

[GrahamS]

Having never experienced this, How does the sound change ?

How does it sound when it's done ?

Do you mean a worn stylus on a moving coil pickup cartridge?

[Jimbo]

Hi Rob,

If you had a new cartridge to compare your old one against you will hear the differences clearly. From my experience I have found that a worn stylus looses top end information and smears the detail so you get less precise and defined images and acoustic information. As the cartridge becomes more worn distortion becomes very evident and by then you maybe damaging your vinyl!

[RobbieGong]

Do you mean a worn stylus on a moving coil pickup cartridge?

Yep, of course...

[RobbieGong]

Hi Rob,

If you had a new cartridge to compare your old one against you will hear the differences clearly. From my experience I have found that a worn stylus looses top end information and smears the detail so you get less precise and defined images and acoustic information. As the cartridge becomes more worn distortion becomes very evident and by then you maybe damaging your vinyl!

Thanks Jimbo,

Been trying to set up my Cadenza B and as well as not being able nail that vta sweet spot, one thing that is very apparent to me is that it doesnt sound right compared to other times during set up.

Sounds pretty much as you've described and is probably partly why I'm struggling to get it to sound right.

Add to your description shrunken sound stage, less dynamic and overall smaller pinched sound and thats what I'm getting.

Have checked everything else by the way, and all else is fine and as it should be / has always been.

[Mike Reed]

As I'm sure you know, there's a lot more to cartridge alignment than VTA. If you're certain of correct overhang, azimuth, VTF and bias (and VTA) and your arm, there's nowt else but the cart. You could look at the stylus/cantilever with a loupe or similar, if only to check the cleanliness of both, but if you've no idea of previous mileage as a last factor, it may be time for a change or re-tip.

[RobbieGong]

As I'm sure you know, there's a lot more to cartridge alignment than VTA. If you're certain of correct overhang, azimuth, VTF and bias (and VTA) and your arm, there's nowt else but the cart. You could look at the stylus/cantilever with a loupe or similar, if only to check the cleanliness of both, but if you've no idea of previous mileage as a last factor, it may be time for a change or re-tip.

Thanks Mike,

All set-up parameters are bang on - I'm anal and take set-up / alignment etc very very serious as in my experince it's imporatnce cannot be overstated, if your serious about hifi, proper evaluation and hearing your system / music at it's best.

I've gone over and over again but this time the sound doesnt go beyond as I've described, no nailing the sweetspot / point of rightness.

Your last comment is very valid too as I've no 'gospel' idea of previous mileage and got it at a very very good price.

Not drawn to the idea of re-tips so will be a replacement cart somehow and new this time

[graham67]

A good way is to run it over the tracking tests on the HFN test record. A worn cart will not track as well as when it was in fine fettle. This happened on my OC-9. it used to sail thru the first, second, third tests, it could even make a devent fist of the 4th torture track. However when it became worn, it struggled on the second, third tracks.

[Jimbo]

Another issue that may occur with a stylus Rob is the possibility it has got a lump of crud stuck to it or it may have chipped slightly. Only really possible to check under microscope. Also you may have a cantilever suspension issue, possible internal damage. However if you have got distortion it sounds like it is either worn or has dirt on the stylus tip?

How many hours do you have on the Cadenza!

[YNWaN]

In my experience the sound gradually loses top end sparkle and increasingly sounds dull and lacking in life.