"Running in" a new cartridge - what exactly does it mean?

[Phil Lawton]

I've used the phrase recently when writing about my recent acquisition of a 2M Bronze...."sounds great and will no doubt sound even better when it's run in...".

Played a new (used, but new to me) record last night (which was mint, incidentally - 1986 pressing with no noise...take note, Amazon) and muttered to my other half "I think the cartridge has run in...sounds like it's come into its own now..."

But what exactly does that mean in relation to cartridges? Is it the initial "run in" down to the minute wear of the stylus after a few hours? Or is it down to the inner wiring of the cart somehow changing/morphing/improving with use?

Genuinely curious to know.

[Jimbo]

I think it is mainly the suspension system (rubber) wearing in and becoming flexible. The diamond stylus does not really wear enough in the first 50-100hours maybe a touch but not so you would really hear it. But after maybe 800 -1000 hours the wear on the diamond will then possibly become audible.

This is just my observation and opinion.

[Wakefield Turntables]

The honest answer is nobody really knows.

The suspension will change over time and we *think* is affected by ambient temperature.

The diamond profile will change over time and will degrade as time goes by.

The internal wiring may change but this is heavily disputed. Some think it needs time to "settle or burn in".

Oxidation to various contact pin areas has been discussed and some think oxidation may have an impact on signal carriage, again no real evidence here.

Probably a few other components I've missed. I'm sure others will contribute.

[walpurgis]

The honest answer is nobody really knows.

Dead right!

Factor in stylus profile, suspension compliance, tracking force, record cleanliness, music choices, etc. and the answer is anybody's guess .

[Jimbo]

Interesting when you try and look up stylus "run in" or even worn stylus it is very difficult to get absolute definitive information. Even a worn diamond can be very tricky to see unless it is very worn!

How to measure everything else - suspension, wiring etc. I think personally it is the suspension compliance and diamond tip wear that give up the ghost and run out of manufacturers specification but they never publish this information but they must be able to measure it some how?

I had a 2M black stylus that did not sound right from new even though I could not see anything obviously wrong with it. It was sent back to Ortofon and *8* weeks later they came back to me and said it was not within specification and they sent me a new one. But they did not tell me what part was running out of specification just that it did not meet their specification.

[Phil Lawton]

Interesting to see what I'd thought was also in the heads of everyone else, i.e. nobody knows.

I do know that it sounds better now than when first installed...the soundstage has more depth and there's that indefinable "audio umami" thing going on. But after watching the Ortofon video where a cartridge is taken to pieces, it's hard to see what could possibly become "run in" to the point where the output improves.

One of those inexplicable things, I suppose, like the moon being exactly the right size and the right distance from the Earth to allow it to create solar eclipses or the logic-defying fact that Bananarama ever got a recording contract.

[Firebottle]

.... or the logic-defying fact that Bananarama ever got a recording contract.

[Pigmy Pony]

Interesting to see what I'd thought was also in the heads of everyone else, i.e. nobody knows.

I do know that it sounds better now than when first installed...the soundstage has more depth and there's that indefinable "audio umami" thing going on. But after watching the Ortofon video where a cartridge is taken to pieces, it's hard to see what could possibly become "run in" to the point where the output improves.

One of those inexplicable things, I suppose, like the moon being exactly the right size and the right distance from the Earth to allow it to create solar eclipses or the logic-defying fact that Bananarama ever got a recording contract.

No mystery there - Bananarama were marginally less shit than the other girl groups. Sometimes that's enough.

[struth]

and they liked big bananas

[Jimbo]

and they liked big bananas

Oh err misses