krj
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response 189 of 194:
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Feb 5 20:20 UTC 2002 |
Jim is correct that you should brush the needle only from back to front,
thus simulating the motion the needle would see while riding in a groove.
Exerting much force in any other direction will destroy the needle, yup.
I always used a Discwasher SC-2 stylus brush.
Other than that, I mostly cringed while reading sindi's accounts of
trying to economize on turntable and stylus parts. But I suspect
I value my LPs a lot more than Sindi does. I figure the cartridge
and stylus were designed to work as a system, and since a likely
outcome of messing with that system is wearing away more vinyl
than necessary, I wouldn't want to risk it.
I'd never heard anyone talking about cartridge wear before, except as
a function of age as various rubber parts oxidize a bit. My current
cartridge is probably over ten years old. 1000 hours was the standard
figure I heard for the useful life of a diamond stylus; I have no
idea how many years that would be for me now, but in the old days
I got a new stylus every 12-18 months. (I should get a new stylus,
but the price has doubled since last I got one, and I'm feeling
cheap.)
Phono stylii and their diamond tips should not "break off" under normal use.
If this is happening repeatedly, there needs to be more gentleness
in handling the tonearm, or else something is very badly set up
in tracking force, or stylus-cartridge match, or something.
I think this has happened to me maybe once in 30+ years.
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keesan
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response 190 of 194:
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Feb 6 15:56 UTC 2002 |
I buy my LPs by the pound - it comes out to about 10 cents each. One stylus
is $30 plus $7 shipping, or 370 records. I readjusted tracking force down
to 1 gram and it still works (we had it at 2 grams). IT was probably my bad
cleaning technique. I got a better record cleaner and the needle no longer
picks up dust.
If cartridge only wear out with age, why would someone recommend
replacing them every 2 years? Do they wear out faster with use? I was
reading that they contained a magnet - perhaps it oxidizes faster when warm?
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keesan
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response 192 of 194:
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Feb 8 01:52 UTC 2002 |
I doubt that the Music conference wants to know about classical LPs, so better
to just do a copy, I think.
Useful info:
Needle doctor 1-800-229-0644 is the one that has the right stylus for every
turntable I have challenged them with.
Needle.express.com 1-800-982-2620 did not return my phone call. They had a
lower price on one stylus.
elexatelier.com returned my email with useful info and pricing
Radio Shack is on average the cheapest but has the smallest selection.
Kiwanis has some new or used cartridges and needles. Anyone know the name
of the record store downtown that has some needles for sale?
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krj
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response 193 of 194:
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Feb 8 19:27 UTC 2002 |
OK, I did some cut & pasting, and item:64 is now for the discussion
of LP playing hardware, linked to the music conference.
Performance evaluations of classical music LPs still belong
here.
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