Do new turntable cartridges take a few plays to wear in.....?

[78finn]

Just got a replacement stylus for my cartridge and it sounds know where near as good as my old one..

Its exactly the same stylus, same set up.....checked everything and all is well...

Just doesn't sound as nice...bass is a bit sloppy..

I was wondering if new stylus take a while to wear in.....is this the case???

 

[floyd droid]

yes !

 

[78finn]

Roughly how long are we talking?

 

[chebby]

78finn:Roughly how long are we talking?

20 - 50 albums in my experience.

 

[floyd droid]

Just re -read your post. A new cartridge can take at least 50 hrs,dependent on the cart itself i believe.

 

[78finn]

50 hours....mate...thats a long time! Well its starting to sound better already, so at least thats something. The highs sounded a bit harsh to start and the bass a little all over the place, but everything is starting to calm down a bit now and the detail is getting back to normal. Well at least that gives me an excuse to buy some vinyl if I have to cut through 50 hours worth to reach optimum needle conditions...or something more technical sounding....

 

[floyd droid]

The 50 hrs is a time scale for cartridges in the £200-£300 bracket so i would imagine a less complex cart would take less time. If you take chebbys 50 albums at an average of 40 mins then you are knocking the door on 34 hrs

 

[Andrew Everard]

Usually attributed not so much to the stylus itself changing over time, as the suspension loosening up and bedding in a bit, until which time the movement of the cantilever can be a bit 'sticky' and thus the magnets or coils - depending on your proclivities - not moving as much as they should.

No solid evidence, however, whether playing the famous Telarc 1812, or the Sheffield Lab Kodo disc, a few times will run things in any quicker than endless spins of Diana Ker-wow's softcore jazz noodlings.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think it just applies to new carts either, I have started using an old ADC after it has been stored for a few months and it has taken a little while to loosen up and sound as good as it might.