Life span of a cartridge

[bebelacus]

Hi

I am new to the turntable party, last summer bought an RP6 with Exact cartridge and very happy with it. But I've read so many things and would like to ask a few questions:

1. What is the average life span of a cartridge?
2. How do i know when the replacement time comes? Does it sound diferent?
3. Is there any difference between the MM and MC carts in terms of wearing out?

Many thanks and i would appreciate the help and also other advices because i am ignorant. I dont know what i dont know.

 

[Al ears]

It is extremely difficult to give an average life span. Much is going to depend on the set-up you have, type of stylus, and quality of the vinyl you play. Things like running too much, or indeed too little, tracking force on a cartridge can determine wear rate. Different manufacturers will also have differing wear rates.

I think it is pretty safe to say most people are looking to upgrade long before their cartridges actually wear-out.

You will indeed hear a sound difference when it wears out but what is handy to have is a small hand-lens (like geologist's use to close study hand-specimens of rocks) or a good magnifying glass. This way you can see the state of your stylus.

The will not be much of a difference, if any, between MM or MC. You would notice more of a difference between stylus tip types (eg spherical diamond versus nude contact line etc.)

 

[iMark]

I don't think cartridges suffer a lot of wear and tear. I have never heard of anyone replacing a cartridge because it was worn out. People replace cartridges because they suffer from upgraditis.

A stylus does wear out but can be replaced. Basically you can hear when a stylus is worn when cleaning no longer improves the sound. As a rule of thumb I would say that the better (or more expensive) the stylus is shaped, the longer it will last. So an elliptic needle will last longer than a conical one and a Shibata will last longer than an elliptical one. Because the stylus is the most expensive part of the cartridge, many people will think of upgrading the whole cartridge rather than simply replace the stylus. Replacing a cartridge is not for everyone and I would leave it to a specialist. Replacing a stylus is not difficult at all.

 

[MajorFubar]

Moving-magnet carts, as the name implies, have tiny magnets attached to the end of the armature (the metal tube with the stylus tip glued to it), and undulations in the groove tracked by the stylus tip cause the magnets to move between coils inside the cartridge. Therefore MM carts are largely non-contact and so other than the usually-replaceable stylus assembly (consisting of the stylus tip, the armature, suspension, the magnets, and some kind of housing, commonly plastic), there's nothing to wear out.

Moving-coil carts are the opposite. The armature is attached to tiny coils which move between fixed magnets in the cartridge body, and typically the stylus assembly on MC carts is not replaceable because the MC design makes it impractical. Manufacturers or dealers often offer a trade-in service where they will p/x a worn MC cart for a new one for eg 10-15% discount depending on what you're buying.

 

[bebelacus]

Thank you all for writing, it's amazing how many things i learn. I knew that stylus is important but never knew there are so many types/shapes. I really have no clue what the shape of my stylus is (Rega Exact).
Is it possible to replace the stylus by myself on the Exact cartridge or is it impossible due to various reasons (amazing technical skills, speacial tools or just because Rega might make their cartridges impossible to tweak and a full cart replacement, including stylus is the only solution)?

 

[Al ears]

Thank you all for writing, it's amazing how many things i learn. I knew that stylus is important but never knew there are so many types/shapes. I really have no clue what the shape of my stylus is (Rega Exact). Is it possible to replace the stylus by myself on the Exact cartridge or is it impossible due to various reasons (amazing technical skills, speacial tools or just because Rega might make their cartridges impossible to tweak and a full cart replacement, including stylus is the only solution)?

Unfortunately you have fallen foul of a cunning Rega ploy. Firstly your cartridge has a 'fine-line' type stylus and secondly (and here is the catch) it is a Moving Magnet design without a user replaceable stylus. Similar to the Moving Coil posted above by MajorFubar you cannot change the stylus yourself, you'd have to trade it in.

Most moving magnet designs have an easy 'pull out and push in' style when it comes time to replace the stylus.

 

[daytona600]

if you use a RCM stylus will last for years

 

[bebelacus]

Aha...clever guys at Rega...

Now, when the time comes for cartridge changing is there a better sounding cartridge than my Exact? A cartridge that sounds better, similarly priced (MOLO), with replaceable stylus? If there is such alternative is there anything else i need to do? I've read about spacers, compatibility, wiring etc.?

 

[bebelacus]

And what is an RCM stylus? Based on the stylus' wearing time how long the stylus i have now on the Exact is supposed to last? Playing only new vinyl (as i only started to build my collection) or the vinyl i own from new. Is there an approximate number? Like 2,000-3,000 hours etc.?
Of course, AGW, and not doing any damage to stylus myself by mishandling or else.
Thanks a lot

 

[iMark]

"If you use a RCM stylus will last for years." I had to read the sentence a couple of times before I came to conclusion that there is a comma missing.

"If you use a RCM, (the) stylus will last for years."

RCM = Record Cleaning Machine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eats,_Shoots_%26_Leaves

 

[bebelacus]

Thanks for explaining what RCM means. I am so new and knowing so little about vinyl and turntables. Ha! RCM stylus
Now, another silly question, possibly...I've read that Rega doesn't recommend RCMs nor cleaning the stylus. It was actually an interview with the owner and he seemed to talk sense. At least, it made sense. But you on the forum also make a lot of sense. Why would such a respectable maker as Rega would be so against this stuff? They are also against other things such as puck weights to be placed on top of the disc etc.
At the moment i only use a Clearaudio carbon brush for removing the dust from the vinyl and another small Clearaudio brush for the stylus.
Or it might be a catch....the cleaner the discs and the stylus the longer they will last. If they last longer it means that Rega won't sell new cartridges as often. Bad for business, right?
I wish WHF would do some research, write some article about cleaning machines, cleaning fluids for stylus etc.

 

[iMark]

I don't understand why Rega doesn't think much of RCMs. Apparently they think you can clean a record by playing it. They don't seem to live in the real world.

A carbon brush is fine but doesn't do any deep cleaning of the groove. It's great for new and cleaned records though to keep them in good condition. Also highly recommended for new and cleaned records are proper antistatic inner sleeves. It's pretty outrageous that some new records don't come with an antistatic inner sleeve.

 

[daytona600]

cleaned my LPs for 30years , then new inner sleeve