Can Wrong VTA Damage the Stylus?


I have been using a Rega P3 and Goldring 1042 combo with the Rega spacer under the arm to add lift to the VTA. The sound sounded extremely bright, so I thought cartridge needed break-in time. I then was reading this forum and thought maybe the brightness is caused by VTA. I have been using this too high VTA setting for about 60 hours now. Could I have caused pernament damage to the stylus?

Thanks for your time,
DR
dr_

Showing 1 response by mijostyn

Actually, there are two stylus profiles that it might be dangerous to raise the tonearm too high. The Ortofon Replicant 100 and the Fritz Gyger S styluses are very sharp. It is possible that they could dig into the vinyl damaging the record and possibly pulling the stylus off if the stylus rake angle is too high, past 95 degrees (tip of stylus pointed into the oncoming record.)  Other styluses it is not an issue. 
As the stylus drifts either way off the angle of the cutter it can not longer fit into the highest frequency (small) modulations so the high frequencies roll off. If you older than 65 you can go quite a ways before hearing anything:)