Thanks Lohanimal. I always use the arm lift and use the Cardas frequency sweep record regularly. Also, i use the magic eraser technique as part as my styli cleaning regiment.
LOMC; Life expectancy
Hi All.
What would you consider the "typical" useful life of a LOMC to be.
Would different brand/design and models within a brand, age at the same rate under similar circumstances. I understand that a poorly adjusted cartridge in a given tonearm will age prematurely.
IE: would an Ortofon A90 age quicker than an Anna. Lyra Atlas vs Titan.
I refer to life expectancy in terms of hours of play. In other words when a cartridge reaches 1500hrs of play it is time for a rebuild/re-tip.
1500hrs is an arbitrary number. It could be more or less. I am sure that i have read in one of Michael Fremer's columns that at 1500hrs it is pretty much the end of any LOMC cartridges. I believe the he was referring to his Titan i or his A90 or both.
I have an A90 mounted in a Phantom II since May 2010 which i would estimate its play life at 1500hrs. I also have a Dynavector XV1's that was re-tipped by Soundsmith around the same time i got the A90 but never played it although i have it mounted in another wand. Yesterday i decided to swap cartridges/wands and perform all the required initial adjustments using a Mint LP for overhang and zenith, digital microscope for VTA/SRA, Spectrum analyzer for azimuth, DFG for VTF, Wally skater for AS.
When i dropped the styli onto Duke Ellington Jazz Party in Stereo (45rpm) i was floored. The most detailed sounding cartridge i have heard. Did i hear the same when i first used the A90 in 2010? My guess is yes but last night when i played this record, the XV1's stomped the A90 is every possible ways. There was no contest.
However, i will re-install the A90 and perform all the adjustments again just to confirm my findings but it appears that the A90 may need a rebuild or re-tip. The saddest part i am now retired and will likely be unable to afford a complete rebuild so I will just enjoy my new found fame until it goes bust as the wheels of audio life keeps on turning.
What would you consider the "typical" useful life of a LOMC to be.
Would different brand/design and models within a brand, age at the same rate under similar circumstances. I understand that a poorly adjusted cartridge in a given tonearm will age prematurely.
IE: would an Ortofon A90 age quicker than an Anna. Lyra Atlas vs Titan.
I refer to life expectancy in terms of hours of play. In other words when a cartridge reaches 1500hrs of play it is time for a rebuild/re-tip.
1500hrs is an arbitrary number. It could be more or less. I am sure that i have read in one of Michael Fremer's columns that at 1500hrs it is pretty much the end of any LOMC cartridges. I believe the he was referring to his Titan i or his A90 or both.
I have an A90 mounted in a Phantom II since May 2010 which i would estimate its play life at 1500hrs. I also have a Dynavector XV1's that was re-tipped by Soundsmith around the same time i got the A90 but never played it although i have it mounted in another wand. Yesterday i decided to swap cartridges/wands and perform all the required initial adjustments using a Mint LP for overhang and zenith, digital microscope for VTA/SRA, Spectrum analyzer for azimuth, DFG for VTF, Wally skater for AS.
When i dropped the styli onto Duke Ellington Jazz Party in Stereo (45rpm) i was floored. The most detailed sounding cartridge i have heard. Did i hear the same when i first used the A90 in 2010? My guess is yes but last night when i played this record, the XV1's stomped the A90 is every possible ways. There was no contest.
However, i will re-install the A90 and perform all the adjustments again just to confirm my findings but it appears that the A90 may need a rebuild or re-tip. The saddest part i am now retired and will likely be unable to afford a complete rebuild so I will just enjoy my new found fame until it goes bust as the wheels of audio life keeps on turning.