ADCOM HC/E II cartridge mothballed 25 years ago.

Lastly, concerning static charge.

I have seen many carbon fiber brushes to sweep away static. Bushes, too for cleaning the grooves.

These items that touch the vinyl surface give me the willies. Can these really protect the record surface without harming the grooves?

elliottbnewcombjr:

How many applications of Renue to the stylus rubber suspension are required and how long before between applications? I waiting on Amazon for this conditioner and Schiit Audio for phono preamp.

Btw. Back in the day, I use D3, then D4 for vinyl surface cleansing. I order the AT product for same. Is there a question of product contamination applied to my old Discwasher brush. Finally, can one clean said brush or replace it periodically?

Yes, do try the cartridge. Set it up correctly per the manufacturer’s instructions re VTF and give it some time for the suspension to relax. Listen keenly for mistracking so that you don’t damage your records. You will most likely be fine until you get something better.  Having said that:

That Adcom cartridge was my first MC cartridge during my early years in this hobby; after owning Shure’s and ADC’s. The Adcom is a high output MC and as I should have expected, based on what I know many years later, it did not live up to the hype that many beginner audiophiles fall victim of: that MC’s must be better than MM’s. Few high output MC’s are better than a good MM. For my tastes, the Adcom was not more satisfying than the Shure’s and ADC’s that I had been using. It projected a large(r) soundstage and had good speed, but it was grainy sounding and surprisingly, for a MC of that period, was somewhat dull sounding.  

Good luck!

Thanks, Frogman. I appreciate your response.

I will use the Adcom out of curiosity. Well, my years and ears aren't what they were, I believe I have become more critical in listening. That started with a box set of Julie London. She and others in her small circle were very purposeful in their choice of arrangements, recording artists in the studio, microphone placement, room acoustics, masterings, etc. That box set blew me away. And from there I realized how that same commitment could be found in the recordings engineered by the likes of Rudy Van Gelder. So, 50s and 60s jazz is insanely high quality.

So, I'm looking forward to better and older recordings while avoiding re-masters that often leave the life sucked out of the recordings.

Just before Covid, I picked up a nice second-hand Primaluna integrated amp. Covid has made it impossible to consider pulling the trigger on speakers. So, I unboxed the Dual TT and ordered the Schiit Man2 mm/mc phono preamp. I have a pair of Magneplanar SMG's also in mothballs that more than likely have delaminated their coil structures. And last but not least is a pair of modified Spectrum Loudspeakers Auroras where the drivers have wasted away. I have my doubts about the crossovers. So, this "hobby" is definitely a journey.