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Stylus/cantilever stiff and noisy--WARNING!

If you can hear the music from the needle (at the needle/cart) when volume is minimized, cue the tonearm up as soon as possible.

The suspension elastomer on the stylus has stiffened up and will not only sound poorer but can damage the grooves because of lack of compliance.

I've had this happen a few times and it seems to happen very quickly. Literally, a week or two after last playback.

This usually happens with older styli or new-old-stock styli or carts.

I was able to get a an ADC (1977) stylus working after a wd40 treatment (this is common "cure" for the issue). But the problem came back very quickly.

A "feel" test (fingers on stylus) might  also help get the "feeling" for good compliance vs. bad.

I had this happen again on some new-old-stock Shure replacement styli.

I'm not certain if there is some sort of test or "rule of thumb" that us vinylphiles can use to:

(a) ascertain it is indeed elastomer/suspension related

(b) gauge the ORIGINAL mechanical compliance of the stylus.

Maybe comments related to following might be useful :

Shure , Stanton or Pickering stylus are stiffer than other manufs.

DJ cantilevers are stiff.

Mass of tonearm vs stylus compliance.

Thx!

hollowman
tablejockey
4,403 posts
 

"I was able to get a an ADC (1977) stylus working after a wd40 treatment (this is common "cure" for the issue)"

What is the WD40 treatment? 

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,443 posts
 

Isn’t that how they work? Create sound and put a microphone on either side of the stylist?

All the turntables I have owned, I have been able to hear the sound of the stylist. 

 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,744 posts
 

I use rubber restorer on my capstan rollers of my tape recorders. I leave it on the rubber overnight, than clean them and re-install them.

https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-Rejuvenate-Restore-Platens/dp/B09F53J5HF/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aIFDrxTph9wGvSCi2lSOBLl8nUs84hj_9ggDgLalL6QrAlqHCkvyq4gP853vnYcEJ3GnDwxLls5XIohlGEwdtOeMML8153XphBTYAxc01NmtVDswoIXr5gauWKYdMv4sZQ9VkiHsggABrn14DJPPq8Zbyuayliqih-R9rtk_8MYmHpvx_IHeS-4xw7eAnXYTYnzd1yzLzjY_FAd3kKT0B8nbAIWPqqg9jEFh1uHeLSSmvRSg87z_P_OE1dv8iI5idJkArvhHuakhtJZwT1_3RE2VRCPUhidU71trJPypLPw.g8lENwrWik-mo6NAaZl04fiGvZdakbCngPIA2_qmELQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=776746653052&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9003512&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=440287154959887257--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=440287154959887257&hvtargid=kwd-841615446&hydadcr=7248_13536628&keywords=rubber%2Brestorer&mcid=68b98516fc833bc68ff30d6e892dacaa&qid=1762106701&sr=8-7&th=1

I suppose a small drop of it could be tried on old stylus suspension, see if it can restore flexibility, but use 'sparingly' and use gravity as an aid so as not to let it get inside where the coils/magnets are.

hollowman's avatar
hollowman OP
69 posts
 

"Isn’t that how they work? Create sound and put a microphone on either side of the stylist?

All the turntables I have owned, I have been able to hear the sound of the stylist. "

When that suspension stiffens up, you may hear the mechanical music from quite a distance from the turntable, even with the dust cover down. 

And if you perform a a finger test for compliance (against a good cantilever) you may be able to feel the difference wrt stiffness and "give". 

About MG Chem Rubber treatment. I have some and it does not work. I don’t like it for other rubber uses as well, like belts. 

 

 

 

connollymj
24 posts
 

I have a Rega Ania Pro cartridge  on a Rega Planar 6 that is a year old. The rhomboid suspension pivot on the cantilever is s as supple as ever. Yet, I can hear the cartridge from several feet away when the amp is turned off. I'm running 1.9 gram tracking force so nothing unusual.

 

I don't think hearing the needle tracking in the groove at some level is cause for concern. Just ordered a Hana Umami Blue so will see if that new cartridge can also be heard.

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