A dozen years ago when I had a 1970’s Sony TT and vintage Grado cart I listened to a ton of LPs (yeah, the hum of that Grado was not easy to ignore). After some time I upgraded to a Stellar Phono Amp and a Project TT with an Ortofon Bronze 2M and loved listening to LPs even more. I then switched to a MoFi Master Tracker TT with the included Master Tracker cart and loved listening to most of my LPs.
As the disease progressed, I figured that upgrading the TT, cart, headshell and leads would make magic. I bought a Technics SL-1200G, Hana Umami Blue Cart, and a Korg Ceramic Headshell.
Magic did indeed appear while playing my audiophile quality records and well-recorded, mastered, and pressed LPs! But here’s the thing - I only listen to special recordings on special occasions now. Somewhere in the back of my mind I think there’s only about 600 hours worth of play on this $2500 cart before the stylus’ end of life
So. I am thinking I’d be better off with a sub $1000 cart that would allow me to forget about the cost of each mile… like the Zu/DL-103 Mk.II for instance.
How do you all with pricey carts manage the psychology of it? I mean, I have some equipment that is more expensive than 2.5k of course but none of it is specifically limited to a 600 hour lifetime. It really gets in my head.
!. I have a Zu Dl-103 and I love it.
2. Where are you getting the 600 hour number? I don’t buy it. If your VTF and anti-skate are correct and you play clean records, I would expect more than double that life.
3. While my primary cartridge was out for service, I used my very old Kiseki Purpleheart which has at least 5,000 hours and it sounds and tracks wonderfully.
4. Be happy, don’t worry.
I agree I just love the Denon DL-103 and variants not even based on its price either, they just sound really good and there are lots of companies like Zu that do body and other enhancements. When I bought mine they shipped me the upgraded model Denon DL-103R, for the same price, which has some different coil wire. I’m not sure I could hear the difference. I also used the Denon 103 while my other cartridge was being fixed. I installed the repaired cartridge (they just sent me a brand new one, lucky again) which is about 5x the price of the Denon and I could have easily stayed using the Denon 103R and been happy. In fact I kinda wish I still had it in use, but I don’t want to go thru that install agita right now. It’s one of those not too expensive products I’m really fond of…a stick-it-to-the-man sort of joy! I also agree that you should, if setup correctly, etc, get way more than 600 hours out of it. The Technics is fun because you could have a belt full of cartridges like the harmonica belts of Lee Oskar or Magic Dick.
I have yet to wear out a cartridge. I seem to get the urge to try something new long before the Cartridge wears out. The previous cartridge to the one I have now listed for like $11K. The manufacturer offers to retip for like a tenth of the cost of a new one. Soundsmith cartridges all offer this service. For my $2000 cartridge that got damaged, they charged me $350 to make it good as new. New cantilever, with a new stylus.
I have friends who have a counter next to the turntable so they can keep track of how many plays they have. That is too much work for me. I listen to as many records as I want whenever I want. I don’t worry about stylus wear.
Raise your hand if you have ever actually worn out a cartridge. Not broken or damaged, worn out. I am guessing not many have.
In my 8th grade geology class, I learned about the Mohs Hardness scale. As its name suggests, it rates mineral hardness on a scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Diamond is rated a 10 - nothing can scratch it (except another diamond). With this in mind, it is hard to fathom how a diamond stylus could get “worn out” from use unless cartridge elements like the cantilever are the limiting factor.
I agree with the others: where did the idea of 600 hours as a stylus lifespan come from? I easily get 1,500-2,000 hours before even thinking about a retip. I do keep my vinyl clean and I’ve used Stylast for decades without any issues on Ortofon, Garrot Bros, Transfiguration, Grado, and several other brands. Even when I sent cartridges in for a retip it wasn’t because they were sounding bad (but they have sounded better when they returned from VAS.)
When I got mine I just ordered the good old Denon DL-103 but as I said they shipped the 103R. If I was going to get another I’d still just order the original Denon DL-103 and not the upgraded third party ones or the 103R. You can get 2 Denon DL-103 for the price of the third party ones. Many of the reviewers have used the sub-$400 Denon. I think it’s an amazing low output moving coil. Originally released in 1962. If I wrecked mine I’d cry a few less tears than a $2500 unconsolable sob! There’s a recent factory tour and builders of the 103. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKDtNrN2jy8
I once had a Benz cart. that had 7500 hours on it when the suspension started to fail. I’ve never had to replace a cartridge due to stylus wear. They usually succumb to upgraditis before the suspensions fail.
I appreciate all the responses and sharing of your experiences! I don’t remember where I got the 600 hours lifespan of a stylus idea from. I know I didn’t make it up, but clearly there are real life experiences you’ve shared that show the lifespan to be potentially much more than that.
For me, the psychology of this has been interesting to reflect on and I’ve learned something about myself. The Denon cart is likely my next purchase - the price to quality ratio will lend itself well to the level of enjoyment I can/will experience. The best isn’t always the best.
The Denon factory video cranks out the vibe of the old DL-103 process. Some of the builders have been there building them for a work lifetime. 60+ years they’ve making pretty much the same model.
Might also want to look at the Denon DL-301 Mk2. Available from a long time reliable seller in Hong Kong for $330 until his on hand supply is gone then prices will go up.
Talk to any reliable retipper and they will tell you that no stylus lasts more than about 1000 hours, and that any with over 2000 are doing damage to your LPs. Despite all the posting about hardness scales, the diamond does wear. If you can’t accept that then maybe a Denon is the answer or a Soundsmith cartridge or maybe establishing a relationship with a retipper who will rebuild the Hana when it wears out.