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Heavy tracking carts - am I damaging my records?

nickdinatale

nickdinatale

Active Member
I feel like this is a common question that comes up, but am I wearing my records considerably faster when using a cartridge that tracks in the 3-7 gram range?

I'm used to using lighter, more modern cartridges, but I got around to auditioning a Pickering / Stanton 371 45 x 45 Stereo Flux Valve that I've had sitting around for a while today. It sounds nice so far (maybe a little tinny, but I may play around with different tracking weights to see how this affects the sound). However, I can't help but worry about playing any of my more valuable records on it due to the wear question. Would love to hear some opinions on this!
 
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There was a post on another forum years ago giving excerpts from various studies on record wear. One used an M3D (which used a .7 mil conical like your Stanton/Pickering) tracking at 9 grams, 6 grams, and 3 grams. They measured volume loss at 15 kHz and found a 5 dB loss when tracked at 9 grams, a 2 dB loss at 6 grams, and no loss at 3 grams (all losses reported after 20 plays, but the first play accounted for a large part of the total). Another study found that a .7 mil conical tracking at 3 grams wore records at the same rate as a small elliptical (.2 mil side radius) tracking at 1.5 grams, and that wear was minimal at those pressures after 100 plays. Another study said that VTF above 3 grams tends to erase high frequencies, but that was for a smaller, .5 mil stylus.

Personally I'm happy to use a .7 mil conical up to 3.25 grams and not worry about it (after doing a casual 100 play test of my own using a Stanton 500 AL Mk II tracking at that pressure). I don't know that using 5 or even 7 grams with your cartridge will result in damage you can hear, but I would prefer not to go that high. I don't know how your cartridge is designed, but another issue with such an old cartridge is that if it has rubber bits in the suspension, that rubber may have hardened, and the mistracking that may result is probably more damaging to records than somewhat high tracking forces would be.

Edit: I may be too conservative in my thinking since I do own some albums with information on the jacket saying stereo records can be safely played at tracking forces up to 5 grams, and who would know better than the record maker?
 
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At the radio stations we tracked in the 5+ range all the time. Keep the records clean and give them a day or so to regain their memory and you'll be good for another 50 yers. The secret is keep them clean. Stylus with more sophisticated shapes fit the grooves better and even cause fewer issues. Just keep the LP's cleeaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!
 
twiiii said:
At the radio stations we tracked in the 5+ range all the time.
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Which explains the horrible condition of all my records that I picked up from radio stations liquidation sales over the years. The vast majority are freebies from record companies with a 'NOT FOR RESALE' label and it seems like nobody cared and they were treated as freebies. Radio stations requirements back in the day were totally different than the vinyl enthusiast's today.

FWIW my heaviest tracker, a Denon DL103R is doing so at 2.75g VTF. My Stans (681eee/881S) are scraping 1.0g VTF from bellow and my Ortofon VMS20E @ 1.2g

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My Ortofon SPU tracks perfectly at 4g and I don't give it a thought. It sounds perfect to my ears and that's what matters. if there is any wear I doubt I live long enough to notice. Some of my albums haven't been played in years.
 
Tracking at the "proper" VTF for a given cartridge/stylus system (typically an inverse correlation between tracking weight and compliance) and with "proper" alignment should not result in undue record wear.
 
Shure sc35c tracks at 4.5 (or more) and is delightful. It's my primary cartridge and I don't give the VTF a thought and just love the sound. The at3600L is another "heavy tracking" conical and is a winner. Any audiphool who sniffs about VTF forgets the Ortofon SPU, a beautiful and coveted cart that tracks very heavy. Try to tell an SPU owner they're wrecking their records and see how far that gets ya!
 
Using a Pickering, and after the equalization procedure, am able to back off on the gram requirement.

Good point on "hardened rubber" effect by jr. Something to take into account as well.

Q
 
nickdinatale said:
I feel like this is a common question that comes up, but am I wearing my records considerably faster when using a cartridge that tracks in the 3-7 gram range?
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Yes. You really shouldn't track above 2 grams. It's tracking force that's primarily responsible for record wear.
 
richamor said:
My Ortofon SPU tracks perfectly at 4g and I don't give it a thought. It sounds perfect to my ears and that's what matters. if there is any wear I doubt I live long enough to notice. Some of my albums haven't been played in years.
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Is this the SPU you picked up here? You digging it then? Just curious.
 
In my case, 150 times. Makes me wonder why I have 600 lp's when we listen to the perfect 50.
 
I'm presently enjoying my Zu DL-103 II @2.5g and my SPU#1S @4g, but have owned cartridges in the past that tracked @ .75g to 1g.

I've been doing this for over five decades, now own about two thousand LP's, and have always kept my LP's clean and my cartridges properly aligned and their stylus' immaculately clean. I'm enjoying my fifty year old records just as much now as when they were new. Never had any worry about excessive record wear 'cause I've never had the time to think about it. Why sweat the small stuff when you can be listening to the music?
 
I have an SPU. Love it. I recently picked up a Decca Gold. The Decca is even better than the SPU in my opinion. So clear, concise and open. Like nothing I’ve ever heard before. Certainly something worth looking into. I will not be giving up either one soon.
 
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