Tracking Weight vs Record Wear

[PickyEars81]

So I am looking at some more expensive cartridges, like the Clearaudio Virtuoso for instance, and it suggests a tracking weight of 2.2g. I am running my dl-160 at 1.6g at present, and this is a much less expensive cartridge. How does record wear compare on a more expensive, but heavier tracking weight cartridge?

 

[p. rex]

I've been running my Denon DL-103 at 2.6 grams, and I haven't noticed especially severe record wear. It's probably worse than a more typical modern elliptical stylus, but it's not a record-eater by any means.

 

[slow_jazz]

As long as you follow manufacturer's tracking weight you should be fine.

 

[cycletemp]

If you assume that groove wear is proportional to stylus contact area the least wear would be from a line contact stylus because they can have a greater contact area than a conical or elliptical stylus. So it seems that a line contact could use a higher force than a conical or elliptical and wear less. Now does an elliptical at 1.25 g wear the groove less than a Shibata at 2.2 g--I don't know. There is some good information here: ftp://avlab.ee.auth.gr/~DPMSnotes/H.../8.26_The Stereo Long-Playing (LP) Record.pdf

 

[iLUVanalog]

So I am looking at some more expensive cartridges, like the Clearaudio Virtuoso for instance, and it suggests a tracking weight of 2.2g. I am running my dl-160 at 1.6g at present, and this is a much less expensive cartridge. How does record wear compare on a more expensive, but heavier tracking weight cartridge?

The cost of a cartridge has little to do with degree of wear. It is far more important to utilize a tracking force that is within the manufacturer's recommended range. If Clearaudio recommends 2.2 grams, THEN USE 2.2 GRAMS. The DL-160 has a range of 1.3 to 1.9 grams, and anywhere within that range should be fine, according to the type of arm you're using, with 1.6 grams being the median/"suggested" tracking force. I track my DL-160 at 1.8 grams, which is still within the range, with excellent results.

 

[Vinylcalle]

I've been running my Denon DL-103 at 2.6 grams, and I haven't noticed especially severe record wear. It's probably worse than a more typical modern elliptical stylus, but it's not a record-eater by any means.

I have heard that one of the reasons Denon used a conical stylus on the dl103 was that it produced less record wear then other types. This was one of the important things since it was developed for radiostations and other professional aplications were it was important that the records would be in good condidtion even though they were played many times.

And I think it´s should be obvious that a larger contact area would equal less record wear.

Best Regards Carl

 

[olddude50]

I wish I could remember where I read this, but I remember being surprised about the amount of tracking force used on some nice cartridges and then ran across a site that suggested that a cartridge with a heavy tracking force that did not skip around in the grooves of a record did less damage then a cartridge with a light tracking force that occasionally skipped. I think the fit of the needle to the groove is probably more important in preserveing records than a light tracking force.

 

[jrtrent]

Dittos on the comments above. I've seen record wear studies that state that a .7 mil conical stylus tracking at 3 grams is equivalent in record wear to a .2 X .7 mil elliptical tracking at 1.5 grams. Finding a cartridge that works well in your arm and tracks cleanly is probably the most important factor. I'm currently using the ultra-cheap Audio Technica CN5625AL in my LP12/Ittok, with .7 mil conical stylus tracking at 2.25 grams, and from the clean, dynamic sound and excellent warp-handling I'm getting (easily outperforming the more expensive AT440ML), it must be a pretty good compliance match for my medium mass arm. I like Grado cartridges, but haven't found them a great fit for my Ittok (though the Longhorn modification works wonders); however, they were outstanding in the damped arm of my Well Tempered. Finding what works well together can be more important than cost, stylus shape, etc.

 

[Jody Thornton]

I wish I could remember where I read this, but I remember being surprised about the amount of tracking force used on some nice cartridges and then ran across a site that suggested that a cartridge with a heavy tracking force that did not skip around in the grooves of a record did less damage then a cartridge with a light tracking force that occasionally skipped. I think the fit of the needle to the groove is probably more important in preserveing records than a light tracking force.

I think we have to remember that wear results in the long term as more of a permanent deformation of the groove (from pressure and heat), rather than the groove being slowly ripped away. I'm sure most of you know this (way more than I), but some may not.

As I understand it, the frequency of immediately repeated plays has more to do with accelerating wear than the total number of plays a disc receives in its lifetime. Because when you play a disc, the small area that comes in to contact with the stylus goes through a tremendous heat build up. The groove shaped is slightly deformed; more accurately depressed, from the sudden buildup of heat and pressure. I understand that it hits the range of 300 degrees Fahrenheit (the experts need to ensure that I'm correct here). But as the disc cools, the groove will revert to its original shape. But if you play the record a second time, RIGHT AWAY, the groove hasn't sufficiently cooled and returned to its original shape. So now, the groove deformations are compounded and made more permanent.

I suppose you could compare it to poking your forearm once with your finger bluntly. It will make an impression on the skin, but the redness will soon disappear and the impression goes away. But if you take your finger and poke your arm repeatedly on the same spot, I'm sure that it will eventually bruise a bit, or become red for a long time.

I read a hi-fi book back in 1979. I think the late Len Feldman from Audio Magazine contributed to it. (I really miss both him and that magazine). It stated that at a VTF setting of 2 grams, the wear on a record played twice in a row is roughly equal to the wear on a disc played 50 times, with each playing spaced 16 hours apart. That seems considerable. I do wonder if the amount of wear decreases much at 1.5 grams under the same circumstances.

Just some food for thought. If someone can point out any inaccuracies as to what I wrote, please chime in.

 

[seta1]

From what I have read and observed, you can do as much or more damage to a record by setting the tracking too light for the cartridge and arm then if you set it correctly. Many years ago I remember reading a report in one of the big Audio magazines of the late 60's (or maybe early 70's) where they showed damage done by tracking a cartridge too light. They stressed that you need to select a cartridge and tone arm that will work correctly together and set the tracking weight within the specifications of the cartridge. That's just common sense if you ask me.