[drk]

I have a rega elys cartridge on a rega p3-24 TT. the thing is - how do i know when i need to replace the cartridge if everything is sounding fine? i've read that chipped and/or worn styluses can damage your vinyls, so that freaked me out a bit.

i have also recently done quite a few not so gentle things to my stylus such as pushing it a bit too much when cleaning it with a (dry) brush (to the left, so it moved to the left, and returned of course), dropped it a bit too harsh on my record awhile ago, it also had a few runs through vinyls in not the greatest state. so, it plays fine, looks fine, and so on, but how can i generally know if my stylus is chipped or worn and needs replacing?

also, what is the average lifetime of a cartridge/stylus of this quality?

 

[dvw]

look under a microscope and see there is any wear. the wear looks like polished surface

 

[drk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvw /img/forum/go_quote.gif look under a microscope and see there is any wear. the wear looks like polished surface

microscope? i don't have a microscope, and even if i did, i don't know how i'd look at the stylus through it...

and when you say "polished surface"...i'm really not sure what you mean. the stylus is really smooth (polished) when it's new...

 

[memepool]

Examining Your Stylus | A Short Guide by John Fink | Vinyl Engine

This is a pretty professional set up but you can see the more serious wear he mentions with just a bog standard pocket microscope or magniying glass at 30x magnification under an anglepoise lamp.

 

[drk]

thanks for that link very much dude

, that's very helpful, now i know what i should be looking after.

cheers