Will stylus wear make cracks and pops more pronounced?

[metalbob]

I am trying to determine if my stylus is in the early stages of being worn out. While it could be attributed to my great hearing, I am noticing more crackle on my records than usual. I am using a Denon DL-103D cartridge and doing my best to clean the records with a record cleaning machine, but nothing seems to help. I should also add that I am not listening to the same records repeatedly. Mostly different stuff.

I had a spare Audio Technica laying around and tried that out. The sound overall wasn't as good, but it seemed due to lack of dynamic range. But, the clicks and pops weren't as apparent. They were there, but not nearly as prominent and annoying. I might be comparing apples and oranges here, but not sure.

BOB

[vinyl anachronist]

I'd say yes, your needle is worn or damaged.

[JBStephens]

I would think that would be true, since a worn stylus is going to be contacting a wider slice of groove wall, making it more prone to picking up more imperfections. Just a guess. But for sure, if you notice any kind of grating harshness, the kind of sound that makes you want to turn it down, time to replace the stylus. You'll notice it first on the inner grooves close to the label.

[metalbob]

It's not really a grating sound. Just clicks and pops. I have aligned my cartridge pretty well, but have starting noticing the OUTER intro groove having more clicks and pops than they probably should as well.

[Vinophile]

Replace the stylus! If the noise is being caused by a worn stylus, then those clicks could become permanent

[Vinophile]

A worn stylus will damage the groove walls. The early stage of wear is like being a little bit pregnant.

How can you be a little bit pregnant? You are or you aren't! :laugh:

[metalbob]

Any suggestions on a new cartridge/stylus? I am using a Denon DP-60L. I have been looking at the Shure M97xE as it has gotten some good reviews. I've have also thought about replacing it with another Denon cart, but they don't make the 103D anymore.

[DaleH]

Any suggestions on a new cartridge/stylus? I am using a Denon DP-60L. I have been looking at the Shure M97xE as it has gotten some good reviews. I've have also thought about replacing it with another Denon cart, but they don't make the 103D anymore.

What phono stage are you using? That 103d is a low output isn't it? I'm partial to low to medium output MC's with line contact styli. I think the line contact shape tracks better and reduces surface noise.

[metalbob]

What phono stage are you using? That 103d is a low output isn't it? I'm partial to low to medium output MC's with line contact styli. I think the line contact shape tracks better and reduces surface noise.

I am using the phono-ins on my old Pioneer receiver/integrated amp. I honestly never checked into the output on the cartridge or turntable.

[DaleH]

I'm sorry that I can't give specific recommendations but I like my Van Den Hul a lot. The stylus is a thing of beauty. It's a lot of money new though.

I don't know if you have both of the armtubes for your table or not. If you do the s-shaped tube would probably suit the 103D better and the straight tube the AT due to effective mass and compliance issues.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[metalbob]

I'm sorry that I can't give specific recommendations but I like my Van Den Hul a lot. The stylus is a thing of beauty. It's a lot of money new though.

I don't know if you have both of the armtubes for your table or not. If you do the s-shaped tube would probably suit the 103D better and the straight tube the AT due to effective mass and compliance issues.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

I do have the straight tone arm. I bought the table used from a friend and he gave that to me along with the table. I never bothered to try and swap them out as I never needed to.

I will try and contact Denon tomorrow as their repair facility is coincidentally right here in NJ, so I might be able to go there and swap out/retip my cartridge.

[DaleH]

I do have the straight tone arm. I bought the table used from a friend and he gave that to me along with the table. I never bothered to try and swap them out as I never needed to.

I will try and contact Denon tomorrow as their repair facility is coincidentally right here in NJ, so I might be able to go there and swap out/retip my cartridge.

At the least they should be able to inspect the stylus and tell you if it's worn. I've heard good things about the 103 line but IIRC the stylus is an elliptical and may produce more noise than the line contact types. At any rate an inspection is in order, you're lucky to be so close to their facility.:)

[metalbob]

At the least they should be able to inspect the stylus and tell you if it's worn. I've heard good things about the 103 line but IIRC the stylus is an elliptical and may produce more noise than the line contact types. At any rate an inspection is in order, you're lucky to be so close to their facility.:)

I actually just called them and they don't retip styuses at that facility and suggested a third party. I guess they don't retip anymore. I had called a few years ago (a different location I think) to have my back up stylus retipped and they were still doing it back then, but I never ended up sending it in.

[metalbob]

I'm sorry that I can't give specific recommendations but I like my Van Den Hul a lot. The stylus is a thing of beauty. It's a lot of money new though.

I don't know if you have both of the armtubes for your table or not. If you do the s-shaped tube would probably suit the 103D better and the straight tube the AT due to effective mass and compliance issues.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

I tested out the straight tube with the AT cartridge and it sounds AWFUL. I haven't used this cartridge in years, but on my old Sanyo table it didn't seem so bad. It had WAY too much low end and not much top end at all. Does this have to do with the frequency range of the cart? My Denon cart went as high as 65,000khz.

I am considering a Shure cart, but if the range is any indication (only 22,000khz), I may stay away despite the great reviews.

[DaleH]

I tested out the straight tube with the AT cartridge and it sounds AWFUL. I haven't used this cartridge in years, but on my old Sanyo table it didn't seem so bad. It had WAY too much low end and not much top end at all. Does this have to do with the frequency range of the cart? My Denon cart went as high as 65,000khz.

I am considering a Shure cart, but if the range is any indication (only 22,000khz), I may stay away despite the great reviews.

If your preamp has an MM/MC switch you need to switch it to MM for the AT if it's a MM cartridge. The sound you describe sounds like input overload on the phono stage. Which AT do you have?

[metalbob]

If your preamp has an MM/MC switch you need to switch it to MM for the AT if it's a MM cartridge. The sound you describe sounds like input overload on the phono stage. Which AT do you have?

I don't have a switch anywhere I can find. BUT, I do have my turntable running through a Denon Step Up Transformer. Maybe that's causing the overload? I'll try and run it without that and see what happens.

[Metralla]

For sure - you don't want to send the signal from a moving magnet cartridge through a step-up device designed for moving coil cartridges.

[metalbob]

For sure - you don't want to send the signal from a moving magnet cartridge through a step-up device designed for moving coil cartridges.

Hey it's working! I didn't even think about that. It's always been in the system chain, so I forgot it was even there. I have been reading about the differences between both types of cartridges, but mostly in terms of design. Didn't realize they had signal differences too.

[DaleH]

I'm glad you figured it out.:) Now for the real question, how does it sound and is there less surface noise?

[metalbob]

One of the problem records has some clicks in a quiet passage, despite being a "new" piece of vinyl from Europe (it's a 1982 release, so who knows when it was actually pressed). I tested out another record and all seems fine. The top end on this cart is definitely not as good as my Denon. A bit harsh actually. I have the cartridge aligned correctly, just need to adjust the tracking weight more accurately. But then again, I'm comparing a $50 cart to a $300 one. I may pick up a Shure M97xE cart soon as they seem to have a core following around here, but might hold off a bit. Not sure yet.