How Often Do You Change Your Stylus?

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-- How Often Do You Change Your Stylus?

Posted by boy_luke_y2k on Dec-21-2001 19:00:

How Often Do You Change Your Stylus?

Ok I have Ortofon DJ-S Blue Concordes, I've had my dex for nearly 2 months now and I spin at least half of my spare waking hours behind my Techs. The noise coming right deck sounds distorted when certain records are played like Evoke - Arms Of Loren and PPK - ResuRection, but if I put them on the left deck they are fine, I think its time to get some new stylus.
I have my carts on 1.75g, 1.5 anti-skate, and at 5mm.

Opinions please..............

Posted by DJTJ on Dec-21-2001 19:17:

Signs that you need a new stylus tend to be when the highs sound muffled, rather than the whole thing sounding distorted.

After two months, no stylus should ever be in need of replacement, unless perhaps you spend 24 hours a day scratching your records to pieces, in which case the records would sound terrible anyway on anything you play them on. Ortofon styli tend to last about 9 months to a year, depending on usage, whereas Stantons just keep going and going. I know someone who has had his stantons for over 2 years and they are still in the same condition as when he bought them. (However, you can't beat Ortofons for either tracking or sound quality!)

One thing that is a problem with ortofons is the connections between the cartridge and the tonearm. The connectors on the cartridge are made from a different metal than the connectors on the tonearm, and this promotes (very small amounts of) corrosion. If you take the cartridges on and off the tonearm regularly this can become a problem and you can lose some connectivity between the terminals. This could possibly be your problem. (but it might not be!) solution: clean the terminals regularly with alcohol.

The other possibilty is your mixer. One of the channels might be slightly dodgy. Check this out by swapping the inputs over from your decks and try those tunes that were a problem on the other deck.

Posted by skywarp on Dec-21-2001 19:56:

You have too little stylus pressure set up. Ortofon DJ are rated for 2g-4g. Try putting at least 2.5g on them and see if that fixes the problem.

BTW. I've had my styli on the Ortofon DJs for about a year, they are just starting to wear out now ...

Posted by boy_luke_y2k on Dec-21-2001 20:03:

You certainly seem to know your stuff DJTJ

It's not my mixer that is the prob, that is almost brand new and I swapped over the inputs so I was mixing as though I flicked the hamster swith (if i had 1) and there was still the same problem.
It is the high sounds that become distorted, but also the same with some of the bass.

I must spend about 3 hours a day on my dex on weekdays and more on weekends, it gets too dark and cold to go out on the night time now, so mixing is my main priority. I don't scratch, except for cueing up and I am one of those people who when they are ready to release the record coming in who tends to feel the pressure that is necessary to release the record.

I took of the stylus part off the front of the concordes and it looks quite grey insead of the lovely silver it was when i first got it, i havent took the cart off the tonearm so I'll have a look at that later. What sort of alcohol would you recommend as cleaning fluid, methulated spirits? ether?

Thanx 4 your help, it is much appreciated

Posted by boy_luke_y2k on Dec-21-2001 20:14:

quote:
Originally posted by skywarp
You have too little stylus pressure set up. Ortofon DJ are rated for 2g-4g. Try putting at least 2.5g on them and see if that fixes the problem.

BTW. I've had my styli on the Ortofon DJs for about a year, they are just starting to wear out now ...

The most pressure I can get without adding pennies or blue-tac is 2.4g, and I did set the weight up properly, finding the zero level point and adding the weight as necessary. I only seem to need around 1.5g but I have it on 1.75 so there is no skipping, I'll try it on heavier next time I mix, see if that workz. Thanx Skywarp

Posted by boy_luke_y2k on Dec-21-2001 20:19:

Posted by DJTJ on Dec-21-2001 21:01:

quote:
Originally posted by boy_luke_y2k

The most pressure I can get without adding pennies or blue-tac is 2.4g, and I did set the weight up properly, finding the zero level point and adding the weight as necessary.

Really? I have mine on 3.5g usually. They are the same, blue Ortofon Concorde DJs, and I have no problem getting enough weight on them. The other thing you can try is taking the weight off the tonearm and putting it back on backwards. This will allow you to get more weight, but the trouble with this is that you can't tell exactly how much weight you have, it's just a guess.

The alcohol you want for cleaning is isopropyl alcohol, as pure as possible. at least 90% if you can. You should be able to get this from any respectable audio or hi-fi store. You can use it for cleaning the stylus tip itself, as well, using a cotton bud or something like that.

Posted by boy_luke_y2k on Dec-21-2001 21:20:

Thanx guys, I shall sort out my styli properly now, thanx