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What are the best microscopes for stylus examination and evaluation? What is the best power of magnification and what kind of illumination is best for this purpose?
Are there any resources online for carrying out valid stylus wear examination?
Many thanks,
George
Follow Ups:
nt
You can also use a test record to measure tracking ability whether tracking and anti-skate is the same as when new. The friction increases with wear and means that anti-skate has to be increased over time. Reaching the max recommended values for VTF? Time for replace.
The best I've ever seen, by far:
https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=92996
The main issue is not simply what is the best magnifier but will you understand what you are seeing?
Interpreting wear patterns on modern, non - conical stylii, requires a lot of knowledge where, for example, the profiles of fine line stylii can appear as wear to the inexperienced. There are many other hurdles. Furthermore how is "wear" in the sense of time to replace, defined ?
Some time ago here Peter Ledermann (Soundsmith) pointed out that the requisite knowledge is not common even within the world of professional cartridge suppliers.
Exactly. Excellent point.
I've posted my experience before (copied and pasted below) of when I found a used Dynavector DV-20XL here on the Asylum Trader at a great price, advertising "low hours". I wanted to believe that, but I love my record collection a bit too much.
"I posted that I sent my (purchased used) Dynavector DV-20XL off to SoundSmith for their $75 stylus evaluation. The seller said "low hours", but someone (a dealer, I think) owned it before him. I had that nagging feeling that it might have more hours on it than the seller guessed. I wanted to know for sure.
I read many posts about microscopes, but I really didn't know if I'd be able to tell if the tip was still good. I decided that I wanted the peace of mind from an expert prior to installing it.
Here's the note I got from SoundSmith:
"Update on RAxxxxx - status: We have received and evaluated your cartridge today.
The stylus does show some wear but not enough that it should be replaced, so low hours is a fair assessment. We also gave it a cleaning and reset the Azimuth, the coil was rotated. Everything else appears in order. Thank you.
Price breakdown: Evaluation-$75.00
Plus shipping-$12.00"
I was glad to hear that news, but thought I'd take it a step further. I asked if they could estimate the approximate number of hours remaining. Here is their reply:
"The stylus is about 20% worn so maybe 200 hrs out of 1000 hrs. As a rule of thumb dia. Styli should be replaced after a 1000 hours use.
Regards. "
If I had my own microscope, I might have been able to tell if a huge chunk of stylus was missing, but to judge 20% wear? There is no way that I possess the expertise, not to mention the equipment to do that. Then there's that rotated coil issue...
In retrospect, I could have saved myself $100. But now, during the next 800 hours of musical pleasure, I won't have my thoughts distracted by concern of what I'm dragging through my LP's grooves.
I'm not suggesting that someone shouldn't buy a microscope. Just that SoundSmith was the better choice for me and my peace of mind. And a thank you goes to SoundSmith for their quick inspection and honest evaluation of my cartridge. They could have just as well told me the stylus needed replacement, and I'd have had them do the work. And I will, but not for another 800 hours!"
And thanks to Inmate 3+4=5's suggestion, I have used a golf score counter to keep track of every LP side played since I got the cartridge back from Sounsmith. That helps take the guesswork out of "how many hours?" on the stylus.
"Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be. 'Cause now I'm an amputee" J. Lennon
Since someone posted here (a decade or more ago?) that he'd looked at hundreds of carts over 3 decades, under a high-powered stereo microscope, and had yet to come across one that wasn't worn by 1200 hours ... I've always used 1000 hours (2800 sides with my 'clicker'). But I regularly get called an idiot (on other Fora) by people who say " if you buy a good cart (ie.$3K or more) then those mfrs use styli which will last 3000 hours "! :-))
Also ... " I can hear when it needs to be replaced "! ( My attitude is that once I can hear something ... it's probably already done some damage! :-)) )
So I'll continue with my 1000 hrs!
Andy
nt
I agree and I have been looking at these things since the 1970s. Part of the problem is that I don't see enough of them per unit time to be able to judge degree of wear. I can tell if there is wear or not, and generally when it is time for a new stylus, but no way could I judge a % to end of life. Even back when I was looking at several per week, I don't believe that is something that I would have had the competence to assess.
The best microscopes for the purpose were made by Wild Heerbrugg of Switzerland, models M3 or M5. The M3 was made available by Audio Technica to it's dealers years ago, and McIntosh offered the M5 to it's dealers. Although Wild Heerbrugg has been absorbed into the Leica organization the microscopes are still around on the used market. I have an M3, which is adequate, but would prefer an M5 given the choice. These are high quality instruments and not cheap then or now. Too, it helps to be trained in how to use them properly. I acquired a scientific light from AmScope, model HL150-AY that is acceptable.
The unit offered by Shure is not worth bothering with, btw. The dealers I worked for had the Shure units before acquiring the Wild Heerbrugg microscopes and the difference was staggering. I live in South Florida, btw, and would be happy to check anyone's stylus that lives in this area free of charge.
Interesting.
Both the firms you mentioned (Wild and Leica), make survey instruments, which we have used for land surveying over the past 30 years.
about 3 to 600 bucks and fairly common on ebay. There are a few available right now.
.
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
Thank-you for posting the link.
I believe one needs 300Xmagnification to assess Wear as opposed to verifying the mere presence of the Tip.
For sure.. 100X ain't enough for me.
There are better stuff out today, but at one time I was using an adapted video magnifier, bypassing the cost of complex optics, by throwing the image up on a big screen. I was defeated in my objective of seeing the angles on the tip, needing better lighting . I didn't take it farther, because I already had another measurement.
It's not HI Fi enough for the hard core, but I use a removable tip on a magnetic cart ,and simply compare performance against the spare.
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