Everything you need to know about cartridges: Cartridge maintenance

CARTRIDGE MAINTENANCE

A cartridge is a highly developed miniature precision instrument which should be treated with care so that it can maintain its technical specifications.

Even the slightest particle of dust on the diamond can increase playback distortion and record wear. Therefore, the stylus should be cleaned after each record playback with the help of a suitable soft brush. If the dust on the stylus is mixed with grease or the remains of a record cleaning agent, it may be necessary to moisten the brush with propyl alcohol or a special cartridge cleaning fluid.

Many Hi-Fi specialist shops have cartridge clinics, where cartridges may be inspected under a microscope for wear, and possibly tested with the aid of special test records or electronic measuring equipment. Every cartridge should be inspected in this way at least once a year.

In normal circumstances, a cartridge’s stylus unit will least for 2 years in a private home without music reproduction being impaired or wear on records being increased to any extent. However, both the cartridge stylus and cantilever suspension will wear considerably faster if the records are badly scratched or smudged with dust and grease. In extreme cases, a badly scratched record can tear the diamond tip from its stylus mounting.

Finally it is always a good rule to snap the guard over the stylus whenever the cartridge is not in use.