My stylus just slid across a felt mat

[Nohemi]

Hi

I have an Audio technica at lp60x and my stylus got loose and accidentally went onto the felt mat. Should I replace it? I have made a grave mistake.

Here is a picture:

 

[The Flying Sloth]

It will be fine.

[Nohemi]

10 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

It will be fine.

I will take your word for it. Just for reference when should I replace the stylus? (after how many hours of playback)

[The Flying Sloth]

2 minutes ago, Nohemi said:

I will take your word for it. Just for reference when should I replace the stylus? (after how many hours of playback)

Replace it when you start to hear a significant sound quality difference that isn't caused by a noisy record or fixed by cleaning the stylus/record.

 

Your turntable isn't an audiophile piece of kit and neither is mine, just enjoy it, if you really break something or it loses quality drastically you can replace the stylus, those stock styli are real cheap.

[Derkoli]

10 minutes ago, Nohemi said:

I will take your word for it. Just for reference when should I replace the stylus? (after how many hours of playback)

Well, depends on a few things.

 

Diamond tipped styli (which your's is, the exact cartridge is an Audio Technica ATN3600L, about 25 dollars to replace) typically last 500-1000 hours, but if your records aren't properly clean, then it's between 250-750 hours. So typically if you play it for 1 hour a day, replace it in 1.6-2.0 years.

 

The lowest quality one's can die after just 40 hours of playing time believe it or not, hence why the industry moved to Diamond stylus/tipped styli for decent turntables.

 

Also certain factors such as moisture in the air, tracking force and some other thing's can affect it, but don't worry. Just change it after 2 years, or when you want to upgrade.

 

 

[The Flying Sloth]

2 hours ago, Derkoli said:

tracking force and some other thing's can affect it, but don't worry. Just change it after 2 years, or when you want to upgrade.

The LP60 being a cheap auto turntable with spring controlled tracking force and integrated cart, I was under the impression that you can't really upgrade the major components beyond the belt and stylus. Is this also your understanding? It was one of the reasons I purchased a cheap manual table instead with standard counterweight and anti-skate adjustment.


 

[Derkoli]

15 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

The LP60 being a cheap auto turntable with spring controlled tracking force and integrated cart, I was under the impression that you can't really upgrade the major components beyond the belt and stylus. Is this also your understanding? It was one of the reasons I purchased a cheap manual table instead with standard counterweight and anti-skate adjustment.


 

AT do make replacement styli for the LP60, but I'm not hugely sure if you can fit a new headshell to then fit a "normal" cartridge. This is one of the reason's i tend to recommend the Pro-ject Primary E over the LP60, as it has a standard headshell and can be upgraded very easily, and come's with a very good cartridge as is.

[Nohemi]

5 hours ago, Derkoli said:

AT do make replacement styli for the LP60, but I'm not hugely sure if you can fit a new headshell to then fit a "normal" cartridge. This is one of the reason's i tend to recommend the Pro-ject Primary E over the LP60, as it has a standard headshell and can be upgraded very easily, and come's with a very good cartridge as is.

I know I probably wont be able to choose a different cartridge without some serious modding, but I will eventually upgrade my turntable. For now though, the default cartridge replacement is fine.