cartridge break in time

How much time does it take the average cartridge to break in?

 

Sick of me already ?

Seriously, break-in is a very gradual process. The last cart I noticed the effects of break-in on took some 6 months to sound really 'broken in'.

Of course this is not true, the cartridge continues to break in but I suppose after a point the effects are subtle enough for one not to notice anymore.

I'd say you should be hearing (very subtle) improvements in 'rightness' around the two weeks, two months and six months points.

Not really measurable though, depends a lot on your system, your ears, the cartridge, .. just about everything reall.

That wasn't much help was it?

 

No, I am not sick of you, and yes that was a help. I ended up going with the Audio Technica 440ML, and it sounds very bright right now, but I am sure it will smooth out as it breaks in.

 

Didn't one of the audiophile labels (or magazines) have a cartridge or system break-in disc at one time? To me, break-in would just be a "settling in" of the cantilever's suspension system. Naturally, it will weaken over time...stiff at first, then loosening to its optimal condition for quite some time.

 

THe above was an Audio Technica 110E cart, incidentally.

 

Call me a skeptic, but I've owned Audio-Technica, Shure and Stanton carts and not one needed "break-in." They sounded the same the first day as they did three months later. My own Audio-Technica back in the 80's was bright and stayed that way - which is why I never bought another one. The Shure was well-balanced and also stayed that way - which is why when the time came I did buy another one.