How hard is it to swap a 2m red stylus to 2m blue?

If you maintain your records properly, clean the stylus with the brush that's provided and avoid playing disasters it should last anywhere from 750-1500 hours, I recently replaced my Black stylus after two years and I could have stretched its life out another few months (I still have it and the Bronze as spares). Does spending more = longer life, I don't think so.

 

This is a copy of stylus wear notes by Henk from audio selectief in NL. (http://www.audioselective.nl) as follows:

round stylus; 660 hrs
elliptical; 1.000 hrs
shibata; 1.500 hrs
fine line; 2.000 hrs
micro-ridge; 4.000 hrs
Jan Allaerts up to 20.000 hrs.

 

Wow that surprised me, not sure what to expect, and I thank you.

 

I've been too busy listening!

The sound coming out of this cartridge after a little more than a week of play is nothing short of amazing (to my ears, at least).

It sounded good from day 1 as I mentioned in my previous post, but after an 8-10 hour break-in period, it really started to sound incredible. Everything that I liked about the 2M Red is there and better, and the things I didn't like about that cartridge (mainly sibilance and IGD) are gone. Everything I've played from my top-tier, demo quality material down to the records that sounded "good enough" all sound better than I could have imagined.

It's always exciting to me when a new piece of equipment inspires you to listen to every record in your collection just to hear how they'll sound now, and the 2M Blue has done exactly that. Highly recommended!

 

And then you have the Bronze...

 

Update: 2m blue sounds very good, no more sibilance where the 2m red had it, side 4 of the new Pink Floyd and Ryan Adams' Ashes and Fire, for example. Glad having made the upgrade !

 

The Blue has utterly transformed my listening experience from the Red to that of worry and occasional wincing, to that of sheer enjoyment and wonder of analogue playback.

My great vinyl sounds incredible, the rest just hammers 99% of my CDs.

 

I have to wait until christmas.

Can't wait !

 

Does this stylus come with a stylus brush by chance?

 

Mine didn't, but I just replaced the stylus into the red cartridge, so it may come with the cartridge. It may not.

I probably haven't helped.

 

I bought the whole cartridge and it did come with a brush.

 

I have the project Carbon, and last year I replaced the red with the blue. Like many have noted, IGD and a lot of siblence (ssssss) disappeared with the blue. Since it is so easy to switch the read with the blue, I have done a lot of A/B with the needles. The blue has more 'depth' and is more relaxed and refined IMO, while the red is more in your face (IMO). I have to admit that I prefer the red on heavier rock music. I love the blue but the red has it's own magic and is truly enjoyable despite it's shortcomings with IGD and siblence.

I have had the carbon for three years. Got me back into my vinyl after a 25 year hiatus. Great table, but I am looking at a huge upgrade to VPI.

 

I just ordered an acrylic platter and the ortofon brush and a zerodust. Is it the 25th yet?

 

Expect the 2M Blue to sound Ok ish to begin with. It will take a week or two to bed in then you will love it . I'm playing mine now!

 

Red to Blue here as well. Came on the Debut Carbon, and was highly praised at the time as above entry-level for a cart. It seemed lacking somehow so I changed it for a Blue - as others have mentioned, it was an improvement in every way.

 

So the day has come spinning my first record with the blue. It sounds great but I noticed when I look at the stylus it seems twisted to the left somewhat.... Once on the record surface it seems perfectly straight but looks weird with no pressure on it.
I take it this is not normal? Anyone else experience this? I picked up the Sleep volume 1 reissue and it seems to be playing perfectly so I'm confused lol.

 

My Red and Blue have both looked like the cantilever was angled slightly towards the left as you look at the front of the cart while it plays. I figured it was either by design or an optical illusion.

 

I am looking at my red and it seems pretty straight compared to the blue.... I guess I'll just go with it for now and see what needle doctor thinks.

 

this can't be normal even though it sounds fine this is alarming to me..

 

It's a bit hard to see in these pictures, but the diamond tip looks seriously out of whack indeed (azimuth). I thought you were talking about the cantilever orientation at first, which isn't the case. If that's new out of the box, it's poor QC by Ortofon.

 

yeah new out of the box

guess i'll be swapping it out...

 

Tough luck, hope you'll get it fixed soon!

 

Have to agree, the Blue reduces IGD tremendously over the Red. Probably the best improvement

 

My 2M Blue is settled in now , really pleased with it all I'm thinking about is the music.