Stylus Odometer!

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Boltman92124, Mar 27, 2020.

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  1. Boltman92124

    Boltman92124 Go Padres!! Thread Starter

    Location:
    San Diego
  2. plastico

    plastico Forum Resident

    Location:
    ontario canada
    I was considering getting one, but I'm just going to stick with my manual counter.
    Cheers, Doug
     
    Tullman, 33na3rd and JohnCarter17 like this.
  3. NapaBob

    NapaBob Forum Resident

    Location:
    Napa Valley CA USA
    I don't think I would have put the reset button where it could easily be pressed by mistake.
     
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  4. plastico

    plastico Forum Resident

    Location:
    ontario canada
    Especially when you had a couple of brew!
    Cheers, Doug
     
    Boltman92124 likes this.
  5. ti-triodes

    ti-triodes Senior Member

    Location:
    Paz Chin-in
    I’ve done that with a pen on a notepad. Still cheaper, even if you add in my wife telling me I’m f’n nuts.
     
    macster likes this.
  6. Vinyl Addict

    Vinyl Addict Forum Resident

    Location:
    MA
    So, a timer?
     
    glide likes this.
  7. Manimal

    Manimal Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southern US
    I can’t handle the truth.
     
    The FRiNgE and macster like this.
  8. Couldn’t you just use a stopwatch app on your phone, which is probably free?
     
    bru87tr, recstar24 and GyroSE like this.
  9. illinoisteve

    illinoisteve Forum Resident

    Could I get a panel of gauges for my stylus? As much as a odometer, I'd like to see a speedometer, a tachometer, and a heat gauge.
     
    The FRiNgE, Manimal, macster and 3 others like this.
  10. LitHum05

    LitHum05 El Disco es Cultura

    Location:
    Virginia
    I think I’d draw the line here too. At some point, it’s just too obsessive compulsive with vinyl. I’m bad enough as it is. I can’t imagine trying to remember whether or not I hit t he odometer to start with each play, particularly while drinking. . If I forget, should I artificially move it forward? The problems this introduces are infinite. And the benefit isn’t that big.
     
  11. intensemojo

    intensemojo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicago
  12. Leggs91203

    Leggs91203 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Indiana
    I guess if someone really wanted an odometer for their turntable, but if someone is -that- OCD about it, wouldn't it interfere with enjoying the music?

    What about voltage gauges? And an option for manual or automatic tone-arm return? Maybe a MacPherson strut suspension on the deck's feet?
    Could even have a clutch to engage/disengage when you change speeds on the turntable between 33 and 45. Moonroof built into the dust cover...
     
    macster and illinoisteve like this.
  13. illinoisteve

    illinoisteve Forum Resident

    Traction-Control and a skid plate would be good for playing some of those thrift shop records I buy.
     
    showtaper and macster like this.
  14. Tom Littlefield

    Tom Littlefield Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire, USA
    I think that it is no big deal, just keep it next to your tt, turn it on when you drop the arm and turn it off when you lift it of the record. It is very imprtant to keep trak of stylus playing time for both the cart performance and record wear

    I have one of these on the way StylusTimer to keep track of the playing time for my new Te Kaitora Rua
     
  15. LitHum05

    LitHum05 El Disco es Cultura

    Location:
    Virginia
    Maybe the other thing is that my styli never exceed the $300 mark. So I replace whenever I get that sneaking suspicion it’s time.
     
  16. bru87tr

    bru87tr 80’s rule

    Location:
    MA
    It’s basically a kitchen timer.

    If someone made something that was wireless. A device that could be placed on the spindle (and communicate wirelessly on movement) and interact with an app or timer wirelessly, so we didn’t have to remember to start/stop. This would be a thoughtless device.

    I guarantee I would forget to start and stop at times with this kitchen timer.
     
    bever70 likes this.
  17. jfine

    jfine Forum Resident

    gtimer for linux is free and can time many different styluses, equip break in times, etc., at the same time.
     
  18. Phil Thien

    Phil Thien Forum Resident

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    A timer built into something that goes over the spindle and can even optionally clamp, and starts/stops with rotation. And requires a paperclip to push a recessed button to reset.

    File that patent my friend!
     
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  19. bever70

    bever70 Let No-one Live Rent Free in Your Head!

    Location:
    Belgium
    From a design point, it's crap!
     
    Chilli likes this.
  20. fmuakkassa

    fmuakkassa Dr. M

    Location:
    Ohio
    Too much trouble to hit start/stop after each side of an LP you play. A crude method that I use is look at the hours my Audio Research Phonostage (PH7) has been on ( it is a button on the remote control) that keeps track of the vacuum tube usage and use that as a rough measure of my stylus playing time. Obviously, the time the phono preramp is on is going to be longer that the stylus playing time. When I get to the 1500 to 1800 hours I send my Dynavector XX2 MK II for rebuilding.
     
    Big Blue likes this.
  21. Aftermath

    Aftermath Senior Member

    I'd be more into something like this if it were automated; e.g., an odometer like this that is on or off depending on tonearm position.
     
  22. Ripblade

    Ripblade Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Six
    intensemojo likes this.
  23. Don Lindich

    Don Lindich Active Member

    Location:
    PIttsburgh, PA
    Hello there, I am the guy who designed the product. You have to hold the reset button down for over three full seconds to reset it. An accidental push does not do anything.

    It is available and shipping now if anyone is interested.
     
  24. Don Lindich

    Don Lindich Active Member

    Location:
    PIttsburgh, PA
    You could, but it’s a lot of work to open up your phone every time you play a record, etc. I wanted to make something inexpensive enough to be an impulse purchase, that would do the job And could just sit next to your turntable.

    It only records hours, it lets you know when it is operating, it remembers your hours when you change the battery, and it takes a deliberate three second hold of the reset button to reset it so you don’t reset it accidentally.
     
  25. Don Lindich

    Don Lindich Active Member

    Location:
    PIttsburgh, PA
    If you put it next to your turntable on the left, and push start and stop with your left hand as you raise and lower the tonearm your right, it will quickly become part of your record playing routine and you won’t forget. At least it’s been that way it was for me when I did the testing.

    You do have to operate it yourself, but it’s really not hard and it is simple, reliable, and just works. So for under $20 you can now know exactly how many hours are on your stylus, And I figure most people would rather know than not!
     
    showtaper, Boltman92124 and 33na3rd like this.
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