Hiya all. I'm just about to compete a Straingauge cartridge and energizer overhaul from the Soundsmith main man Peter Lederman.
The Straingauge system works on "slot in" stylii, each spare one costing $750-950 to make up, which is one of the great VFM propositions in modern day hifi.
In normal circumstances I'd order my usual two spare stylii to give me 4000-6000 hours total use btwn the two, but on this occasion I'm minded to buy a shedload more, maybe 6-7 stylii.
I've saved additional funds on not spending my usual annual budget over Covid period, opening up possiblity of a bigger bulk purchase here, and I also realise that the pressures on Peter will only be more relentless over time (he's in his 70s, and exclusively attends alone to the top Soundsmith carts, Straingauge and Hyperion).
My idea is to "future proof" my analog for the next 20-25 years with this batch of 7 stylii.
My Q is primarily whether carts/stylii naturally physically deteriorate over such a long period.
If I have 4 or 5 stylii that sit in a box unused for a decade, maybe 1 unused for two decades, will it's structure fail...glue deterioration, other decrepitude?
Or are stylii "long life" components? Will behave perfectly fine after many many years minding their own business in a box on my shelf?
The Straingauge system works on "slot in" stylii, each spare one costing $750-950 to make up, which is one of the great VFM propositions in modern day hifi.
In normal circumstances I'd order my usual two spare stylii to give me 4000-6000 hours total use btwn the two, but on this occasion I'm minded to buy a shedload more, maybe 6-7 stylii.
I've saved additional funds on not spending my usual annual budget over Covid period, opening up possiblity of a bigger bulk purchase here, and I also realise that the pressures on Peter will only be more relentless over time (he's in his 70s, and exclusively attends alone to the top Soundsmith carts, Straingauge and Hyperion).
My idea is to "future proof" my analog for the next 20-25 years with this batch of 7 stylii.
My Q is primarily whether carts/stylii naturally physically deteriorate over such a long period.
If I have 4 or 5 stylii that sit in a box unused for a decade, maybe 1 unused for two decades, will it's structure fail...glue deterioration, other decrepitude?
Or are stylii "long life" components? Will behave perfectly fine after many many years minding their own business in a box on my shelf?
Last edited: