[Sonny]

Does anyone or has anyone heard of such a thing?   Does the room temperature effect the way a cartridge tracks?

I know there are a number of small "rubber" washers, etc., used in the suspension of most if not all cartridges, and was told that if the room is cold, say below 65 degrees F, this may affect the rigidity of the rubber washers thus reducing it's flexibility and causing more mistracking in the inner grooves as the inner grooves are closer than the outter grooves.

Has anyone heard or experienced this?
What do you think? Plausible???

[TheChairGuy]

I'm sure it is...but, within realm of normal room temps, 55-80 degrees Fahrenheit, it likely wouldn't affect matters much insofar as we can hear them. 

Don't ice nor boil your cartridges, Tuan...how many times have I told you that?

John

[Sonny]

John,

Oops, I thought you said to use the torch on my vinyl! 
Well, this is what I was told that operating in the mid 60s vs say, the 70s degree, makes a huge difference...I am going to try that tonight by having a 60w light on the table...

T

[Wayner]

Funny this got brought up  'cause I just got a new pair of BlueJeans cables in the mail cryogenically treated by mother nature...no extra charge!

I do think that a 55 degree room temperature will have an effect on all metal part tolerances including tonearm pivot needle bearing and swing bearings. Depending on the design, things could get tighter or things could get looser. I also think it has an effect on lubrication (platter shaft). Things are designed and usually machined at room temperature (72 degrees) and going one way or another in extremes will have an effect, but perhaps marginal.

Wayner

[Sonny]

Wayner, you know, it makes logical sense since we all know temperature effect all things, for example, we all sweat at a certain degree, for me, it's probably in the mid 70s, but for others, it can be lower or higher...   

So, I will experiment tonight and write my observation!  I hope this fixes my situation!   

[Wayner]

All things expand and contract with the temperature change. I heard the old story about a machine shop that made part "A" at their factory at 70 degrees and it was suppose to fit with part "B" made at another factory at 73 degrees and the parts didn't fit, tho they were toleranced perfectly. Tight tolerances perhaps, but that is an example of how things expand and contract with temperature.

Here in Minnesota, the high for the day was about -8 below zero. Everything has shrinkage......everything.  aa (maybe not large rear-ends). 

Wayner

[Sonny]

well, here in SF, it's been sitting around 50-65 outside, and inside, we don't turn the heat on, so, it's around 60s...
I guess since cartridges were made for 72, then well, there could be issues...
Shrinkage is a bad thing, as "George" from Seinfeld once said!

[Wayner]

I sure wasn't in the pool!!!!!! 

[TheChairGuy]

Direct Drive makers in the 70's and 80's went to all lengths to communicate that speed was steady on their decks even at extremely cold and hot temps...I suspect to post an advantage versus (unregulated) belt drive decks that did have speed issues at extreme's.

The belt and, as Wayner, mentions all the metal surface to surface parts would be altered in extreme weather....but probably not from normal range 55-80 F.  But, you got a heckuva' resolving deck and younger ears than I...so perhaps you do hear a difference.

If you think you do...then for all intensive purposes you do 

John

[thegage]

Does anyone or has anyone heard of such a thing?   Does the room temperature effect the way a cartridge tracks?

Yes, there are manufacturers (e.g. Benz) that specify an ideal temperature for cartridge performance. It mostly has to do with the suspension and the fact that it stiffens up as temperature drops, negatively affecting tracking and compliance. Most aim for a mean of about 72 degrees, so I would say that temps in the low 60s would have a noticeable effect.

John k.

[jrtrent]

One company I know of that cites temperature effects is Linn, whose cartridges are typically rated to track at 1.7 grams at a specified temperature of 20 degrees centigrade.  They acknowledge temperature effects and recommend a decrease of .1 gram for each 5 degrees centigrade above 20; nothing is mentioned about what to do for colder temperatures (perhaps because their MC cartridges at the time had a vtf range of 1.5-1.7 grams), but one could reasonably infer that increasing tracking force would help.

I believe I damaged a significant number of my then-small record collection one winter many years ago when I couldn't afford heat.  I was playing records at temperatures ranging from the high 20's to low 50's (degrees Fahrenheit) and am convinced that reduced compliance due to low temperature caused the damage (and yes, mostly apparent near the end of the record sides).  Well, we live and learn, and now I simply don't play records if I can't keep a reasonable temperature.  I had few cool weeks last fall while waiting for the landlord to fix the heating system, but temperatures stayed at or above 62 degrees in my apartment, and I felt safe, and got great sound, tracking the fairly compliant M97xE at its maximum 1.5 grams.

[Wayner]

At those temps, jrtrent, the vinyl itself is pretty stiff. When you consider the fairly small force of 1.5 grams that must translate into tremendous weight per sq. (?)... what ever that micro distance is, translates to quite a a scraping tool! Warmer vinyl is more forgiving and probably bends a little when the stylus passes by.

Wayner BRRRRRRR! (-25 outside)

[jrtrent]

At those temps, jrtrent, the vinyl itself is pretty stiff. . .

Great point, Wayner.  A double-whammy for damage at cold temperatures.

[BobM]

Ha ... a vinyl stiffie 

I bet that's what Fremer got when he heard how much of a discount he got on that Caliburn TT he has now.

Bob

[Vinyl-Addict]

All things expand and contract with the temperature change. I heard the old story about a machine shop that made part "A" at their factory at 70 degrees and it was suppose to fit with part "B" made at another factory at 73 degrees and the parts didn't fit, tho they were toleranced perfectly. Tight tolerances perhaps, but that is an example of how things expand and contract with temperature.

Here in Minnesota, the high for the day was about -8 below zero. Everything has shrinkage......everything.  aa (maybe not large rear-ends). 

Wayner

Wayne, technically it doesn't matter what the temperature of the machine shop is. What matters is that the end product must measure correctly in a controlled temperature inspection room (68F). Materials with poor thermal expansion qualities are a PITA to work with in hot uncontrolled temp. machine shops.
There are very few air conditioned machine shops in my area but any shop doing govt. work better have temp. controlled inspection rooms because the govt. chaps who ultimately inspect them won't sign off on them otherwise. I've worked in machine shops since 1976, all but one shop was temperature controlled, however they all had controlled temp. inspection rooms.

Here is the spec. relating to correct inspection room temperature. This is vehemently adhered to BTW, at least with customers I do business with.

ASME/ANSI Y14.5 Fundamental Rule (K) states that measurement temperatures “unless otherwise specified, all dimensions are applicable at 20º C (68º F).” Also MIL-STD-120 paragraph 8.2 states that “temperature should be constantly kept as near to 68º F as possible.

You can of course gamble and ship machined parts not inspected in a controlled temperature room but you are taking a serious chance, as you pointed out in your post.