Simple non-harmful cartridge de-mag

BobM · « **on:** 13 May 2010, 05:37 pm »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TkJ_wwkbNA&feature=related

JakeJ · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 May 2010, 06:56 pm »

That's an awesome tip! TCG please make this a sticky.

BobM · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 May 2010, 07:30 pm »

Now I have no experience trying this, nor can I say for certain that what this guy claimes will work as claimed. It should be worth a try though - no harm done.

Maybe someone who knows more about cartridge composition and magnetic properties of coils can chime in here.

Wayner · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 May 2010, 08:08 pm »

Interesting video. No, I don't believe this will cause any harm to MM or MC cartridges, tho after doing the procedure, I'm not sure it did any good either.

Wayner

JakeJ · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 May 2010, 08:23 pm »

Well, I think it makes perfectly good sense because a fancy schmancy cartridge de-magnetizer simply sends an inverted signal to the coils to perform its job. This does essentially the same job.

That said, not all moving coil cartridges need to be demagnetized if their coils are wound on non-magnetic material. Consult your mfr.
Here is a link I found that talks about it.

Wayner · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 May 2010, 09:15 pm »

I just saying I'm not sure if I've ever heard cartridge magnetization or not before. So is this a problem or more snake oil to fix a non-existing problem? None of the cartridge manufacturers that I deal with have ever mentioned this as a problem, so if it was, why wouldn't they recommend this technique or a device to de-mag? We also don't need John to make this a sticky until some others have tried this technique and can swear it had a positive effect. You jumped on the bandwagon without even trying it.

Wayner

JakeJ · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 May 2010, 09:48 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 13 May 2010, 09:15 pm

I just saying I'm not sure if I've ever heard cartridge magnetization or not before. So is this a problem or more snake oil to fix a non-existing problem? None of the cartridge manufacturers that I deal with have ever mentioned this as a problem, so if it was, why wouldn't they recommend this technique or a device to de-mag? We also don't need John to make this a sticky until some others have tried this technique and can swear it had a positive effect. You jumped on the bandwagon without even trying it.

Wayner

Fair enough. Perhaps all of the cartridge manufacturers you have dealt with build their coils on non-magnetic cores. I used an Adcom Crosscoil cartridge for years and it did have ferrous cores which required occasional demagging. Magnetization of an MC cartridge manifests as a veiling or muffling especially in the treble. In the past I borrowed a demagnetizer. I haven't noticed this problem with my Lyra Lydian Beta but did confirm with the distributor that it indeed has ferrous cores and that at some point I may need to demag it. They did warn me that there are some demagnetizers that put too much voltage into the coils and damage them. Caveat emptor.

Understand that this usually only occurs under heavy usage of a cartridge and that the magnetization does dissipate over time (although it does not go away entirely). I don't get to listen to vinyl near as much as I'd like to so that is the likely reason I haven't been bothered by it. You're also correct in that I haven't tried this method but I will do so and I'll make sure there are witnesses to keep the "court" happy.

Enjoy the music,
Jake

PS - Did you read the link I provided? If you google the subject there are more resources.

BobM · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 May 2010, 02:05 pm »

Well I just tried it. I did a "before and after" listen. I think I heard a bit more clarity, but it's hard to be sure and I certainly can't go backwards and compare again.

In any case, it didn't hurt anything.