When to replace the stylus.

[jameshays]

I purchased a new Audio Technica 440mlb last December and was wondering when to replace and how to know it's time. I am sure it depends on use and I play a few records almost every day.

[allenh]

Unless you never clean anything and or run at stupidly high tracking force on a badly set up crap turntable I wouldn't worry about it yet. I have carts here dating back to the 70's that work perfectly so unless it's a abused your stylus should last a very long time.

Generally manufacturers quote figures between about 500 and 1000 or so hours playing time which varies from cart to cart so look it up on the manufacturers site. This depends very much on how clean you keep your records and stylus and how well set up it is. For that AT I would reckon on the higher side so somewhere around 1000 hours plus in normal use but basically when it starts to sound bad if it doesn't improve after a clean you need to replace it, generally you'll hear the top end start to fail first. And if it's this early look very hard at your arm, turntable and how you look after your records and kit.

[jameshays]

Thanks for that. I'll probably have about 1000 hours on it in just over a year so I'm probably not too far off.