Cartridge Demag Trick - Or Bad Advice

[FreddieFerric]

I picked this link up off of vinyl engine. What do you all think? Personally, I'm afraid to try it although it does sound intriguing.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1TkJ_wwkbNA

Here's a link to their website: http://www.soundmindaudio.com/

[btf1980]

How exactly does doing that demagnetize your cartridge? Furthermore, what if I have a moving magnet cartridge?

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by btf1980

How exactly does doing that demagnetize your cartridge? Furthermore, what if I have a moving magnet cartridge?

I thought I heard him say that this would work on all types of cartridges, but I think, if it actually did work, that it would only work on coils.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Interesting link/tip Fred!

I'll be honest though, I don't understand the need for cartridge demag and have never done so.

John

[richteer]

I'm with Fred here: it sounds intriguing but I'm not gonna try it on my cartridge. I'd be wary even if I didn't already own a cartridge demagnetiser (which I do)...

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by richteer

I'm with Fred here: it sounds intriguing but I'm not gonna try it on my cartridge. I'd be wary even if I didn't already own a cartridge demagnetiser (which I do)...

Can you Rich, Fred or btf explain to me the necessity of demagging? Like I said, I've never demagged any cartridge ever. What is the purpose/benefit?

John

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by John72953

Can you Rich, Fred or btf explain to me the necessity of demagging? Like I said, I've never demagged any cartridge ever. What is the purpose/benefit?

John

First off, I don't think you can demag an MM cart. As for coils, the theory is that they develop magnetism over time which supposedly degrades the sound. The theory, at least is far as I can tell, is that the use of repeated decaying field magnetism, or fluxbusting, is supposed to reduce the unwanted magnetism from the coil which is supposed to help improve the sound. I think some of the criticism is that demagnitizing a coil cart too often will actually damage the cart itself. As far as what this guy in the youtube video is suggesting has me scratching my head, I just have no idea how that procedure is going to do anything.

I would also point out that Luxman's new E-200 phono stage is advertised as having a built-in cartridge demagnitizer. I would be curious to see what type of circuit Luxman has in that pre-amp which actually does what it claims.

A poster on vinyl engine forums pointed out that at one time, Luxman actually produced an amp with a tube in the window. He claims that the tube was not actually running on any circuit in the amp; i.e. just for show. So now I'm wondering if the demag on that phono stage is just a bunch of expensive snake oil. But that's really a whole other topic.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

First off, I don't think you can demag an MM cart. As for coils, the theory is that they develop magnetism over time which supposedly degrades the sound. The theory, at least is far as I can tell, is that the use of repeated decaying field magnetism, or fluxbusting, is supposed to reduce the unwanted magnetism from the coil which is supposed to help improve the sound. I think some of the criticism is that demagnitizing a coil cart too often will actually damage the cart itself. As far as what this guy in the youtube video is suggesting has me scratching my head, I just have no idea how that procedure is going to do anything.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts. I've only demagged my cartridge a few times, but I don't recall any fears about over-demagging. I haven't tried demagging an MM cartridge 'cause I've never owned one since starting my high-end audio journey.