A two-month-long experiment puts the debate to rest.
How long does a vinyl record really last? Some say a few plays are enough to wear it down, while others claim thousands are possible with the right care. Then there’s the long-running fear that cheap turntables, especially those with ceramic cartridges, destroy records. Plenty of collectors swear budget players will grind grooves into dust in no time.
To test these claims, YouTuber VWestlife conducted a two-month experiment. He played identical records on different turntables to see how much wear they’d take.
Here’s what he found out:
How He Made the Experiment
Manufacturers and audio experts have made widely different claims about the number of times a vinyl record can be played before showing noticeable wear.
These conflicting claims raise an important question: how many plays does a record actually withstand before deterioration becomes audible?
To get some real answers, VWestlife ran a two-month experiment, playing identical records on three turntables across different price points. The lineup:
- Quasar CS-7030 Stereo System: A budget model with a ceramic cartridge, sapphire stylus, tracking at 5.5 grams.
- Audio-Technica AT-PL50: An entry-level turntable with a magnetic cartridge, diamond conical stylus, tracking at 3.5 grams.
- Technics SL-QD33: A mid-range turntable featuring a Grado magnetic cartridge, elliptical diamond stylus, tracking at 1.5 grams.
He also used multiple copies of the same record (Restore My Soul by the Marcus Family) to keep things fair.
One copy remained unplayed as a control, while the others were played 50 times on their respective turntables.
The rules:
- Once per weekday, twice on weekends, and on holidays to reflect realistic listening habits.
- Turntable lids stayed closed the entire time to keep dust out.
- Styli were cleaned regularly to prevent buildup from skewing the results.
After 50 plays, VWestlife compared the test records to the untouched control copy.
If the common fears were true, the budget turntable’s record should have been wrecked, filled with hiss and crackle.
That wasn’t the case.
How Much Wear Did the Records Have After 50 Plays?
To determine whether the test records had actually degraded, VWestlife played them on a Technics SL-1900 turntable equipped with a Stanton 681EEE calibration cartridge. This high-end setup was chosen for its low distortion and flat frequency response, so even small changes in sound quality are easy to detect.
Surprisingly, the records played 50 times sounded virtually identical to the control record.
There was no increase in surface noise, no loss of high frequencies, and no audible distortion.
Even the record played on the Quasar turntable, often criticized for its ceramic cartridge, showed no clear degradation. This directly contradicts the widely held belief that inexpensive record players rapidly destroy vinyl.
A technical analysis of groove wear was conducted using spectrum analysis software to back up the listening test.
The results showed:
- Differences were measured in fractions of a decibel, far too small to be perceptible to the human ear.
- The only minor frequency changes occurred above 18,000 Hz, a range beyond what most people can hear.
This raises a new question. If cheap turntables aren’t automatically ruining records, what actually causes vinyl wear?
The Real Reasons Vinyl Wears Down
Many collectors believe that turntable quality alone determines how long a record will last. VWestlife’s experiment suggests otherwise. The biggest threats to vinyl longevity aren’t necessarily budget turntables. Rather, these are poor maintenance, improper setup, and environmental factors.
Here’s what actually matters:
- Stylus quality and condition: A fresh, properly shaped stylus glides smoothly through grooves, but a worn or damaged stylus can cause permanent damage in just one play.
- Tracking force calibration: Too much pressure grinds away at the grooves. Too little, on the other hand, causes skipping, which leads to scuffing and groove damage. Proper adjustment according to manufacturer guidelines is essential.
- Turntable leveling: If a turntable is not perfectly level, the stylus may apply uneven pressure, leading to excessive wear on one side of the groove.
- Dust and dirt buildup: Tiny particles act like sandpaper, grinding into the grooves. Regular cleaning is essential to prevent long-term degradation.
Storage and handling also play a critical role in vinyl preservation. To ensure long-lasting playback:
- Store records vertically in proper inner sleeves to prevent warping.
- Keep them in a low-humidity environment to avoid moisture damage.
- Friction causes temporary heat buildup that can soften grooves, making them more susceptible to wear. So, avoid repeat plays in quick succession.
- Be cautious when buying used records. Some sellers use a scratch remover polish to make worn records appear pristine, even though their sound quality has already deteriorated.
VWestlife’s experiment makes one thing clear: playing a record, even on a budget turntable, is far less damaging than poor maintenance and mishandling. With proper care, vinyl records can last for hundreds of plays with minimal degradation.