Can a tape demagnetizer damage a turntable cartridge?

[gonzo]

I was going to set up my cassette deck next to my turntable. That puts the cassette deck well roughly 8-10" from the cartridge. Can the magnetic field from a demagnetizer like the Han D Mag affect or damage the cartridge. And would it matter whether it was a MM or MC cartridge? Thanks for any insight. Norm

[Mr. Lin]

I've wondered this myself Norm. For this reason, and others, when it's time for my Nak's weekly de-magging I unplug it, pull it out of it's home, take it down to the basement away from everything else, and do the deed.*devil*

[Teresa]

I was going to set up my cassette deck next to my turntable. That puts the cassette deck well roughly 8-10" from the cartridge. Can the magnetic field from a demagnetizer like the Han D Mag affect or damage the cartridge. And would it matter whether it was a MM or MC cartridge? Thanks for any insight. Norm

Norm first congratulations on getting the Han D Mag, it is what I believe to be the best ever made. I wouldn't set my turntable next to it. If the cartridge is a MM you can ruin it. If it is MC it might be OK, MC can become magnetized over time as the magnets are stationary and it the coils that move.

If it is a MC and you have a MC demagnetizer you could run it after you demagnetize the cassette deck. But I have no idea if a MC demagnetizer would affect the cassette deck being so close to the turntable?

In short I think it is a bad idea, is there anywhere else you can put the cassette deck? Maybe trading spots with another component as far away from the turntables as possible?*check*

[4tified]

I was going to set up my cassette deck next to my turntable. That puts the cassette deck well roughly 8-10" from the cartridge. Can the magnetic field from a demagnetizer like the Han D Mag affect or damage the cartridge. And would it matter whether it was a MM or MC cartridge? Thanks for any insight. Norm

I wouldn't think so, but to be safe, I would isolate the cassette deck from everything else. I would think that magnetism may pull on the needle/post inside the cartridge, but not damage it necessarily. Whatever you do though, make sure your turntable is off.

Edit: Then again, according to what Teresa said, I would isolate the component. I was thinking about a turntable like mine would be able to handle it (but it's a piece of crap anyway). I wasn't thinking about the better sounding equipment with more sensitive/more advanced components, which could be damaged easily.

[niklasthedolphin]

There are people out there spinning gold on the snake oil of demagnetizing cartridges.

However, I believe that a tape head is not magnetic in itself. It is transducing electromagnetism to the tape. For a tapehead being magnetic in itself is an issue that we solve with the demagnetizer/defluxer.

A cartridge is consisting of a magnet and a coil. MC cartridges has the coil mounted on the other end of the cantilever from where the stylus is. It is then moving around within the magnetic field of a steady magnet.
MM has the magnet mounted on the other end of the cantilever etc.

If you demagnetize a cartridge, you are actualy trying to eliminate a magnetism that is supposed to be there to create signals from your TT's cartridge.

DON'T do that is my advice.

And for those people selling snake oil for trying to destroy your cartridge (or whatever part of your equipment): Report them to the consumers' advisory council or what ever authority you have in the country you live to nail these vandals.

"dolph"

[Teresa]

There are people out there spinning gold on the snake oil of demagnetizing cartridges.

However, I believe that a tape head is not magnetic in itself. It is transducing electromagnetism to the tape. For a tapehead being magnetic in itself is an issue that we solve with the demagnetizer/defluxer.

A cartridge is consisting of a magnet and a coil. MC cartridges has the coil mounted on the other end of the cantilever from where the stylus is. It is then moving around within the magnetic field of a steady magnet.
MM has the magnet mounted on the other end of the cantilever etc.

If you demagnetize a cartridge, you are actualy trying to eliminate a magnetism that is supposed to be there to create signals from your TT's cartridge.

DON'T do that is my advice.

And for those people selling snake oil for trying to destroy your cartridge (or whatever part of your equipment): Report them to the consumers' advisory council or what ever authority you have in the country you live to nail these vandals.

"dolph"

Thanks for the advise dolph. *Hi5* I have a MM myself and those cartridge demagnetizers are only recommended for MC, as they can damage a MM. If I had a MC I likely would have bought one of those demag units. But alas I am thrifty so I probably will never own a MC cartridge so I am safe. *check* From what I've read the coils in MC cartridges build up a magnetic charge and need to be periodically demagnetized for better sound. So this is all a hoax? And these folks are selling oil? It's not the first time or likely to be the last time. *eyepop*

[niklasthedolphin]

Thanks for the advise dolph. *Hi5* I have a MM myself and those cartridge demagnetizers are only recommended for MC, as they can damage a MM. If I had a MC I likely would have bought one of those demag units. But alas I am thrifty so I probably will never own a MC cartridge so I am safe. *check* From what I've read the coils in MC cartridges build up a magnetic charge and need to be periodically demagnetized for better sound. So this is all a hoax? And these folks are selling oil? It's not the first time or likely to be the last time. *eyepop*

I understand that I did not make myself clear.

I would NOT use demagnetizing on either MM or MC cartridges.
It would do the same damage.

"dolph"