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fabulous Technics EPC-100 series re-tip

I'm pretty sure many of you guys own fabulous Technics MM EPC-100 (MM) in your rasenal, especially their top models like (P or C versions) MK3 and MK4.

The question is how to upgrade this cartridges with a new tip, cantilever, suspension:

-How can do the job properly and how much is it, how is the sound after upgrade compared to the original?

-How good is the motor of this cartridge?

-It's worth to invest more in new boron cantilever, new tip etc?

-No one can provide pressure fitted tip to the boron cantilever?

P.S. I know Axel can do the job, not sure if he can change the suspension, Soundsmith will not do that. VdH is not available in my area. Who else can treat that Technics MM right ?

Anyone on here did the same to their Technics EPC-100 mk3 or mk4 ?
128x128chakster
chakster's avatar
chakster OP
6,144 posts
 
You didn't tell us from the start about your bad experience in details. 

It would be nice if someone can report here about successful experience of suspension repair on original Technics 100 or 205 series of cartridges with SoundSmith, Van Den Hul, Dominic etc. 

Now i’m curios about sapphire or ruby NEO SAS for Technics 205C mk4. I want to hear it, but i don’t have 205c mk4 anymore, at least my friend has it, i’m looking forward to check when this Neo Sas will be available. I didn't liked ex generation of SAS on my 205 mk4, but new generation Neo Sas could be better and totally different. 


nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear chaksster, ''You didn't tell us from the start about your bad

experience in details''. I assume that your intention was to address

me without mentioning my name? Well there are two problems with

your statement. ''from the start'' in the MM thread is a curious reproach

while ''details'' my imply the parallel universe added to

the known one. But I wrote actually the same story earlier with

the basic statement that those Technics have suspension problems

which can't be fixed. I understand your inclination for disbelief

because that is how ''infantuation'' works. For ''my'' Silvia I was

convinced that not she but her parent were against me (grin).

BTW this is your third desperate attempt to find anyone who was

succesful with his Technics suspension repair. You are as succesful

 in your search as those who are searching for the right person

who can fix Technics suspension.  Anyway everyone who

participated in the MM thread should know that there are many

''carts of the month'' so you should be able to find some other

''darling''.

chakster's avatar
chakster OP
6,144 posts
 
I got on hands Technics 205C MK4 re-cantilevered and retipped by Axel. A friend of mine decided to sell one of his two samples, both were fine-tuned by Axel in the past. It’s a good news because i can show high quality pictures here to all a’goners who would like to khow how it looks after Axel’s treatment (and it sounds great of course) with Nagaoka Boron Cantilever (new damper/suspension) and Nude Elliptical diamond tip. BTW This precise operation cost 359 euro alone according to Axel's current pricelist. 

P.S. He also sell his NOS Jico SAS if anyone interested (i got it here).
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear chakster, seen and assuming are two different mental

processes. One can't see the suspension on the picture you

provided. But one can assume that Axel would not glue a new

cantilever/stylus combo on an defective suspension. I can see

because I know the stylus construction of the 205 seriers carts

that an small aluminum tube is glued on the rest of the original

cantilever on  the back side and the new cantilever glued

in the front side of the mentiond aluminum tube. Everyone who

owned or own any of the 205 series styli knows that by the

original there is no such aluminum tube. The new boron cantilever

is solid and can't be put as such on the (rest) of the original cantilever.

 I am not sure if this cart belongs to your friend or you but

only the former owner knows if this cart was an low rider.

My other assumption is that if Axel was/is able to fix the (defective)

suspension he would also fix my (two) 205, mk 3 styli. But he

deed not. Neither deed Andy.

chakster's avatar
chakster OP
6,144 posts
 
@nandric I’m not in contadiction with your point of view. This cartridge was rebuilded by Axel and you’re correct when you said the collar (alluminum tube) made from a different material compared to the original (which looks like a brass). To make sure how the original looks like anyone can visit this link to check the pictures and compare the original structure to axel’s materials used in rebuilded version. They are totally different, even the cantilever is longer on the original. But in fact rebuilded cartridge sounds amazing even in comparison with previously sold original "lowrider" (which is better). Anyway, this is a compliment to Axel’s work and seems like it’s better than Jico SAS replacement (which also comes with aluminum collar on the back and no tension wire) and Axel's version is closer to the original technics sound.

In fact even dead 205c MK4 can be rebuilded like this by Axel. He did that for foxtan many years ago.

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