Soundsmith Optimized Contour Contact Line Stylus for Rebuild

@rauliruegas Interesting to read your favorable opinion of the AQ 7000 Fe5. I have one of those in storage that I ran for 1500-2000 hrs before mounting a Helikon. Perhaps the Fe5 is worth revisiting with a Soundsmith OCL stylus retip on the Lyra boron cantilever. Any thoughts on whether the Helikon was actually an improvement over the Fe5, or not?

Dear @dgarretson : Yes, the Fe5 is very good performer better than the Clavis DC but different than the Helikon that's too a good cartridge.

I think that you have to mount in your system cleaning perfectly the stylus tip and give at least 4-5 hour of playing before serious listening tests. If what you experienced with and even that has 2K hours then you will know if still is worth to be retipped or not. Btw, I remember the original stylus shape is Ogura LC in boron canrilever.

R.

After serious consideration and consultation with those who actually work on cartridges, I have settled on having Soundsmith install a boron cantilever with a line contact stylus on the Clavis DC I sent there a few weeks ago.

The rebuilt Lyra DC came in on Friday.  New Boron cantilever and line contact stylus.  From a purist perspective, it's no longer a Clavis DC.  It's something else.  Time will tell whether it's an improvement, has no change in sound or negative results.

Time for installation, set-up and breakin.  Much easier said than done since my eyesight has deteriorated greatly since my last phono cart change.   Soundsmith recommends 50 hours breakin time.

As long as the table is down for a bit, it will get some maintenance.  Belt refurb, oil change, tire rotation and radiator flush.  

Should have the system up and running again Monday or Tuesday.  Will be interesting to hear the rebuilt cart before breakin and as it progresses.  

As a side note, Soundsmith recommends Blue Tack to clean the stylus and cantilever.  If fluids are involved, they should be used sparingly and infrequently as they may soften the cantilever or stylus adhesive.

Peter has done two for me Line contact ruby on a Alpha Genisis 1000
years ago and recently a self modded Denon 103R.  The improvement on the Denon was incredible.  I have been looking to find a replacement for the Alpha since the suspension finally let go. I miss this cartridge.