Soundsmith did a great job on my Transfiguration Spirit. I recall that when I replaced the Spirit with an Orpheus, I remembered a big step up in sound quality. When I installed the Spirit after it came back, I was expecting a big downgrade, but it wasn't. Sounded absolutely fine, even compared to the Orpehus. Could be that the Spirit was worn when I upgraded, so an improvement is easily heard, or just that Soundsmith actually improved the sound of the original. I don't know and I don't really care why. I just know I'm happy with the cartridge and I paid $500, not $5000, so it's cool. Enjoy.
Retip for zyx
I have an airy3 that is about 5 years old. Zyx does not have a retip, you get a new cartridge for a discount. Has anyone had a zyx retipped and how did you make out?
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- 64 posts total
@chayro, yea the $ spent versus the quality of sound that you receive from the retip/rebuild is so wide that I would never be able to afford replacing the carts that I have now, just need to be informed if possible on the right way to go, as in my DRT XV1s it was still the second best cart I had owned at the time with the rebuid and that was compared to itself in stock form. I hope to have as much success with the Universe, it is such a special cart. |
FWIW, I just received notice from Soundsmith that they have completed the work on my ZYX Universe and it is on its way back to me, sent in for a retip but Peter said the original cantilever would not allow for the pressing of a new stylus through it so he replaced with his boron cantilever with the OLC stylus to best mimic the original parts. Will post impressions as I get the cart settled in for those who might be curious. Can't wait to get it up and running and after putting over 2200 hours on it before the work done I should be able to detect any differences to the sound character of the newly rebuilt Universe. |
This is an old thread so my post was based on experience with Axel Schurholz but without any experience with ZYX kinds. I now own ZYX Airy and, say, know what I am talking about. The cantilever/stylus construction by ZYX is different in comparison with all other carts. On the ''nose'' of the (boron) cantilever one can see an small tube in which the stylus is fastened. There is obviously no hole in the cantilever in which a new stylus can be fitted. So the only option is to exchange the whole cantilever/stylus combo. This retip kind will cost about $500. The stylus (alone) retip about $200 (180 GBP by Expert stylus UK). As is mentioned elsewhere stylus alone retip is the least problematic. But, according to me, not possible by ZYX. |
This is original ZYX cantilever with original MicroRidge stylus tip. No one can do the same, re-tipped or re-cantilevered ZYX is no longer ZYX cartridge, but some sort of hybrid with different sound. |
- 64 posts total