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?
128x128truemaineiac
To the person who suggested that I should compare a retipped universe to an OEM universe, I can’t do that because I only have one universe cartridge, and it has its original stylus, which has only 50 or so hours on it.

However, tooblue’s experience tends to confirm what we have already been saying, if you choose to re- tip using an after market vendor, it is best to choose cantilever materials and a stylus shape that most closely resemble those of the original.
I have really been pleased with the 8 carts that I have had rebuilt by Soundsmith

It a destiny of MCs 

Personally i don't think it's normal that so many nice (sometimes unique and exotic cartridges) from many different manufacturers/designers are all goes to one person for refurbishing with third-party parts. 

This is one of the reason i love the MM cartridges, at least we can change the cantilever/stylus assembly by ourself in 5 seconds (if we have original replacement) without ruining the sound character of the cartridge. No compromises here. 

Refurbished some special MC cartridges by third-party vendor is always a compromise. Good business for the vendors, but is that good for the cartridge? 

Someone should make a direct comparison of those unique cartridges in stock condition to the refurbished cartridges with different parts (cantilever, stylus). 

Our memories, unfortunately, can not hold the information of particular sound for a month, comparing refurbished cartridge to the memories is not a good idea. We're always biased by the new toys. We have to compare original to refurbished in the real life in the same system. 

We assume that  the ''age limit'' of an MC stylus is, say, 1000-

1500 hours. From this premise one can deduce that either

retip or disposing of is the consequence. Selling in between only

moves the problem to someone else. The dilemma than is either

retip of stylus only, retip with cantilever/stylus combo or refurbishing

by the manufacturer. ''Refurbishing'' is not an clear proposition.

What this means is the exchanging of the whole generator with

stylus/cantilever part. One can imagine that generators are produced

in series and used for different models or bodies. Except Van den

Hul I am not aware of any other producer who does real retips.

However ''our retip fear'' is curious considering the fact that this

repair does list harm in comparison with suspension and coils.

The so called ''moving parts'' are stylus, cantilever and coils+

the joint pipe (aluminum tube) on which those parts are fastened

+ tension wire which connects the generator with the moving

part(s). One can state that retippers get the same cantilever/styli

combos as manufacturers. This however is not the case with

''suspension'' nor coils. This imply that intentions of the designer

can't be realized by an retipper. EMT illustrate, for example,

how complex suspension is. They were not able to improve

their suspension for more than 30 years.

@chakster, @nandric, you two just don't give up and it makes both your points pointless, this is not about if the cartridges change with a rebuild but if the change is slight enough to warrant the choice of a rebuild/retip by an outside vender and you can still enjoy that cart to the fullest. I have stated before that sometimes it does not work out but when it does, money well spent. Some people just want to listen to a different cart every day, not me, I have narrowed things down to about 4 different carts and just want to enjoy them for as long as they still produce the sound that I have come to love and enjoy. The Universe is such a sweet cart and end of the road for me that if the rebuild had not worked out well I would already be in touch with Sora Sound working a deal to replace it, instead I am just playing album after album after album after album and sitting on my hands to keep from clapping.
 I would already be in touch with Sora Sound working a deal to replace it

Do you mean to buy another ? They can not replace any refurbished cartridges as they can replace an original (even broken original) with their ZYX exchange program.