2. analog
  3. 156290-78291

A Soundsmith Re-tip Believer


To paraphrase Michael Elliott, the eventual guru of Counterpoint, "price point defines the limits of the quality of the parts used in a piece of Hi-Fi. If a comparable profit margin could be attained using superior components I would have used them".

 

Hence the debate of re-tipping a cartridge, or buying a new one through a manufactures exchange program. Based on Counterpoint's paradigm, better products use better parts, that's why they're better products. This was the pivotal reason I had Peter Ledermann rebuild my Dynavector HOMC 20X2 cartridge, instead of going the exchange route.

 

A 20X2 is not as esoteric of a cartridge as the coterie use, but it's not bad. The reason I chose the 20X2 over the far more expensive LO Dynavector TE Kaitora is because of my Pre-amp (Gain 46db). The 20X2's factory cantilever is an aluminium tube and the stylus was a Micro-Ridge affair.

 

Using Counterpoint's philosophy I had Mr Ledermann replace the aluminium tube cantilever with a ruby and the factory stylus with an Optimized Contour Nude Contact Line Diamond. This combination creates an ultra low mass system according to Mr. Ledermann.

 

These bonuses are augmented by the fact that a gem stone is more inert than an aluminium tube. Plus an Optimized Contour Nude Contact Line Diamond has better tracking characteristics and superior sonic retrieval to a Micro-Ridge, and it has a lower mass. If these mods don't elevate the source to a better over all cartridge than why are they found on cartridges a few heads further up the totem pole.

 

The sound? Dead quiet. Beautifully transparent, gorgeous sound stage, and the imaging! Rich highs that are not intrusive, mid-range to die for, well controlled bass which I wish had more authority (could be the Pre-amp tubes), and a couple surprises. Very rewarding to good recordings, but unlike the Grado, not brutal to not so good recordings, and no Grado hum.

 

I'm in the re-tip camp. If any of you are pondering over the idea of exchanging your cartridge or having Soundsmith rebuild your current cartridge, my experience has been totally positive going the Peter Ledermann way. I'm just saying.
thehorn
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Even cart producers would need an extra worker for retips.
They also get the same cantilever/stylus combo's ready-made
by supplier. Why should one retiper in an factory be better than
the usual kind? BTW there are ''usual kinds'' with +40 years experience . There is no such ''animal'' by cart producers.

@nandric 

Cartidge producers at Dynavector never refurbish their cartridges or re-tip them, i think in this world the policy is to give a customer the best (aka brand new cartridge with warranty) instead, but with very special discount to support this service policy of exchange. 

No doubt that Peter is one of the best in business, but the OP has a brand NEW cartridge, not something old or special. His cartridge is still available in the shops and i believe supported by Dynavector for exchange. Better (different) cartridges are also available even at lower cost (including those MI from SoundSmith). 

Dead quiet or not - this is not a character of the sound. The best way is to compare refurbished to the original in the same system and then it will be fair comparison. Vinyl can't be dead quiet anyway, it is not digital. Even mastertape has some tape hiss.

SoundSmith can't repair many cartridges, because they are unique, some of them are Dynavector with short Ruby or Diamond cantilevers, no one can get those cantilevers anymore. This is one example why re-tipper is not the best solution, not in every situation and it's primarily depends on the cartridge design. Sometimes they simply can't help.


Ag insider logo xs@2x
islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
I had my old Dynavector XX2MKII refurbed (as Chakster put it), and to my ears (with the new ruby cantilever), it came back a better cartridge than I remember it being new.

As a nearly $2000 cartridge, a $400 refurb is a good deal, at least to me.

BR,
Dan
tooblue
1,953 posts
 
I too am in the Soundsmith rebuild/retip camp. Currently waiting on his Grace F9 Ruby Optimum Line Contact replacement stylus for my Grace, main system is running a ZYX Universe with his solid boron cantilever and a Line Contact stylus. Have had his rebuild service done 9 times and have had one cart that the service was a side move and not an improvement over the stock cartridge, with that said, when things get back to normal I will be sending him my Miyabi Standard for evaluation as well as my Dynavector DRT XV1s for the solid Boron cantilever with Line Contact stylus rebuild. The normal naysayers will all chime in with their takes as usual, most have already but just ignore them as I do and enjoy the music.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear chakster, This so called ''cart-exchange'' consist in an new
generator glued in the old body. I have the bill from Koetsu for
2200 euro. As you probably know Koetsu uses the same generator
in different cartridges. To me it make no sense to pay 2200 euro
instead of, say, 500 for an new cantilever/stylus combo by one
repair service. I got this Koetsu for 1500 euro on German ''audio-
markt''. The mentioned bill was included.
bpoletti
1,556 posts
 
I sent an old, tired Lyra Clavis Da Capo to Soundsmith for "retipping."  We agree on using a solid Boron cantilever and line contact stylus for the "rebuild."  The results were interesting.  The cartridge was cleaned, the motor was unchanged.  I don't think they did anything with the suspension.  

The sound was better than I recalled from the CdC.  The cartridge was always clean, but with the change of cantilever material and stylus size / shape, instruments were more fleshed-out with tighter images and defines space.  A very nice improvement over the original cartridge.  

And for the meager price of the "rebuild" I got a cartridge that fits firmly into a higher performance group than the original.  
More to discover