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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
 
One question for everyone:

If a refurbished cartridge is almost always better than the original cartridge (as many people claimed here) then why all those experienced  cartridge designers are so stupid that they can't make what re-tippers can? 

There must be some secret, right ? Only re-tippers know how to upgrade the a cartridge to the next level, but for some reason most of the re-tippers never produced their own cartridge. Indeed, why ? Because so many people standing in the line to send them all those cartridges from internationally renowned designers pretending for upgrade. 

Ruby are indeed very attractive (visually), i like ruby and sapphire cantilevers on my cartridges. Beryllium was an ideal material, but it does not look so attractive and no one can offer beryllium cantilever anymore, none of those retippers.

Regarding SoundSmith i think everyone should try his own cartridges if you like so much his cantilevers on some other cartridges. 

Probably his own design is even better as it must be a pinnacle of his knowledge and research. Right ? 

Garrott brothers retipped all those Koetsu, Decca cartridges in the past and their reputation was second to none. Their own MM cartridges are still available, even their own vintage MC (very rare). 

Any other re-tipper who actually design cartridges ? Yes, Van Den Hul, but he's retired ? 

Anyone else ? Please remind me 



tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,065 posts
 
@nandric and I were separated at birth as identical twins, sadly I got the fat gene... but the acute hearing

i have so far had Peter and team do three rebuilds, all turned out as cost effective 
tooblue
1,953 posts
 
@chakster, the stylus for my Grace that I am waiting on from Soundsmith is his replacement stylus of his own design that he has a limited supply of, it is his Ruby Optimum Line Contact and it is replacing a Soundsmith level 2 ruby rebuild of the original. Thank you for the offer of an original as that was very gracious of you and might remind you of this at a later date. Enjoy the music
neonknight
406 posts
 
@chakster
Goldring offers retip services.

Expert Stylus was the European approved service facility for the time when the elder Sugano was retired. They also have their own cut for diamond profile.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Yeah, Expert Stylus in UK is @nandric favorite, especially then the GBP exchange rate is no lonres so strong as it was before (when it was almost twice as much than USD). 

I've heard about Expert Stylus and even contacted them few times, they are very nice in communication. I knew them because of the Stanton/Pickering fan club, seems like the Expert Stylus was the manufacturer of the Stereohedron diamonds for Stanton/Pickering in the 70s/80s/90s.  
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