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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
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear tooblue, Thanks for the support: ''mothers don't lie''. But
my point was to demonstrate ''mothers love'' in the sense of
exaggerated subjectivity. This was meant as allusion to
''Peter lovers''. His story is similar to Van den Hul's story.
The illusion that ''the master himself'' does all those repairs as
well the carts. We in Holland are better informed. Anyway about.
van den Hul .
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
My dear ''twin brother'', There is, alas, just one thing which is easy
to recognize by some Slavic descendants: the ''IC'' at the end of
their family names.'' Alas'' because they have nothing more in 
common. I learned from logical explanation of ''identity'' that each
person has its own. Such that there are no two persons in the world
with the same identity. Except by twins? I would like to stay ''unique''
but  already have two brothers: Don (Griffithd) and chakster. 
The former is the ''older twin'' the later the'' younger one''.
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
@nandric 


What are you talking about? Is it just me. Sorry, I’m not meaning to sound rude. Am I the only one that doesn’t follow what your trying to say?
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
sdrsdrssdr, By analysis one can interpret written text on its on
or analyse the person who wrote te text. Either the writer formulated
his text poorly in the sense of being unclear or the reader was
not capable to understand the text. You said ''I'm not meaning to
sound rude'' which suggest that you have ''some idea'' about the 
writer which may but not necessarily so be ''right''. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
The Denon DL103 is an example. It can be improved by a different cantilever and stylus. JICO made a living by producing improved stylus / cantilever packages for cartridges. That doesn't make the designers stupid. They just designed to a price point.  

@bpoletti The idea to produce styli for discontinued MM cartridges is great, but JICO also made them to keep the price low, except for SAS which is the most expensive. But even SAS can't surpass original MR on many vintage MM, i think they are equal. Cheaper JICO styli are not better than originals (especially those originals with beryllium cantilevers), it is only compromise (something better than nothing) for many owners of old MM.

Upgrading a Denon 103 does not make its designer stupid, it was designed in the 60's and today standard is different, but it's questionable (at least for me) why not just buy a better cartridge instead? If someone willing to end up with triple price with their DL103 it's ok, but i just don't get the logic behind this process since better cartridges available at the same price. 

Regarding modern cartridges i think it's possible to buy a better one, no ? 

 

     

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