Sound-Smith retipping

If you are happy - it’s nice and you don’t have to worry about comments. As you can hear it’s not the original dynavector sound anymore, but if you like the sound it’s ok.

I’m surprised that David Moskowitz refurbished your KARAT. Normally it’s Peter Ledermann himself.


I’m more than happy with original Karat 17D2 mk2 and even older version was amazing in my system.

I have never seen a negative comment regarding the quality of work done by SS or regarding their professional integrity.  The only "negative" comments are in relation to timeliness.  Because the business is so good and so successful, they sometimes get backlogged, and this is apparently irritating to some customers.  Personally, I have no sympathy for those complaints, because Peter L is generally very forthcoming about the turnaround time, in advance.
I had SS re-tip one of my Grace Ruby cartridges with their OCL stylus on a ruby/sapphire cantilever.  The cartridge did not sound "right" when I got it back (within the estimated time interval). It was shrill and the midrange was recessed.  I thought it just needed break-in.  But after 10-20 hours, it was still pretty awful, not as good sounding as my other OEM Grace Ruby sample (original equipment is ruby cantilever with elliptical stylus).  Peter invited me to return the re-tipped sample for his inspection.  He found an error in the reconstruction, fixed it, and had it back to me within a week, with his apology and at no charge to me.  The SS re-tipped cartridge now far outshines my OEM sample.

If you really do hear an improvement, then the sound has been altered.  Any alteration can be for the better or for the worse depending on your taste and on how the change interacts with the rest of the system.  The fact that most of the reactions to SoundSmith rebuilt cartridges is favorable speaks to the general quality of their work.

True. Understand there are many components and interactions. I always found the low end a little thin with my Technodec wRB250 arm. Always felt the separation and detail was really great. 
Don’t feel I’ve lost those at all but the overall balance so I guess I’m endorsing it with the new Boron cantilever. I never expected it to sound the same and knew that going in. And I’m no way an expert, I just know what I like and was nervous about the outcome. 

I would think it is a given that when you replace a truncated diamond cantilever and stylus with a boron cantilever, even regardless of the new stylus’ shape, the sound is going to be different. But it might be great. It might even be better than the original. It just isn’t the original any longer.