Ortofon Kontrapunkt C vs. Cadenza Bronze

He can put an FG2 on it, he tells me, for $350. Does anyone know how this varies from the FG80?

Dear @dogberry  : You have other excellent alternative through J.Long ( @needlestein  ) who is an expert retipper too and can help to paired your Knontrapunkt with the replicant stylus tip and maybe the 100 that's better than the 80. 

Call him and decide what you want: 860-338-0153 or by email:

Cartridge_Retipping@outlook.com

He has several options for you.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

How likely is it that the different styli are making me prefer one over the other? To fit the Kontrapunkt C with a Replicant stylus would make it like the Bronze, I think, and that's not what I'm aiming for. I assume there are other internal changes between the generations that may be more important, and either for better or worse.

Nothing else has changed in the system - same table (well, same model but a second example), tonearm, phono stage, preamp etc. So all I want to achieve is the sound from it that I used to have.

Dear @dogberry  : Even that it " looks " as the Bronce could be its close " bro " to your C you can be sure that both cartridge motors are different.

Now, if you want as you posted exactly the same C quality performance any re-tipper you choose ask to change only the stylus but NO the cantilever because then what you like in that cartridge will change for ever instead the improved stylus tip gives you only more of what you like.

In other thread we ask @jcarr  ( Lyra designer ) which is more important for the overall cartridge quality performance, in that thread almost all of us believed that the stylus shape but he said the first than all it's the cantilever: is more important. So be carefully about. You can ask J.Long which stylus shape could be " mounted/inserted " in the C cantilever because different stylus shape has not the same top " plate " dimensions and that could affect the final cartridge sound. J.Long is very friendly, just try and ask about and please read this post by him:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/replicant-100-stylus/post?postid=2326742#2326742

Btw, @lewm , yes you are right Expert stylus is very good re-tipper too but its prices are higher too.

R.

Dear @dogberry  and friends: Due that a little trouble with Agon @jcarr  can't post this time and he sends to me this personal post to be shared in this thread:

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The Kontrapunkt and Cadenza seem fairly similar in overall design, which allows us in this specific case to ignore the influence of the myriad construction choices that typically affect how a cartridge sounds, including body material and construction, polepieces vs. magnet only, magnet material and design, armature size and shape, coil material, cantilever rake angle, cantilever length, etc..

When the major design choices are the same or very similar (as with the Kontrapunkt and Cadenza), the choice of cantilever material and design, but also the pairing with the dampers, will have a substantial effect on the sound.

Every cantilever (material, length, diameter etc.) has its own unique colorations, and will be best used together with dampers (which again have their unique colorations) that will accentuate the positives and minimize the negatives of the pairing. The choice of dampers will be guided by the experience and sensibilities of the cartridge builder, but also his goals for the cartridge model (does he intend for it to have a fun, energetic and physical sound, or give a contemplative insight into the music?)

This is why cartridge manufacturers keep quite a wide variety of dampers, with raw materials, additives, foamed vs. solid, diameter, thickness, flat vs. tapered all being deliberate variables.

If the cantilever is changed to a different material, my experience is that it should be paired with a different damper to bring out its best. If the diameter, or length are changed, up to a certain extent the same damper can be used, but too big of a change is again likely to benefit from different dampers.

While I agree that the stylus shape has comparatively less effect on the sound (than the cantilever-damper pairing), keep in mind that the diamond block carrying the stylus comes in different dimensions and may be intended to be affixed to the cantilever in a specific way, which will affect the sound (and stylus alignment).

Also, some stylus shapes are simply more demanding to set up than others, requiring more time, precision, and trial-and-error.

A stylus with a larger major radius (70µm, 80µm, 100µm etc.) and smaller minor radius (2.5µm, 5µm etc.) may give less satisfaction than a more forgiving stylus until the setup becomes optimal.

Also, how the stylus is affixed to the cantilever has a significant effect on the sound. The most extreme example is when the stylus and cantilever are made from a single diamond with no glue between the two (as seen on Sony's XL-88D from the 1980s, and more recently Audio-Technica's AT-MC2022, and DS Audio's Grand Master EX).

But even when the stylus and cantilever are the typical separate pieces bonded together, the choice of adhesive used between stylus & cantilever and cantilever & joint-pipe, can affect the sound quite noticeably, which can be a useful tool for the cartridge manufacturer to tailor the sound of a cartridge model.

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R.