A Story about a Defective Signature Platinum
Last week I was listening to music at a healthy volume while sitting at my computer. I have an auto lifter (Little Fwend) and after the arm lifted I noticed a static noise with occasional popping coming out of the left channel about 40 dB down. At first I thought it was a bad tube but it disappeared when I turned the volume down. It is in front of the Preamp. None of the other sources had the noise. Swapping tonearm cables did not seem to change the sound but then I noticed that the sound was also in the right channel just farther down. Disconnecting the tonearm stopped the noise. I change over to an MC Diamond, no noise. Same with the Atlas, no noise. Swapped back to the MSL, noise is back.
The cartridge is exactly one year old but it rotates with two other cartridges and might have 75 hours on it. I called the dealer who told me to contact MoFi distribution, the US agent for MSL. Turns out the cartridge only has a 90 day warranty and I was told I would have to send it in for a rebuild for $6000! Can't they just fix the problem for maybe $500, No. Can't I just send it in for evaluation? The stylus and cantilever are brand new. No, a rebuild is the only option and you have to do that through the dealer, click! Most very expensive cartridges have a 2 year warranty on them not to mention that most companies would cover such a defect even off warranty as in the absence of physical damage it is obviously a manufacturing defect, a bad solder joint or maybe just two wires rubbing together. This is very disappointing and as far as customer service goes Home Depot is better than MoFi, Sears is better than MoFi! MoFI is right up there with Anthem Blue Cross! The service rep could have offered to look into it. Maybe communicate with MSL and get their opinion. I am sure if MSL knew about it they would gladly fix it and actually be embarrassed. The Japanese are like that. There is no way I can find to get directly in touch with MSL.
$6000 is not an option. I am not going to throw good money after bad. I am also not going to off a defective cartridge on someone else. I am going to take the cartridge apart and reflow the solder joints and make sure the wires are separated. If that doesn't fix it, it goes in the trash.
Mistakes and defects happen, it is what you do about them that counts. MoFi failed dismally in this regard. MSL makes a fine cartridge but I would only get another one if they changed agents and increased their warranty. Obviously, I will avoid buying any other MoFi products myself and warn others about their customer service. I have no further use for the dealer who did nothing to help. I have had superb service from Musical Surroundings, Soundsmith, B+H Photo and the Cable Company. All handled issues with ease. Has anyone else had trouble with MoFi? What companies have provided you with excellent service when the sh-t hit the fan?
@mijostyn Presumably you bought the MSL from an authorized dealer? If so, this is where I think the ’pressure’ has to come from...and not from you dealing with MoFi ( the distributor). When I had a problem with my new Lyra, my dealer was all over it, and at the time, Audioquest were pro-active about the issue...so no problem for me. If your dealer is unwilling to go to bat for you, then I think you need to find another dealer. |
One more thing... It is this, I believe that the mark-up on Japanese cartridges when sold in the US and in a number of other countries is---outrageous!
Shipping expense cannot explain any of the added costs. Simply pure profiteering. IMHO. For MoFi or any US Japanese cartridge dealer/distributor to throw a consumer under the bus as they are apparently doing to you, says a lot about these folks! |
Dear @newtoncr : It's not only a coincidence that you and your friend Gary share the same problem on tracking where the MSL compliance is at the lower range value of medium compliance with 10cu.
The PC-1Coda is same design than your cartridge and in 2021 M.Fremer reviewed and measured the cartridge tracking abilities and found out this:
" The cartridge weighs 12.7gm, and the recommended vertical tracking force (VTF) is 2.0–2.2gm. At 2gm, the PC-1 coda couldn't get past the 50µm-peak track on the Ortofon Test Record. At a VTF of 2.2gm it could cleanly negotiate the 60µm peak (track 11), but it literally slid off the 70µm peak (track 12). In short, the PC-1 coda's tracking abilities are only moderately good, " No, it's not the MoFi recording but the cartridge low tracking abilities. I'm questioning my self why @mijostyn that's anal on the tracking issue bought a cartridge with lower trackin abilities that not only 80u that's the minimum value accepted by him when his and yours cartridge not even pass the 70u ! !
Yes, Lyra always shows very good tracking abilities and your has around 18cu in compliance, obviously way superior in this regards than MSL.
R. |
