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?
Steven Leung was a pleasure to deal with and I highly recommend his services, but other than repairing the MSL's defect he had no role in the quality of it's reproduction. This lies entirely with the designer Matsudaira san. Mr Leung does make his own cartridge, the Nova Signature for a very competitive price and I am very interested in giving it a spin.
The value of the cartridge is a consideration only if you plan on selling it which I do not. I do not sell cartridges, I give them away or toss them in the trash. The technology has usually moved on and why spend $5000 to rebuild it if you are not guaranteed to get that back. I prefer to let the recipient deal with it.
I had a brief email conversation with Jon. He offered to look at the cartridge which had already been mailed to VAS. He did suggest having a phone conversation, but at that point I did not feel the need.
" I look forward to your corrections where applicable."
I have no issues with what is you're interpretation, my statement above, formed from my side of this open discussion, has made the views of others very welcomed.
" As far as buying a MSL at less $$ yes just about any hi end piece of gear not made in the USA can be found on sites overseas for MUCH less and many USA prodcuts sold overseas can be found by non-us buyers for less $$$ as well. So what's your point? Are you trying to tell us things you think we don't know? "
The following is a copy / paste of you're earlier post in the thread, where a inquiry is made to discover where my alternative purchase option can be discovered.
@pindac I do not need to Spend $11K on a MSL Signature, hence it is one that is on a shortlist to experience in use. I expect to be able to have one at the door, for approx' £4K+
@rsf507Have I not been quite helpful in my follow up supply of info that directly related to your request for info. Especially where the requested info, is in relation to a subject that it is seemingly obvious if reading your earlier inquiry correctly, that strongly suggests you did not know where to source such a item to purchase.
All my posts are offered up within a thread, are presented in a way to be helpful. This thread has a lot of ambiguity, that has left me with with suspicions, a probe here and there has lead to further info offered for evaluation that increases the suspicions. I do feel there is info now within this thread, that presents what is available to be considered if an alternative real experience is to be put in place, that can be used to experience the same Cartridge Model.
Another curiosity is that it is also not made known what VAS NY Inc's thoughts were on what was potentially a additionally required corrective works for the Cart'. After having received it, following a 70 Year Old Buffoon probing around the Cart's very very fragile internals with a Set of Tweezers and Magnifying Glass. It's not my Cart' or $11K so each to their own, was the Supplier given such info at the time the inquiries were being made as to where their support could be attained. It is plausible that @jonderdarespectfully held back disclosing such info, that they may have been in possession off.
The real intent underlying in my posts, is to be helpful to an individual who may stumble on a thread such as this as at a later date. I do feel the info that is discovered should be helpful for them to round off their intentions for a decision that may be under contemplation. They might as well review the info that is a reality and the fantastical, it should all be laid bare and transparent, especially where Super Monetary Sums are being considered to be spent.
If Sotheby were to auction off Mijo’s cartridge, it would fairly be termed "pre-owned, original", in my opinion. In the fine print, they would mention the bit about the defect and that it was repaired. But as long as it still has its OEM cantilever, stylus, coils, etc, etc, it’s not a Frankenstein.
As to cost, it is difficult to generalize about comparative prices (US vs Japan or elsewhere in Asia) of audio gear, as some equipment is not much different in cost, here vs there, and some other equipment is a little different, and yet some other equipment is very different in cost, usually cheaper in Japan vs the US. Much depends upon the US distributor and US dealer mark-up. The big Japanese store where I usually shop only because they have such a vast variety of audio gear on display, on demo, and ready to buy off the shelf, I think had MSL cartridges before the pandemic but not during our recent trip to Tokyo in May. Moreover, in general, there was a dearth of what we would call "high end" stuff on sale off the shelf of even fancy emporiums in Tokyo, compared to pre-pandemic, i.e., 4 years ago. I fear that the Japanese market is now entering a phase that we entered 5-10 years ago, where young buyers are simply not interested in the good stuff. Rather, they are interested in the cheap and portable, and internet connectable. So, high end stores were fewer and farther between. For one example, the store that sold me my Koetsu Urushi in 2009 and which was still in business in 2019, is now kaput. I've mentioned this before, but I have never seen a Lyra cartridge on open display for sale in Tokyo or anywhere else in the orient. Possibly you have to ask, just as I had to ask about the Koetsu when I bought it. Also, if you buy in person, in Japan, the seller will honor the manufacturer's warranty just as surely as if you bought it in the USA. Promptly and courteously and even apologetically.
I buy Camera Equipment direct from Japan through a well known Export Service.
Prior to my adopting this service to purchase, I done my due diligence and found not concerning information to suggest I should be cautious.
I took the due diligence one stage further and contacted Camera / Lens Services who do works on behalf of the main Brands. I was informed the Service I was considering to purchase from, has 'never' not honoured a warranty works claim for a payment.
I queue jumped what was a common waiting list from certain UK suppliers, and bypassed what was looking like a year wait on certain Items being supplied through these UK retail outlets and also saved approx' 15% on the UK retail prices.
Additionally, over the past decade, I have £00000's spent on Vintage Japanese Imports, and have not really got any stories, apart from the extremely expensive recent air shipping prices to suggest a careful approach is required.
That is my experience with the Japanese. They are honored that you have purchased their product and will bend over backwards making sure you are happy with it. My own perspective of them comes from purchasing woodworking tools. When it comes to edge cutting tools (planes, chisels and knives) and hand saws they handily make the best. This talent extends back to the manufacture of swords. Each tool (sword) is endowed with a spirit and given a name! It is difficult to get the best tools and sharpening stones in the States. You have to develop a relationship with a store located in Japan. Fortunately, there is no protectionism when it comes to woodworking tools.
It really distresses me that you do not know how to work with forceps under a dissection microscope. Tell me, Can you use a screwdriver? What about an adjustable spanner? They are safe to work with. You do not have to worry about any sharp edges.
All the information, questions and responses in this thread have been appropriate, straight forward, well intentioned and very helpful with only one exception. Thank You all.
The cartridge is supposed to arrive the day after tomorrow. I will let you all know the end of the story.
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