Regarding Manufacturers using newer methods or parts. I had an interesting experience of 'older' and very similar upgraded versions. I have an Ortofon MC Anna Diamond that I bought used from a dealer I trust, but partly on the basis that the price paid plus Ortofon's refurb cost* was less than the price of the new cartridge, so I figured if I got 'half' life cycle and a full cycle on refurb I'd done ok to good.
But when I upgraded my main room turntable and the old one went to the lounge I decided to not put a cheaper cartridge and ordered an MC Diamond that has the Multi Wall Carbon Nanotube technology they developed and used on the Verismo. Whilst I had heard one, I hadn't heard it comparatively on my system and replaced the Anna (which had sounded great) on the new deck and I was impressed by an immediate improvement, better than I had heard on the demo.
So if Ortofon want to use that new nanotube technology when they eventually rebuild my Anna (and I have had well over a half life with it so far) I for one would be very happy to have the 'new' process included. In fact I plan to ask them for it.
*which is described in full and is basically a clean out of everything from the titanium shell and then a rebuild to the production process.
