Just sold my Dynavector XV-1s

"The question I have now...does it de-value the cart. by not having Dynavector do the repair?
Will the Soundsmith repair cost me more than just the repair?"

To me, as a buyer, I would answer by asking how old is it and how many hours on it? If it is fairly new with low hours, and you were asking a premium for it, I would say yes that it might have lost substantial value. But if it had upwards of say 500- 800 hours and the price was right before this incident, then maybe not.

My original estimate was 300 hrs of play. Soundsmith determined the over all condition of the cart. to be very good, cantilever is in great shape with approx. 30% wear on the tip Now I need to make the decision to keep it or sacrifice it to my amp upgrade itch.
I have been playing a Denon 103r in it's place and while not nearly as refined, it has a very easy listening lush sound...but I can see myself getting bored and missing the details that a high $$$ cart brings to the table. But for under $400 the 103r is amazing!

Yeah, I saw your other post on that. There is no doubt that when chasing the ever ellusive "absolute sound", the laws of diminshing returns hit early and hard in cartridges. I won't say more so in cartridges than in other areas, but I've been there, done that.

Think about that amp upgrade. Maybe you're "hearing" how good the Denon is because you want to spend that money on an amp. The merry-go-round never stops my friend, someone else just found a sweet amp that costs 5% of what his old amp did, because he wants to buy an expensive cartridge. ;)

Cheers,
John

I don't think that soldering a lead back on constitutes anything note worthy. Just keep it between you and your X wife.

Funny! If she knew the extent of my Audio sickness she would be my X