The New Old Cartridge is Back!

[Bob Boyer]

And Steve Leung at VAS up in New Jersey has worked his magic, just as predicted by Stratdoc. This Sumiko Talisman AT that came with my VPI/SME rig all those years ago and has been moribund since getting it back from a retipping service is now singing like a canary. Turns out a couple,of wires inside were broken, along with some rust. Steve cleaned the rust and repaired the wires (or replaced them, I know not which) and it's back to sounding great again. No more destroyed phono preamps and boards. The new tip was perfect, so all that was needed was a repair of the tiny inner workings.

Very, very happy with the outcome. It will take a while to compare to the Denon but it seems to like the same loading on the Pyxi as the Denon. It is louder but that's not saying a lot - the Denon is among the lowest output cartridges out there. Makes it easy to wait out the cold snap...

 

[Elite-ist]

Good thing you stuck with the cartridge, Bob. Sometimes, it's best to work with what you have and know, than take a chance on a replacement.

Nando.

 

[Elite-ist]

I have a Pickering XSV-4000 cartridge on my Pioneer PL-630 and I have just made an offer on a Pickering XSV-5000 with D5000 stylus being sold by a Canadian seller. Cross my fingers.

Nando.

 

[J!m]

Those were always held in high regard but they are a bit massive…

 

[8991XJ]

Which Denon is very low output? Checked VE and they have some at 0.12-0.2mV, the low end of a LOMC

My first MC was purchased while I worked at Hi-Fi House in Knoxville, Ortofon MC20 with a 70µV output, 0.07mV. Learned about phono pre preamps (headamps) and SUTs. Still have it. Think it is one of a few Ortofons with very low output. VLOMC when I talk about them.

I'm gonna need to use some cartridge repair service. I picked up a scope to see the diamonds and have cartridges with suspension issues or channel issues or some just worn out.

 

[J!m]

I used the scope in work and had a hard time due to limited depth of field…

 

[Elite-ist]

He accepted my offer and the deal is done with the Pickering XSV/5000. I've dealt with the same seller in the past when I bought a Teac C-I MK II cassette deck from him, last year.

Seller's photo:



Nando.

 

[Bob Boyer]

Good thing you stuck with the cartridge, Bob. Sometimes, it's best to work with what you have and know, than take a chance on a replacement.

Nando.

It puts me in a nice position, Nando. The Denon DL-304 still has about half the life of the stylus and the Sumiko is brand new. And sitting right in between is the Denon DL-301 MkII which Overmodulated sent me a while back and has been seeing some rotation in the ensuing time. He said it had very low hours on the stylus so I do believe I'm set.

The nice part is they all seem to mate to the Pyxi without having to change the dip switches. Now if only they weighed the same...

Which Denon is very low output? Checked VE and they have some at 0.12-0.2mV, the low end of a LOMC... .

The spec sheet for the DL-304 says its output voltage is .18 mV, the DL-301 Mk II lists an output of .4 mV, and the Alchemist is listed at 2 mV. It is certainly the loudest of the three.

I'm gonna need to use some cartridge repair service. I picked up a scope to see the diamonds and have cartridges with suspension issues or channel issues or some just worn out.

Can't recommend VAS (https://vasnyinc.com/repair-service/) more highly. Steve is a straight shooter and does great work. Stratdoc and I are both very pleased with his service. While the other service did a good job on the retip back when, I guess they were unwilling to do the detective work it took to find the broken wires inside the body as they kept telling me it was fine. Two blown Exposure MC phono boards said otherwise.

 

[Bob Boyer]

I have a Pickering XSV-4000 cartridge on my Pioneer PL-630 and I have just made an offer on a Pickering XSV-5000 with D5000 stylus being sold by a Canadian seller. Cross my fingers.

Nando.

Those Pickerings are good MM cartridges. Back when a Shure M91ED was all of $19.95 (if purchased with the AR-XA or Pioneer PL-10, of course), I couldn't come up with the extra $20 for the Pickerings. But always wanted one before I got hooked on moving coils.

 

[Bob Boyer]

Now I need to find another magnesium SME 309 headshell so swapping cartridges is easier. I've got two of the three mounted as I got an extra with the rig back when but those headshells are scarce as hen's teeth.

Initial thoughts are the Sumiko is the darkest of the three by just a bit, the DL-301 the brightest by just a bit, with the DL-304 still bright but a touch smoother. But we're talking very small increments here. The Sumiko's volume is certainly enough to match the Sony SACD player, which is saying. a bunch.

And a final thought - the darker tilt of the Sumiko helps the Pro-Ject click and pop box some. Since living with that processor for almost a year now, I've not been overly impressed with it, but engaging it with the Sumiko gives better results than with the Denons. Still wish I could get my hands on a Sugar Cube but that ain't happenin'.

 

[BlazeES]

Mornin' Bob -

Can you share what your cart repair cost?

 

[Bob Boyer]

Sure - I was all in at $350. There's a $45 up-front charge to cover return postage if you decide not to proceed, which he then included in the $350. So the work itself was $315.

Have no idea what he charges for a retip to a good cartridge, but based on what I paid the other guy, I'd guess it's in that ballpark or higher, depending on the cantilever material and stylus itself or if you're looking to upgrade.

 

[BlazeES]

Thank you Bob.

 

[J!m]

A 309 headsheel should be easier to find than a 202X Micro one...

 

[Bob Boyer]

You'd think but everything out there is the old style ventilated style for the 3009/3012/etc. aluminum arms. May end up dropping 300 Euros on one from England.

 

[8991XJ]

I used the scope in work and had a hard time due to limited depth of field…

The depth needed is only to see the wear spots, the total depth equal to about the depth of a record groove. I learned to read styli when working at the store.

First needle I looked at was a Pickering XV-15 1200E a friend gave me. Looked new to me, very little wear.

 

[8991XJ]

Have no idea what he charges for a retip to a good cartridge

Knowing about the guys that do this, discounting Soundsmith and Excell in the UK, the price ranges based on cantilever material/diamond shape but replacing a diamond on original cantilever is more due to the work of removing the original and installing the new one. Just swapping a cantilever is easier I guess.

Can't recommend VAS (https://vasnyinc.com/repair-service/) more highly.

A couple guys from our audio group went to visit Steve 18 months ago or so. Came away impressed. He is minutes from VPI so it was a double visit trip. Don't know why they didn't invite me unless they were using a 2 seater. He is 105 miles from here.

There is a bashing discussion of his work? over on vinylengine where Chris (cafe latte) another retipper (in Australia) talks about the use of a brass splint in a cantilever to bring the cartridge back to life. Would kill the dynamics of the cartridge, only hearing one side of the discussion as Chris is making all the comments and he is also soliciting business with many of his posts there and on ak.

Once I get may cartridges evaluated, I'll see what these guys will do on getting a few of them fixed, retipped. Shipping to Australia is currently 42 for a package (2#) or 50 for a small flat rate box, easily holding way more than one cartridge. Have another cartridge collector wanting in on whatever we decide to do.

 

[J!m]

I know Chris does good work AND is a bit of a salesman, but I generally haven't seen him bashing others work unless truly BAD. Usually with evidence and I often agree with his assessments.

I know nothing of a brass splint repair...

 

[8991XJ]

Vas heads up- Vinyl Engine is the thread.

 

[J!m]

I would have to agree with Chris' opinion there. Why would brass be used like that?

And he just let the pictures do the talking (first page anyway- I didn't read further) so, yeah.