Cartridge – to replace or to renew – that’s the question…

Posted by: Arye_Gur on 09 September 2003

As I read in another thread here that Richard Dane suggests replacing an old Cart, I wonder.

I have LP12 with Lvitok and Asaka. Ilan, Naim’s dealer here tells me to stay with this Cart as long as it plays. He says that if something goes wrong with the cart, it is immediately audible. (Richard, maybe he is afraid to sell to me a new unpacked one?…) Many people are telling me that such an old cart can’t work well.

Let’s assume that I’ll wish to do something with the cart. The first choice is to buy a new one and the second choice is to renew it.

Van Den Hull’s dealer in Israel tells me that renewing the cart by VDH will cost 500$. I think that if this renewing really makes the cart working like a new one, it is a very cheap deal for me.
Do you have experience with renewing carts?
How much will I pay for a cart that has the same quality of the Asaka? Is it true that Linn arms are working best with Linn carts?

Arye
Posted on: 10 September 2003 by greeny
Ok, you are talking about rebuilding the cartridge or getting a new one.

I know several people who have had cartridges rebuilt by Expert Stylus (in the UK) with good results, however these rebuild costs vary depending on what is required. You could simply have the tip replaced, the tip and the canteliver or the whole lot including coils etc.

I don't know how good vDH are at this.

As for new cartridges, Linn arms work well with many cartridges dependng on what you want to spend you should have plenty of options.

I use a Lyra Lydian(£600) with a LP12/Ittock combination to good effect. This cartridge is (IMO) much better than an Asaka (though it's a while since I've heard one.). You are probably talking £400 ish for a suitable replacement that should also offer an improvement.

If you think the asaka still sounds good then maybe it's still OK, I usually find that tracking ability suffers and the Upper midband (especially) getts very glassy when the cartridge is worn. I use Joni Mitchel ('Blue' and 'Court and Spark') to highlight this.
Posted on: 10 September 2003 by Arye_Gur
Thanks, greeny,

400P for a new cart is much more than 500$ for rebuilding.

Can you give me the sites of the "rebuilders" you know?

Arye
Posted on: 10 September 2003 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by greeny:
I don't know how good vDH are at this.


My mate - who's a really REALLY picky golden eared type - broke his vDH Frog (snapped the cantilever clean off), and sent it back to vDH for rebuilding. It ended up costing him £250 and he claims it sounds far better (less surface noise, less end of side distortion) since he got it back. And yeah, he did clean it properly etc before he broke it....

He uses an Orbe/SME V as the turntable btw - he had an LP12 and didn't rate it...

When the music's over turn out the lights
Posted on: 10 September 2003 by greeny
quote:
I don't know how good vDH are at this.


I hope you haven't interpreted this as me not recomending vDH, I simply don't know anyone who's used their service. They might be the best available for all I know.

quote:
400P for a new cart is much more than 500$ for rebuilding.


Sorry, I wasn't sure on the type of $ you were talking about. 400P is only US$600 so I thought thats what you meant. Don't know the exchange rate for Israeli $.
Posted on: 10 September 2003 by Arye_Gur
Maybe you are right and buying a new one is not much more expensive than a rebiulding.

Arye