Cartridge and/or phono stage upgrades

"I’m not sure that’ it is an upgrade or just a lateral move."

VPI Classic 1 user(12 years?)

Modwright could be a nice "upgrade" 

To my ears tube presentation is more"organic/real" sounding. I use a tube phono equivalent to that model.

Why not just have the cartridge retipped?

Modwright all the way and have the Axia retipped.

I run a Modwright PH9.0XT and occasionally a Spirit MKIII on my VPI Prime.

+1 @tablejockey @viridian  @theflattire 

I love the sound of my recent upgrade to a Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum through the Sutherland Duo.  This does need a fairly high mass arm, I added a 3gm weight to the JMW Memorial unipivot arm on my elderly Scoutmaster.

Superb resolution, gorgeous mid-range, excellent treble and bass.  The bass was ever so slightly wooly without the weight.  The upgrade from the Koetsu Black was far greater than I had expected.

Sutherland now have a range of "current mode", transimpedance phono stages, one of these may be a fabulous pairing with the very low impedance (and output) of the Koetsu.  I am contemplating trying a change to one of these

The Loco is available at a discount from Upscale Audio, but note that this product requires balanced input and thus a new junction box on the TT and XLR phono interconnects. There are other Sutherland transimpedance stages that work with RCA cables.

A terrific cartridge for that table/arm would be the AT OC-9 (or modern variants). Very under appreciated value and an over-achiever. I’ve been truly impressed by the Aurorasound phonostages. I use a Vida MK2 in my reference system, which outperformed my trusted Herron VTPH-2A. I’ve sold a few “entry level” Prima’s to clients who have been blown away. At $1350 it’s pretty hard to beat. Reach out if I can help at all with your decision. Dealer disclaimer applies!

I was looking to upgrade my phono stage for my Lyra Kleos. Modwright and some others were on the list. Instead I bought a Sound-Smith Sussurro MKII Gold, Sound-Smith's MC phono stage, and an SBooster power supply. I was able to buy a demo cartridge from an authorized dealer at a significant discount but with Sound-smith's retipping policy it was a no brainer. 

I have had both the JC3+ and the Herron. What I have now is more musical to my ears. It may just that I prefer the SS to the Lyra. 

For me it’s DS Audio. I can’t go back to MM or MC ever again. The Hype is Real as so many have already said.

You have a good phono pre and would get way more out of a top quality cart

I went  through your plight recently and got  a Lyra Kleos SL

Ciuld not be happier

@hysteve chk your PM

@hysteve I would love to own a  " Transfiguration Axia cart with God knows how many hours "

A few years past to get into the Transfiguration experience, I was attempting to buy a damaged Proteus as a Wild Punt, as it was not working on one channel.

I would have loved to have owned the Donor Model and have known its full history, as you seemingly are at as a starting place.

My intention was to send the Cartridge of for a Investigation to learn what a repair would look like.

You don't know this but you Axia is filled with Micro Crud, the mechanical function of the Cartridge is substantially compromised. A Professional Service that overhauls a Cartridge don't need to Inspect to tell you this they know. The Cartridge was pretty much performing negatively due to built up contamination near 500 Hours of usage, from that point on it got more and more hindered with the continuing of Gatecrashing micro particulate.

The Stylus could be worn and the Tension Wires could be a little slack.

A inspection of the Cartridge to be supplied a Quote for work undertaken is approx' $60, usually incorporated into the Overall Quote if the Service work is accepted.

In relation to my attempt to own the Proteus, I passed on very similar info to the Vendor to consider before agreeing to a sale price.

The Vendor sent a Cartridge to the US, for the Inspection and not too ling after received a Cartridge that knocked them out of the Ball Park.

Not bad for close to £400 with shipping both ways inclusive.

With the New Price and Overhaul Price combined, the Cart' can easily supply close to 3000 Hours+ usage for under $2K, if it extends to nearer 4000 hours that is $00.50c per hour of usage.

The really interesting thing is that you can have a Stylus Cut of Your Choice, Ogura Vital ?? - Fritz Gyger - Microridge - Shibata.

Gyger's FGS has transformed plenty of Cart's and has many advocates. 

I have a friend who visits Gyger's Premises in Swiss and Buys at the door. It is great fun looking at the Parts in their storage case, an Eagle would struggle to see the contents.   

@pindac several people here have suggested retipping too so I already have an exploratory email to Expert Stylus & Cartridge Co in GBR. Eg can they inspect and retip my particular cartridge? I didn’t know where to start and saw some positive reviews for them on line. Just getting back into record playing 3 years ago after a 45 yr hiatus so I’m not as up to speed as I need to be on cartridge parts and tt lingo in general. You are way ahead of me. I’m learning though and will check out the Swiss connection you mentioned if Expert falls through. I have a really good digital system I got before retirement when I had more dough for such frivolous things. Just trying to bring the analog along to compete but, as frugally as possible if it is even possible. 😆

Sounds like you might re-tip the cart, so in the meantime if you are exploring tube phono stages, check out the Softone Model 4. $800 delivered to the US direct from the manufacturer.

Don't be fooled by the low price and unattractive (IMO) industrial design. It's amazing. 

I could not find the Axia's output so no clue if it's a good match, but note it's limited to these 3 settings and doesn't have balanced in/out:

MM load resistance is 47k ohms, 45dB gain.
MC High load resistance is 100 ohms, 67dB gain.
MC Low load resistance is 25 ohms, 72dB.

Expert Stylus supply a Stylus referred to the Paratrace.

There is not too much difference in the form of this Stylus to the FGS or the Replicant 100.

I know Paratrace adopters and they swear by them, when added to a MC - MM or even a Ceramic Cart'

Having the Cart' returned surgically cleaned along with a retip and tension wire tweaked will blow one out of the Ballpark when recollecting what was sent in comparison to the returned item. 

@macg19   The Softone sounds tempting the way you described. How can they make a decent pre for $800? Chinese? I paid more for the balanced interconnects than that. And then I’d have to buy the RCA’s.

$650 actually, $150 is freight. Made in Japan by Shoichi Yoshimoto and sold direct.

The GoldNote PH-10 and PSU-10 it replaced list for $3300.

Dealer cost is $1980, distributor cost is around $1,500. Probably costs $500 to make them, maybe less. You get the picture.

I bought the model 4 after a members here said he preferred it to a $9k Allnic. He just bought a second one.

As for cables, I use Zavfino Fusion and I lucked out on a used pair for $200 (rare find) but even new they are on sale I think for $357. (I also used balanced with the GoldNote )

The Model 4 sits between some fairly expensive gear and Many here would suggest I should spend 10x what I spent on the PS. Details in my virtual system.

PS. Although the stock JJ-ECC83MG tubes are remarkably good I've settled on NOS Telefunken's which I prefer slightly over NOS Mullard's, which I like better in my DAC over the Tele's.

Obviously a very subjective and personal choice, but I believe @lalitk is also using Tele's in his Model 4.     

as most posted above, just have it Re-tipped. 

regarding the phono preamp, i have the Jc3+ and that sounds wonderful.

overall- it sounds good. unless you want to step up to a Zestos andros.