Needle Clinic-Andy

A couple of weeks ago I broke off the tiny aluminum cantilever from my EAT Jo #5, which was already a really good sounding LOMC cartridge in my set up.

Thanks to some recommendations from several cohorts whose experiences and opinions I respect, I chose Andy C. Kim at Phono Cartridge Retipping (aka needleclinic) after exchanging some informative emails. Andy received my cartridge at 3:45pm the day after I shipped it, and completed the work and notified me about 3 hours later! He replaced the cantilever with a new sapphire cantilever and different profile diamond stylus. We then started exchanging emails, with Andy gave me a lot information about my cartridge, the work he did, and his opinions on the cartridge housing EAT chose to use on what is really an Ortofon Quintet Black.

After receiving the cartridge 2 days after he received it, and more conversations about the performance and sound with the bulbous body vs. nude, I opted to send it back to him to remove. I also sent him a Benz Ace in need of a new sylus, and again, Andy turned around the rebuilt Benz, again with a new micro ridge stylus and boron cantilever, but also a softer compliance silicone damper, and after slightly reducing the magnet strength, which he feels enhances the coil movement. Both cartridges were shipped back to me today.

Listening to Donald Fagen's Nightfly right now with the EAT, the sound is incredible - detailed, lots of frequency range, and very flat response. I was able to listen to a few LPs with the body on before sending it back to Andy, and although the unprotected cantilever is now a very scary thing and will require extra care, the sound improvement of his work is obvious - even my wife heard the difference in a different room.

I'll get a chance to listen to the Benz later, but wanted to let AK members know about my great interactions with Andy and his excellent service.