Re-tipping a press-fitted stylus
I have a ZYX UNIverse, the original one in that series of UNIverse cartridges. It has a boron rod cantilever into which the stylus was press-fitted across the hollow boron tube. There is no visible evidence of any adhesive. I want to have it re-tipped for the main reason that by microscopic examination, there is a significant zenith error. First question is are there any re-tippers who can replace a press-fitted stylus with a new press-fitted stylus. Second question is whether than even can be done while also correcting the zenith error. (By "zenith error" I mean that the stylus is installed such that its contact surfaces are not square to the groove walls; the stylus tip is slightly twisted.) Thanks for any response. I am thinking that to get the job done the way I want, the cartridge must go back to the factory.
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Folks on audio forums might know which pros to ask. That was the crux of my question. Was thinking of Joseph Long, too, after posting. i could remove one of the constraints in my question; has any one had a press-fitted stylus replaced with a press-fitted stylus? Forget zenith adjustment. I don’t think that could be done anyway. |
@lewm I have the same cart and when I sent it to Soundsmith for a retip to be pressed onto/into the original cantilever he was not able to do it, he did try though. We discussed the alternatives and I decided to go with the solid boron cantilever with the OLC diamond installed. This is my main and most loved cart and it does sound wonderful and has about 800 hours since the rebuild. Enjoy the music |
tooblue, I bought the UNIverse with very low hours on it from Halcro, who is now departed but was a great guy. He owned at least two UNIs. I was motivated by the fact that I heard one on my neighbor's very high end system, and I thought it was fantastic. He had a Durand Talea tonearm on a Galibier TT feeding probably the Coincident Pure Reference speakers at that time. The UNI I bought from Halcro was good in my system but not great. I own at least two other cartridges that outperform it. Then when I examined it with a microscope I noted the large zenith error, so I cannot help but wonder whether that is an issue with the SQ. I would like to preserve its rather unusual architecture (boron tube with press-fit stylus) before I cave in and have the standard re-tip which from SS would be a boron rod with glued on OCL stylus. Could be my imagination, but some of the best sounding cartridges I own have press-fitted styli and in one case a sapphire tube with press-fit, rather than a sapphire rod cantilever. I will consult with Joseph Long but Elliot is likely correct; to preserve the original configuration I probably have to go back to ZYX via Mehran, if he is still a rep. By the way, in the microscope it appears that there is a boron rod. To the end of the boron rod it appears they have fitted over it a tubular end piece into which the stylus is press-fitted. But I could also be looking at a boron tube over which a second boron tube with larger diameter is fastened. |
Good luck @lewm. Will be watching for your update on this and the choices you are given to choose from. Enjoy the music |
Joseph Long a.k.a. "Groovetickler" on Instagram, is the only one I’d approach stateside for any high-value / high-difficulty work. He’s shown some very impressive repair work on his Instagram history, across a HUGE range and number of cartidges. It’s worth hopping on Instagram just for that (indeed, it’s the only reason I load that app). Overseas there are also some guys showing very impressive repair work. On Facebook, I’ve enjoyed seeing the work Sửa kim than (suakimlp.com) has done on some very exotic cartridges. And "Delta667" is a legend on the vinylengine and lencoheaven forums, though difficult to reach now being in Russia. |
