Retip for zyx

This is original ZYX cantilever with original MicroRidge stylus tip. 
No one can do the same, re-tipped or re-cantilevered ZYX is no longer ZYX cartridge, but some sort of hybrid with different sound. 

@nandric that's fine, i just don't want to re-tip of rebuild any of my cartridges until i will find the one which i want to keep forever. There are always a cartridges i want to try, so i think it will never happen. Also i have some carts that i have not tested yet, so i have plenty of time. 

Do you think retipping MM cartridges hype is over ? I remember when it was very popular on audiogon, even the mexican term "refresh of suspension", but i still have no idea what does that mean.  

My advice for those who can't afford ZYX exchange service - don't buy this cartridge, find something that can be factory re-tipped by the original designer himself for reasonable price. Or prepare to pay 60% each time you want to change worn ZYX to a new ZYX and do not complain. 

-SoundSmith cartridges are very cheap in service.

-Miyajima cartridges in the beginning were also relatively cheap in service by its designer (now much more expensive).

Personally i would buy another vintage cartridge in NOS condition when it's time to retip an old one, just because i want to hear an original sound, not a hybrid of old and new components compiled together by some third-party vendor. I know that i can trust the original, always.  

 

@nandric "the same" is what on the picture, "the hybrid" is what you have from Axel. I believe you have not even tried the original ZYX (did you?), what you have is not a ZYX, but no doubt that it’s still an MC cartridge that you can use, maybe you like it, but i know it’s not your favorite cartridge anyway.

I don’t use ZYX cartridges anymore for practical reason, i just don’t want to buy new ZYX cartridge almost for 60-70% of full price each time the stylus is expired. I have better cartridges than my ex Zyx Airy III and Zyx Premium 4D (but 5 times cheaper rare vintage MM and some MC).

What i know for sure is that my re-cantilevered (by Axel) cartridges are not equal to the original cartridges (same model). I’ve had at least 4 carts refurbished by Axel long time ago for previous owner, they were OK only until i’ve managed to buy an original. Then i realized the original is superior, completely different sound. It was Technics top of the line carts.

Why do i have to believe that refurbished ZYX with different cantilever, different stylus is equal to the original ZYX made by Nakatsuka-San?

For me it’s obvious that they are not equal, especially after i’ve tried and compared 4 samples of Axel work to the original Technics. So i don’t like the idea at all, but it’s just me (i am using only original cartridges so far).

@tooblue 

@chakster,@nandric, you two guys never get tired of saying the same thing over and over again, for what it is worth, I got it as everyone else probably has got it as well, point made, now let's move on.

right, i wish we could stop 

 I have had several cartridges rebuilt by SS with their Ruby/Optimum Line Contact diamond and they definitely sounded better than stock, these were a Shelter 901, Shelter 90X, Shelter 501, Lyra Helikon and a Lyra Helikin SL so I feel quite good about taking a chance that has saved me $5,000.00 in one attemp.

ohh, you're so in love with one type of third-party cantilever on all your carts and you don't have SoundSmith cartridge yet ? 

I also like Ruby cantilevers, but the original Ruby made by Grace, Dynavector, Klipsch for their cartridges. They are all different by the way. 

There is no universal cantilver/stylus for all cartridges, so personally i don't believe SoundSmith Ruby/Optim LineContact is better than the original design (just a common sense). No probs if it worked for you and all your cartridges.  

Good idea, if you will break it this one can be retipped once again :)

@tooblue 

the picture of the cantilever/stylus assembly you posted is for which ZYX? Thanks for posting that, a picture is worth a 1,000 words.  

That was a picture of my ZYX Airy III, but you will find same cantilever construction even on their top of the line Ultimate Dynamic and down to the lower model Yatra etc. 

@lewm he is talking about refurbished ZYX Universe copper coil cartridge i believe

@gilles130 

Thanks, but I no longer use/have my ZYX cartridges, so i can't make direct comparison between original and refurbished. 

I have really been pleased with the 8 carts that I have had rebuilt by Soundsmith

It a destiny of MCs 

Personally i don't think it's normal that so many nice (sometimes unique and exotic cartridges) from many different manufacturers/designers are all goes to one person for refurbishing with third-party parts. 

This is one of the reason i love the MM cartridges, at least we can change the cantilever/stylus assembly by ourself in 5 seconds (if we have original replacement) without ruining the sound character of the cartridge. No compromises here. 

Refurbished some special MC cartridges by third-party vendor is always a compromise. Good business for the vendors, but is that good for the cartridge? 

Someone should make a direct comparison of those unique cartridges in stock condition to the refurbished cartridges with different parts (cantilever, stylus). 

Our memories, unfortunately, can not hold the information of particular sound for a month, comparing refurbished cartridge to the memories is not a good idea. We're always biased by the new toys. We have to compare original to refurbished in the real life in the same system. 

 I would already be in touch with Sora Sound working a deal to replace it

Do you mean to buy another ? They can not replace any refurbished cartridges as they can replace an original (even broken original) with their ZYX exchange program. 

This is definitely my point of view and everyone is free to do whatever, i just don’t understand why anyone should buy $7000 cartridge to end up with SoundSmith rebuild which is no longer "ZYX sound". But it seems like this is the end of the road for all your cartridges.

One day you should try SoundSmith cartridges if you like his work so much. Peter Ledermann claimed that his MI are better than any MC in his lection at RMAF, 2018

If you think there is no difference and designers like Nakatsuka-San wasting his time to make something unique cantilever which can be replaced by SoundSmith cantilever/stylus then i definitely can’t add anything in conversation.

I enjoyed almost every cartridge until i found a better cartridge, without direct comparison between the carts it would be impossible.

I have no interest in ZYX anymore (owned two of them), but i have a better cartridges now, they are all originals, just because i like to hear what a cartridge designer created.

Recently purchased Miyabi cartridge to fill my MC collection. I think it’s something unique.

Any cartridge dramatically lose its value if it was refurbished by a third-party vendor. I decided not to bother with my broken Zyx Premium 4D and start searching for cheaper and better cartridges instead. I am so happy about my decision.  

But anyway, if you like what you’re hearing then it’s fine (for you).

I just checked the first page of this thread, i had to re-read it earlier, because no one can explain better than J.Carr who is a cartridge designer himself. An this is what he said: 

To retip a cartridge that was originally equipped with a stylus made by one manufacturer with one made by a different manufacturer is like rebuilding a Porsche engine with Jaguar pistons and crankshaft - the components used for rebuilding may be of high quality, but the design philosophy is rather different from the original.

Still, as one poster wrote above, changing only the stylus will alter the sound less than if the cantilever material is changed. When a cartridge is designed, the designer will consider the moving mass (sum of the stylus, cantilever and coils), the resonant character of the cantilever, and the (sonic) propagation velocity of the cantilever (affected by the cantilever's mass and rigidity), then choose the suspension and dampers accordingly. If you change the cantilever material, you are effectively throwing the original designer's calculations away.