Retip or try new

Being the owner of Cart’, makes one the better judge of whether the Cart’ is a fit for the purpose Donor Model. I have took punts on Cart’s 20 Years Old and a little newer, where the Third Party Service Inspection has discovered the model sent is a Cart’ that is able to be worked on.

Worked on Cart’s have been compared to same model designs with low hours use in original condition, and the worked on Cart’s have shone as much more attractive in use.

Dampers do lose properties from when first put into a Cart’ especially over the period of years. Also Dampers wear, Light and Oxygen will degrade it. Ozone exposure eats the rubber, where it can look like a Parasite has been living off it.

The Good News is Rubber Compounds have come on leaps and bounds, there are today really high quality rubber ideal for damper duties. A New Damper supplied  and Wire Tensioning produced to the Cart’ Tech’s preferences, will be a solution for producing a Cart’ that has the potential to really impress.

Read the endless accounts of the best I have ever heard it, following a listen to and follow up report on a returned Cart'.

I calculate from what I know, $450ish should be the ball park in costs and shipping either way.

Using the 1000 hours of Cartridge use, that is commonly suggested as a period that is the Stylus Life.

The Inspection and Follow Up Refurbishment Service from a Third Party Service will be near $450 from and back to the home. 

Looking at like for like Cart's in relation to the Cart's original value, will be hovering close to $3K.

The owner of the Akiva Cart' can experience this for the next 1000 hours at approx $00.45c per hour. Alternatively, have the experience of being the owner of a New Cart' at $3.00 per hour, if extending to such a purchase value.

I assume the Akiva owner is informed of the Cart' being strongly suspected of being a Scan-Tech / Lyra Pedigree. Cart's from this Pedigree have loyal followers as does Koetsu's and other Japanese Brands, the era of the Cart' being produced is part of the unique flavour being desired to be maintained.

There are plenty of positives to be read within the Link. The turn around time at Soundsmith is regularly reported to be very extended, if this service is selected Easter 2025, might be when there is a report offered on a returned Cart'.

Making inquiries about options for the rebuild, especially with the interest in the Damper condition is very worthwhile.

I do not encourage a description offered after a Cart' Inspection, is limited to the making it known, the Cart' can be worked on.   

Make sure quotes offered, clearly describes the parts to be used and work to be undertaken.  

There are forum members who have there own preferred Third Party Overhaul Services. One member who needed to have a $10k Cart' looked at, chose to use VAS NY Inc.    

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/andy-kim-needle-clinic

Plenty to be seen in relation to how a Cart' can deteriorate and be rejuvenated in the Link. There are also plenty of Lyra's seen, which some will be from a era close to your Akiva's period of production. 

Asking for a FGS Stylus on a Boron Cantilever with a very modern rubber as a Damper will get my deepest of interest.

This has been very successful when used on certain Ortofon Cart's that do not get the Ortofon Replicant Stylus, as the base Stylus.

https://www.facebook.com/VASnyinc/