VAS (Steven Leung) cartridge repair/retipping service?

I am a convert to having a Cartridge Treated by a Third Party Service.
This has come about through personal experiences as well as having a interest and attempting to learn a little about MC Designs and reasons why certain materials are adopted into the designs.

I have also been able to compare my owned Third Party Treated Cartridge to the Original Model, 'from a Listening Point of view only',
the Third Party Service Treated Cartridge was delivering at a noticeably different and improved level when compared to the Original Model.
The good thing for the Comparisons undertaken, is that both Cartridges were mounted on the same Head Shell Model and used on the same Tone Arm and TT and Support System.
This will allow for identical environmental influences on the Replays.

There are differences to be considered as follows:
1, The Third Party Treated Cartridge had about 100ish ( Quite Accurate) Hours of usage and was with a Short Period of time exposed to the Ambient Environment,

2, The Original Model was said to have about 300+ (Not Entirely Proven) Hours of usage, as well as having been exposed to the
Ambient Environment for a much longer period of time.

3, IMO, the longer a Cartridge is left exposed to the Ambient Environment the more it is becoming contaminated with a unwanted collection of Particulate on the working parts,  and it seems there will be a time when these contaminants can be a impedance to the overall performance of the Cartridge.
(I have no real proof of this)

What is known is that both owners were sure in their formed views the Third Party Treated Cartridge was with a very desirable SQ and was a improvement over the Original being compared against.

My Purchase of a Donor MC and the Third Party Treatment was at a lesser cost that purchasing the Original Model as a New Purchase.
The risk taken by myself was that the Donor Cartridge could have been rejected for a rebuild by the Technician and the Cartridge Cost and Inspection fee would have been to produce a 'no avail' outcome. 

I have followed a Enthusiast Blog produced by a Cartridge Builder.
There are very nice Photo Records of the Deconstruction and Reconstruction of the Cartridges being worked on.
What is off additional interest to me as a content within this Blog, 
is that the Technician is claiming that many Cartridge Brands are all using the same internal materials as parts.
The Companies are producing the Sonic Differences for their Models are being achieved by the following:
1, Coil Wires used with differing amounts of Windings.
2, Different Gauges for the Metal used as Coil Wire.
3, Different Metal Types used as the Coil Wire.

I will also add that a Cantilever Material, as well as the Cantilevers  Length and Set Up Angle, along with the Cartridge Body Design will contribute to the Cartridges Uniqueness in the Presentation Produced.

I am on board with the Enthusiasts Blog report that there are commonly used materials being seen as the Parts in use to produce a Cartridges Internal Structure.
With this in mind, it does not concern me if a Adept Technician is used as a Third Party Service to overhaul a Cartridge that is wanting.

Maybe a List of Cartridge Brands can be compiled to show would be owners, Cartridges that share a common material assembly for the Internal Structure.
It might help with seeing through the Mystique of the Hype through the Advertising.
In a nutshell, we are going to sell you a 'Bently', but would prefer it,
if it was not known that a Ford / Mazda will be used under the Body Shell. 

I at present have another MC Model Purchased to undergo a Similar Third Party Treatment in keeping with my one in use at present.
I have been offered a Design for it that is almost to my wish list.
I am yet to have the MC Inspected, so the Punt, has still got a few Hurdles to be cleared before the outcome is seen as worthwhile.

There are a few HiFi ideas on a bucket list that will be my Post COVID Projects, off which this is to be one.     

  
  

The OP has enquired about a Particular Service from a Third Party.

This has evolved into others posting making known other Third Party Services, and their satisfaction with the works undertaken.
There is also the naming a few Brands that have been supplied as Donor Cartridges to receive a assessment from a Technician and also undergo a Treatment.

I am aware that the Cartridges being referred to are varied in their Brands/Models, so each Cartridge received back from the Third Party Service are more than likely a unique Model, such is my own.

Reporting on a Brand in such circumstances does not help others, due to the uniqueness of the Cartridge having undergone a Third Party Service.

I chose to report on the Comparison undertaken to the Original Model,
as it was done in Method that was quite accurate to carry out a comparison, but the known differences between the Models were not concealed.

The most important part of the report was that the method of purchasing a used Cartridge as a Donor and then using a Third Party Service, comes with a attached risk.
If a owned from New Cartridge is at a place of usage it could be improved upon by being serviced, I will suggest the Risk Factor seems to be a lesser concern for the Donor.
My experience being a outcome in my venture that was a workable one, and this will not be the outcome for all ventures.

I was letting a wider community know that I been supplied a Cartridge from a Third Party Service that was impressive and satisfying.

I think that is in keeping with the Thread.     

I have had a similar experience when using a Third Party Rebuild Service.
Cartridge returned in a very reasonable Time Frame approx' One Month

When Cartridge was compared to a OEM Model it was the rebuilt model that most impressed the attendees at the audition.

I Can't vouch for a comparison against a New OEM Model, as this option was not available.

I visit the Facebook Page a few times a year, but make a few hours for the experience of the Xmas Hol's.

I hope to see your work undertaken on the Needle Drop Video's.

There is very attractive work coming from this Service.

@dogberry From discussions had with a Free Lancer who is known to have been involved in the production of the 'PW' Windfeld. The Windfeld and Cadenza Models were released in very close proximity to each other.

A recollection of the discussions had is that Ortofon are very active in their R&D into the Damper Materials that are selected to be used, their main area of interest is the WRD System, and derivatives of this end up in Cart's as a Trickle Down range of models.

I would suggest the Kontrapunkt C is, as a result of certain interfaces, is with a design that is using a particular damper type, that shares a similarity to the MC Jubilee WRD, that was reported at the time to be the latest cutting edge design for this design element.

The release of the Jubilee to Kontrapunkt C are Five Years separated.

I am quite familiar with witnessing the practice from a Third Party Service, where the insitu damper is reorientated to ensure the natural degradation of the Damper Material is positioned so that it has no impact, or the least impact on the Cart's function. Note: 'no impact' is questionable as UV is known to have a substantial derogatory impact on the Damper.   

There are individuals spuing out the merits of Cart's much older than your K'c. There is the likelihood these Cart's Dampers are shot and are remaining in use, or discovered shot and replaced with a equivalent part, not original and certainly not meeting the Spec' of the original part, it seems the Cart' Model or unique item belonging to the Cart' Model is enough to have the critical dampers unavoidable failure in performance overlooked.  

My experiences with Ortofon Cart's of varying purchase values and build versions over the past years, leads ne to suggest the Original Silver Coils, and Original Damper Type are very likely to be responsible for the sonic that is so attractive to yourself.

Ortofon have made sure the Verismo Model, that has a New Discovered Damper Material is very noticeably made known in their advertising. The pursuit of Damper Tech' is very much in keeping with what I was given as a description about where the Company invests in technologies to be utilised.   

As a result of the MC Century being Five Year released and no Trickle Down Cart' Models released. With the Verismo being released in 2021, it is this model I was suspecting to be the one that has the Trickle Down Model Cart's released, if the Kontrapunk release is used as a guide, there does seem to be a window of opportunity left for this to happen, the sticking point it the Cadenza Range and Verismo are both using the same Coil Wire, which will mean a New Range and Cadenza are most likely to be very similarly voiced.

The Jubilee > Kontrapunkt (Silver Coil) and PW Windfeld > Cadenza (Aucurum - Copper Coil) are very easily separated as a voicing by Ortofon, as the Coil Wire inuse is quite different from the outset. 

As has my Kontrapunkt b, as a rebuild version and having a WRD fitted as part of the rebuild, been a very worthy competitor to the PW Windfeld.

Ortofon keep certain Model Ranges from their Cartridges voiced very similar, as they are using a continued technology and specific design, that only really differs when a new material is discovered to be added to supersede another material.