Lewm,
"This is simple; what you want is your money back or some reasonable fraction thereof or for him to pay Axel."
Yes, being a honest person, that is exactly what I expected from him. But, as you are about to discover, this is not in his nature as a gentleman. |
Banquo 363,
I have contacted my credit cart company. The purchase was made thru the paypal system but I alwasy use my card for payment. I'm sure this will be a long process but when they ask me for the backup data, I do have alot of emails to prove what has transpired!
Regards, Don |
To all reading the tape ball cartridge shipment,
My intent in this discussion has not been to embarrass the shipper, only for him to act in a honerable manner and kindly provide me with a refund. I am pulling together the emails and posts that he has provided, that will state a promised refund of all costs if I return the cartridge to him. I will post it tomorrow. There will be no way that I will be able to continue to conceal his identity at that time because 2 of the posts will be from this forum. One from me. The other from him. Much more to follow. I does get more disgusting.
Regards Don |
Hello Don i can relate as i am in a holding pattern for two totl cartridges bought from two different sellers. One akg p100 le was sent to Axel today all here knows who sold it to me as mentioned in previous posts here. I am hoping its something simple and Axel works his magic. The second totl has been private between me and the seller. A lot of time has gone by the cartridge has been returned to him for weeks now. Im in a second waiting pattern but have to admit after two emails sent and no replies im getting the feeling im getting put off because ive noticed theres time to communicate but not time to reply to me. I like to believe that people have honor and pride and will do the right thing. Don im hopping both of us come through this with out things getting ugly and the responsible people doing the right thing.
Mike |
Hi Stltrains,
I truly do understand what you are going thru. It would appear you are also a honest person who expect others to also be just as honest. It really is a sickening feeling that you get when you realize someone is playing you for a fool. I just hope the same ass I'm dealing with is not the same one that is causing you such grief! Thank you for your understanding, Regards, Don |
I think the Fukushima earthquake as registered several hundred miles away in Tokyo was in the 7's. My son said all the office buildings on the street where he works (in Tokyo) were swaying in unison, like a group of hula dancers. He was terrified, but they were all engineered to do that so as to dissipate energy. Glad to know you are OK. |
Hi Don, The English from your seller as quoted belongs obviously to some foreigner among us. So some German, Balkan or Dutch member is probable involved... While I know that no Balkan person will ever admit to have done anything wrong in his whole life I need to state to be 100% innocent in your case. I intend to list some of my carts on our own market so to prevent any possible wavering about my character and to get the right (aka asking) price I thought that such a clarification may be useful.
Regards,
|
Hi Nandric,
It is always entertaining to read your posts. You do have a way about you that will brighten up someones cloudy day. You are both right and wrong in your foreigner comment. He is not any of the three you mentioned. He is Mexican.
Regards, Don |
Dear Nikola, Have you read "Spies of the Balkans", by the American novelist Alan Furst. A great WWII spy story, one of many written by Furst, but it shows that Balkans have guile, if not always a sense of humor. Of course, the Nazis were not funny, either. |
To all reading the tape ball cartridge shipment,
I am sure all of you will be shocked within the next minute of reading. You will find it hard to believe that the person who has been called a Gentlemen by some of you is the dishonest seller. The facts are what they are. I am now at liberty to post the complete emails that I have sent/recieved by all. This means the email headers (sender name, and sent dates), and email with signature of the email sender. You can request any or ALL of the 100% complete emails from me that verify everthing I have stated. You all need to discover the fact that I hid nothing but the identity of the seller so please ask and I will sent the emails to you!
After waiting several days for a reply from the seller in regards to the forwarded email from Axel, I discovered the seller was once again posting on our forum. Having still not responded to the email, I decided to contact him thru this forum. Below are the 2 post that I referred to earlier. They are on page 129 of our forum.
02-11-12: Griffithds Raul,
Did you receive my email from Axel in reference to the damaged/unrepeatable Empire cartridge you sold me.
Regards, Don
02-11-12: Rauliruegas Dear Griffithds: I don't know what is the " deal " behind your post.
people here could think that I have on sale cartridges out of work which is not true because as any other the cartridges you bought from me all were in working condition, including that one.
Please return to me and I return your money and I take shipping both sides. I'm not a seller of second hand cartridges and that's why you can take your money. If I was a seller you can't do it.
If any other of the cartridges you bought from me has a problem or does not like you please return to me and I'm very pleased to make the same.
I appreciate that your post will be your last one on that subject and I appreciate too that don't email me about ever other that to give me your Pay pal account.
Regards and enjoy the music, R.
As you can see, Raul was rather quick to respond when confronted on this forum. His reply states that if I no longer mention this topic and return the cartridge to him, he will refund not just the purchase price. But all shipping charges that have been incurred by me. Well beat my butt with an ugly stick, Finally he realizes that he has a problem that he need to correct. This statement might have sounded good on this forum, but stating it on this forum didn’t make it happen. I did as Raul requested. I waited until I received the cartridge from Axel. On 2/18/12, then sent Raul the following email.
From: griffithds@jaws.bz To: rauliruegas@hotmail.com Subject: Cartridge return Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:48:09 -0700
Raul, Received the 4000D cartridge/stylus from Axel today. I need your address to forward to you. My PayPal account is griffithds@jaws.bz. I will forward it as packaged by Axel. It is correctly bolted in a container to prevent movement, not taped as you shipped it which allowed it to bounce around inside the Empire container. It should arrive as shipped! Regards, Don
I once again state to Raul, my dislike in the way he had shipped the cartridge to me. You will see in his following replies, He just ignores that fact. |
Rauls response.
Original Message ----- From: Raúl Iruegas Valdivieso To: don Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 3:57 PM Subject: RE: Cartridge return Sanchez Azcona 1612-102 Col. Del Valle México, D.F 03100 R
See any reply in reference to my comments about the tape ball cartridges? Just ignored it!
I took the cartridge, boxed with everything Raul had sent me to the Post Office. They had 2 question they wanted answered before they would ship. See email sent to Raul below.
From: griffithds@jaws.bz To: rauliruegas@hotmail.com Subject: Re: Cartridge return Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:14:45 -0700 The US postal service office would like to know what city in Mexico? Also what is D.F? I'm sending it registered mail with insurance so they also need a phone number for delivery confirmation! Raul, this is beginning to be a pain in the ass. How about crediting my Pay Pal account $185 (50% of purchase price) and call it even? Regards, Don
When I added up what it was going to cost Raul (per his statement), over $450, I suggest to “How about crediting my Pay Pal account $185 (50% of purchase price) and call it even?” I felt at the time and still feel that my offer was more than generous considering ! Raul never (as usual), responded. That is when I began to seriously question Raul intent. Why would he ignore a offer that would save him $269? He was either a fool, or he had no intention of refunding me the money he so gallantly stated on the forum. Against that gut feeling you get in your stomach when you just know you are about to get screwed, I proceeded to follow Rauls instructions, and shipped the box. I did insure it and paid for signature required to prevent him from saying he never received it.
EG 932726916 US is the tracking # from the USPS. I received conformation from USPS on FEB 29, that the package had been delivered and signed for. 14 days later, no word from Raul |
On 3/12/12 I receive the following email from Raul, From: rauliruegas@hotmail.com To: griffithds@jaws.bz Subject: RE: Cartridge return Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:34:16 +0000
I just comeback from a rtwo weeks work-trip. I seen the package and tonight I will check it and let you know about. Regards, R.
Let me know about? What does he mean by that? Doesn’t sound like refund coming to me!
Following email dated 3/19, sent to me from Raul,
These are my coments on the Empire cartridge subject: I can't test it because my system is out of work but even this I noted how the ( cartridge container. ) spheric plastic buble is cracked. When I bought this cartridge I received it its original container/box with no problem during shipping. When I send to you the original box was surrounded for shipping bubbles and then in a second box, so for the plastic buble been cracked that item must received a very hard shock/hit during Fedex ship´ping. There is no other possibility. Unfortunately you ask for a very low declared value that preclude any claim about. Other subject that worried me is that I send my cartridge and it had the label's model in the down plate of the cartridge and the sample I received has no label's model so it can be my cartridge or it can't be my cartridge. The label can't dissapear on easy way, I think only on purpose ( ???? ) or because never had it. All these " things " brought me to decide to return the cartridge to you, I can't accept it . You will receive it soon.
1) Can’t test? Notices plastic buble is cracked? Is he giving me a history lesson? If he has been reading my emails, and I know he has, all this was relayed to his back in early Jan. 2) Him receiving the cartridge safely only means that the person who sent him the cartridge, packed it much better than Raul did when he sent it to me! 3)He then goes on to state he double boxed it? I have been after him to explain to me why he shipped the tape balls to me in an envelope since Jan 10th. Now, over 2 months later, he wants to say he double boxed it! Raul, you are also a lair! Any one see where this might be going, 4) He says I asked for very low declared value that preclude any claim about. Up to now, have anyone read a email from me, telling Raul to place a very low declared value on this Empire 4000D3/Astatic MF100 cartridge shipment. The answer is no. Their isn’t one. Raul, once again, you are a Lair! 5) After I told him the cartridge does not work on Jan. 10th. He gets copied a email from Axel stating cartridge can not be repaired . See page 129 of this forum for my statement to Raul and also Rauls reply to me, it is on the same page. He contacts Axel to ask what is wrong with the cartridge. Has he ignored everything that has happened ! Can he not read. Does he not read my emails pertaining to the cartridges that he gladly excepted my money for!
6) I asked Axel which was the problem with the cartridge and you can read in the email that the problem was in a coil and IMHO a very hard shock/hit ( like the one the package received. ) can made it broken. Yes Raul, we do agree. Perhaps the 2 cartridges bouncing around inside the dome for 1 week, damaged one of them. DUH! 7) His remaining comments are what really burns me. The label he refers to was placed inside of a plastic cartridge carton, and taped to the outside of the envelope. I can only assume it came off while Axel opened up the cartridge to check, Perhaps, it came off during shipping? I don’t know which. I do know that the decal/label was placed inside a plastic container and taped to the outside of the envelope. I saw it with my own eyes. It was there! All this was shipped to Raul. He does acknowledge in a latter post that the container was there but he claims was empty? He then is accusing me of keeping the label! What an ass! I wish I had taken a picture of it in the container, but that would only have proven that there was a label. I would not prove it was HIS label. Nor would it have proved I left the label in the container when I shipped it. I guess, this is where faith and trust come in to this discussion. He has stated he will not be sending me a refund but will be returning the cartridge to me? Based on what? I still have one question that he still has not addressed. THE TAPE BALLS! Any one who knows the Empire 4000D, knows that all the bodies are the same. It is the stylus that is the prized jewel. The D3 stylus is the most expensive and the most sought after. It is also the hardest to find. If my intentions were to swap Rauls cartridge for my bad cartridge, ask yourself. Why.? Why the body? You can find them anywhere. It’s the stylus everyone wants. The $189 offer I made to Raul would have gotten me that hard to find stylus and saved me an additional $42 return shipping to Raul. I don’t need bodies. If I wanted to stiff Raul, it would have been for the stylus. I could have lied to him and told him that it was the stylus that got damaged. Think about it. Who’s scamming who here! Raul, you have made it quite clear to me, that you can not be trusted. You lie, You twist the truth to suit yourself, You are unethical, and you are an ass. I was right about you when you ignored the generous offer to settle this. You had planned all along to stiff me for the money. There is no other way to understand your actions. Your replies, or shall I say, lack of replies, your ideals of fairness and honesty are discussing. Raul, I have another question for you. Did you verify that the back of the cartridge did or did not have the grounding strap? Remember early on in this discussion, I questioned Raul about the missing grounding strap! My cartridge has one. His did not. The only cartridge that I had without a ground strap was his. The cartridge that has been returned to him, packaged by Axel, does not have that strap! How do I know this. Because it is HIS cartridge. 8) His last statement is a real kicker!
“All these " things " brought me to decide to return the cartridge to you, I can't accept it . You will receive it soon. “
What “things”? The label he lost opening the container! Give me a break. This guy thinks we’re all fools. |
Hi Don, I had no idea that you Americans count Mexicans as foreigners. To my knowledge the most of them are illegitimate or otherwise already in the USA and are the majority of all the minorities there. Within 10 years from now the Spanish language will be the official American language. BTW you overlooked the 3 periods or dots after my mentioning of the suspects from the Balkan and Holland which both actually refer to me alone. Those (dots) mean that there are more then 3 foreign nations involved.
Dear Lew, Ever heard about Brutus? Two huge insults of the Balkan people in just one single post based on some ignorant American detective novel writer while you can get first hand info from your forum buddy about his beloved Balkan? Something wrong with your TT's or tonearms perhaps?
Regards, |
Hi Nandric,
Interesting hearing how people in other countries actually view the illegitmate problem we have in my country! Sadly, I have to agree with everything you have said refering to your 10 year forcast. Yes, the majority of our minorities are Mexican. It is still undecided how many or what percent of them are acutally illegitmate! I do wish there were more foreign "Balkin" types here in my country. We certainly could use more of your wonderful humor.
Regards, Don |
Dear Nikola, I did not realize my attempt at camaraderie left you bleeding a la Caesar. No insult was intended. Since I am a doctor, I will send a band-aid and a lovely nurse to install it. Please give me your Paypal address.
On a more serious note, it is Mexicans who rightly and fairly count themselves as Mexicans. They live in a separate and sovereign country to our south. And if Spanish ever becomes the predominant language in the US, it will have been related to an influx of new citizens from many different countries in Central and South America and from Puerto Rico and Cuba, as well as from Mexico, but it won't happen in our lifetimes.
Don, If you call someone "illegitimate", it is usually a commentary on the marital status of their parents. "Illegal" is more accurate and less condescending and insulting. I would imagine that in the south central US, the illegal and legal Spanish-speaking immigrants are primarily Mexican, but that is not the case here on the Eastern seaboard and in the Northeast. Most of the Spanish-speaking people in my area are from South and Central America, Puerto Rico (all of them "legal"), and Cuba. Most of these people are honest and work very hard each day. But do practice your Serbian. |
Hi Lewm, No insult intended. Nandric was talking about illegitmate foreigners. I was commenting on his statement. Sorry for the misuunderstanding.
Regards, Don |
Better to spend one's time learning Chinese.
Currently enjoying a Pickering XV-15 with a middle of the pack 750D elliptical, clean bass and clear mids but a somewhat sandpaper/raspy hf. Considering a more extreme profile (Shibata or Vivid Line stylus from LpGear or JICO) as an anti-etch solution, any suggestions from the Pickering/Stanton aficionados?
Peace, |
Raul,
You have stated that you intend to return the cartridge to me. I do not trust your current shipping methods nor do I trust you so I'm going to provide you shipping instructions. 1) You will bolt the cartridge with stylus installed down in the container to prevent any movement in the container. This container is to have a lid. You must not place any other substance including TAPE in that container. NO TAPE! 2) You will place the lid on the container and bubble wrap the container. 3) You will place the bubble wrapped container in a shipping box. NO ENVELOPE! 4) You will add additional packing material into the box to protect the cartridge container. 5) You will insure the shippment. 6) You will demand signature required and provide a tracking number. I don't trust you or your shipping methods. I want proof that you actually shipped it and did so correctly. If not insurance will take care of it. 7) You will fill out the customs declaration form. It is the shippers responcibility. Not the recievers! I want proof that you can not stiff me again. I will not accept the package at my door. I will pick the package up at the post office and open it in their presents. Goverment employee witnesses. If you don't get it Raul, I don't trust you |
Griffithds: I'd like to remind you of the initial question that launched 'the tape ball affair': My question : How would you proceed! I would perfer [sic] not to embarrass this person even though he has received negative feedback from this forum in the past. That is why I am asking all of you for some diplomatic advice. Dare I say that the way you've proceeded has been the opposite of diplomatic? Thus I implore you (and your anger) to take this dispute offline, so we can return to investigating more pleasant questions, like "Is anyone safe from Balkan humor?" and posting educational bits like Vetterone's one on gluing stylus assemblies onto cartridge bodies. I haven't done that, but I followed Ct0517's advice way back when Acutex fever hit and secured my 420 stylus assembly to the cartridge body with a dab of blu-tac. It works and is so easy and safe that even Nandric can try it [that's called Mekong Delta humor]. I haven't found need to do this on any of my other mm carts; the connection on the Acutex is ridiculously loose. Less safe is taking off the stylus guard. I did that on my just received Astatic mf200 and the thing catapulted across my desk. Only by sheer luck did it miss taking the cantilever with it. Good thing too: the mf200 is glorious sounding. Thanks, Raul. |
Dear Banquo 363, I fully agree with your opinion about this issue except, of course, about your suggestion that the Balkan humor is somehow dangerous. There are however incidentaly jokes from which one can get pain in his belly but to my knowledge this apply only for the Japanese joks told in English by the Japanese. I always had a strong inclination to become member of some people tribunal and decide about the fate of kings, presidents (+ those of the banks)etc., but I would certainly refuse any appointment in a tribunal to decide about my comrades. A Balkan guy will rather die except in the case of Croats, Albanian, Bulgarian and more in particular Austrian. But this is because of 'some' historical reasons.
Regards, |
Dear Professor, One really need to be brave to 'swim against the stream'. I am aware about my own prejudice reg. the carts. Ie I don't expect to get an good MM cart for cheap. The more expensive a cart is the more convinced I am that more expensive cart is better. The British started this prejudice by their paradoxical proverb: 'I am not a rich man to buy cheap things'. But the difference among us is ,I think, if one is a discoverer or a follower. To me the Stantons start by 881S and the Pickering by 3000. So it is obvious to which 'category' I belong. But for those who like to try your Pickering advice: there are many on the German ebay for cheap.
Regards,
|
Long before I encountered this thread, my first inkling that there may be some merit in these "old" MM cartridges was the result of listening to a Pickering cartridge at the home of a friend who was already open-minded enough, sans the input of Raul, to have discovered MMs on his own. I think the Pickering was called "TLS40", or something like that. He bought it NOS from an eBay vendor for peanuts (meaning very little money, Nikola). It's made of cheap plastic, but the sound was shockingly good. So the lesson I have since learned is that cost is often, if not usually, not proportional to performance. And of course any decent MM or MI cartridge is dramatically more cost-effective than a similarly good MC, maybe notwithstanding the Denon DL103 or 103R.
As to the issue of glue. I think it's a good idea even if the fit seems snug, because it will force the cartridge body and the stylus assembly to dissipate energy in a more linear fashion; the two elements will vibrate as a unit, rather than as disparate and dissimilar parts. For a Stanton or upper level Pickering, the rubber band solution is, IMHO, even better, because the tight-fitting rubber band will further dampen vibrations of the body/stylus. This is all theory, of course. |
Dear L/N/T: All over this thread shows us that we all did not take to much time speaking on the Stanton/Pickering cartridges and this is a little weird because both are top designs and a lot of people own these cartridges including some of us.
I never made a comparison between similar models in the Stanton and Pickering lines, I assume both performs the same because I understand has the same design. Whom of you can go more in deep with this Stanton/Pickering performance comparisons?
I ubderstand that other than Timeltel Fleib and Dlaloum really knows about and could be interesting for all to put some light on the issue.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Dear Banquo363: Yes, with some cartridges like the Acutexs and Empires it is a little riscky to take off the stylus guar but the rewards are worth to do it with extremely care.
With care any one can do it and like you say " even Nandric can ".
If we saw at the LOMC alternative we take in count that almost no one use " fixed " stylus guard, almost all comes with a ( need to ) removable stylus guard and IMHO are very good reasons for.
Things are that we can't imagine at " microscopic " level how tiny tiny distotions that came from cartridge overall body affect the cartridge level performance. When we , step by step, eliminate those distortion's focus ( like glued the stylus assembly or/and take off stylus guard. ) no doubt we can hear the benefits, of course depending on each one system resolution.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Regards, Nandric: This cart came on an ADC headshell, for which I'm always on the lookout. The stylus pulled from my drawer full of such, the outcome of a bulk purchase from several years ago. Although the XV-15 was never a "cheap" cart, altogether I estimate my cost to be at just under $2.00 US and I'm very pleased to audition a cartridge not previously discussed so inexpensively.
The XV-15 750E is Pickering's version of the Stanton 681EEE, the Pickering bodies were black, silver or gold. Apparently those measuring best were the gold, the specimen I have is silver. The styli start with one designated as "150", a conical, and continue through to the "D750E", then the "D1200E" at 10-30k response, .75 to 1.25gm VTF which offers slightly superior specs compared to the Stanton 881E. The Pickering "D1800S", a stereohedron profile, is 20-30k, .75-1.5gm VTF, 25cu and both the D1200 and D1800S are, incidentally, well regarded by those who have actually heard the cartridge.
The D750 stylus is a .3 x .7 elliptical, tracks from 0.5-1.5 gm and is third from the top of the range of Pickering styli provided for the cart. At the time, Pickering thought to aid the consumer by assigning numerical designation in order to aid styli selection for intended use. The cartridge offers a tight bass, excellent clarity in the mids, good separation and a nice soundstage. The hfs are, however, somewhat etched, the forward nature of hfs with the 881 or XSV-3000 are frequently commented on by others. Wether with the XV-15/D750 stylus this is due to the cart not yet being broken in or is the nature of the cart is the question, a Shibata or line contact stylus will often alleviate this.
As to swimming against the current, Marco Polo traveled east and apparently had a really good time, Columbus sailed west and somehow managed to not fall off the edge of the earth. Others also cast preconceived notions aside and journeyed for the experience to be found in doing so. I'm quite pleased with my $2.00 cart but haven't yet tried Lew's suggested upgrade. Anyone know where I can find audiophile grade rubber bands?
Peace, |
Hi Banquo363
The only reason it went on line was because Raul refuses to answer my emails! From all that I have posted, can you tell me please, why Raul shipped me tape balls? Can you tell me, why Raul shipped me the tape balls in an envelope? Ne has never replied to my repeated requests to tell me that simple inquirie! Raul refuses to admit the simple fact, that was not only the incorrect way to ship something so delicate as a phono cartridge, but that also what caused the cartridge to become damaged! As far as taking it off line again, been there, done that. I asked the members of the forum for a Diplomatic solution to this injustice. But as a lot of Diplomatic problems, war becomes the eventual outcome. I wish the whole situation never started. I wish that he accepted my $185 (50% off purchase price), offer. It would have ended then and we would not be having this discussion. But he's is just to hardheaded to admit he can be wrong sometimes. Don't beleive me, just ask him! I do agree, the war needs to end. Raul says he will return the cartridge/stylus. If, and I do mean if, he finally doe’s what he says he will do, I will admit defeat and end my protest.
To be continued!
Regards, Don |
Raul Iruegas Valdivieso,
It now up to you. Send me a tracking number! |
Hi Lew, et. al.
Like you, my interest in MM/MI cartridges predated Raul's initiation of this thread. Perhaps 20-25 years ago, before most LP production succumbed to the onslaught of the CD, I read about an interesting situation. Sax, Grundman, and several other prominent mastering engineers reported using MM/MI cartridges in their work. Not long after that Robert E. Greene wrote a review for TAS on Stanton and Audio Technica -
http://www.regonaudio.com/Stanton881AudioTechnicaATML70.html
Not being comfortable with the prices of some MCs at that time (as much as $2K, imagine that!) I tried a few Shures and Stantons, but mainly listened to Grados among my mix of less expensive MCs.
I mention this not to take any credit away from Raul and the momentum of interest he created over the past four years, but the MM/MI cartridges had not been totally abandoned by serious music listeners prior to his efforts. |
Hello all my triplaner arrived yesterday fixed like new thanks Tri and Bill. I mounted my at 155 with a 160 ml stylus at 9g a nice fit. Ats snap fit seams very tight don't think any glue is needed. Slightly raised in the rear vtf 1ga and of course slight as. Brand new the combo is wonderful sounding. To bad the stylus assembly cost way more than the cartridge. Playing a early Rolling Stones Flowers lp with as they say satisfaction.
Afternoon rock and roll priceless Mike |
But Mike, the audiophile "can't get no satisfaction.... No, no, no!" |
Lew moving on to steely dans gaucho ludwick pressing makes you say Yea yea yea !!!!!! |
Timeltel, do you want the audiophile rubber band also cryoed ? |
Regards, Audpulse. Price is not a concern. As I have already invested nearly $2.00 in this fine cart, this should be apparent. If you know of a review for cyroed rubber bands, I'm sure it would make interesting reading. :)
Peace, |
Timeltel, since I am in Houston, I will check at NASA shop. As for a review, that is in the works. |
Whoever (re)discovered the MM carts (my uncle Boris claims to be the first) the case is that because of the huge price difference with MC carts we are able to buy more than one, try them out, and probable keep those that we like and resell the other. This is to my mind the best proposition we have in the context of our analog hobby. That is to say that we rarely lose money by those transactions while we all know that this , alas, is not the case with other components. No wonder than that the most of us own even more than two specimens of this kind ( modesty is a virtue). But the Nirvana for cheap seems to be very difficult to achive so even those who already own 'the best of the best' (like Lew) still buy some more. However among the carts we own there should be, logicaly, also specimens we like less or don't like so the question is why should we keep those? I know that whatever collection we like to have needs some 'extension' to, at least, look 'impressive' but why should this apply for carts? My back needs at least two days of 'recuperation' after each single adjustment is (properly) done and I know for sure that I am not a masochist. So I intend to keep 'only' two or three MM carts which I consider to be 'the best' for me. What is the 'philosophy' of others?
Regards,
|
Timeltel, Lucky for you the XV-15 750E is not the same generator as the 681. The 750E is a MM and the 681 is a MI which happens to have 930mH inductance. Perhaps you meant stylus substitution/body style? I suspect you could get a replacement substitution like a Jico vivid line for around $80, but I'm not familiar with the number substitutions. It looks like a Pickering 3000 through 7500 (Stanton D81), but I don't really know. BTW, very high quality rubber bands are available at the supermarket in the produce section. They come wrapped around bundles of broccoli and asparagus. They might be a little long, in which case you could get one of my audiophile rubber band cinches for only $300.
On a more serious note, I find this tape ball business disconcerting. I wonder if the package from Mexico was inspected and tampered with? Just a thought. Regards, |
I will be selling those rubber bands suitable for "cartridge dampening". They will be made of special 100-year-old rubber extracted from the first automobile tires, only. They are then impregnated with silver, gold, pixie dust, and antivibratorium (a newly derived compound that uses "quantum physics"), and then cryo'd (good guess by someone else). I cannot possibly produce these for less than $100 each, so the retail will have to be $500. Each one will be numbered and signed by me. Now taking orders. |
Lewm: Seems to me a fair price.
R. |
Hi Fleib,
" wonder if the package from Mexico was inspected and tampered with? Just a thought."
Interesting thought. What do you suspect they might have done? Removed them from a box, unbolted them, inspected them, rolled them up in tape, type up new postal shipping label (perhaps they transferred the label from the box), then place the tape balls in an envelope? Doesn't sound like something Federal postal inspectors would do. I doubt that the custom inspectors at the port of entry into the United States would go to that extreme either! Like I stated earlier. The facts are what they are. You can analyze all you want. When all is said and done, the item was not delivered in the condition that was stated at time of purchase. A refund was offered, cartridge returned. No refund provided.
Regards, Don |
Dear friends: Last week I was tempted by an ebay auction showed for my surprise ( first time I saw this cartridge on the net. ) a Dynavector Karat Nova 13D ( LOMC. ), as a fact the seller even does not knew the cartridge model but my " eyes " go out when I saw it.
This cartridge for some persons ( I think J.Carr and Dover mentioned here. ) is one of the best out there and a reference cartridge on its own merits.
I was lucky to win that auction for a good price. I don't receive it yet but I'm really exited for and confirm what other persons said it on this item.
Nandric: why even that I own some top and best out there cartridges am I willing to follow buying cartridges?: the expectation to new experiences hopping for a better performer.
Along that Dynavector I bought a Goldring G800 ( vintage ) that I'm waiting too. I read that this G800 with a change in cantilever/stylus is something to own and for at least one person I respect this Goldring ( modified. ) is his today Reference. Better than the MF-200?, we will see.
Btw, I bought the Goldring for a ridiculous price through the ebay UK.
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Since 11 September 2001 the Federal postal inspectors become totally paranoid. Probable because of the instruction/ warning by Bush administration that an atomic bomb can be hiden even in a CD/DVD envelope. Those I use mostly to post my carts because they are cheap and they probable will avoid the customs. But to my suprise the waiting time in the Russian Federation is even longer. About two months for the airmail. I was even more suprised to hear from my Russian 'customers' that they were very glad to have received the carts in such a short time.If they were really honest they would probable say that they deed not expect to get their post at all. So I assume that both 'super powers' have instructed their postal inspectors how to unpack a packet with an atomic bomb but of course not how to pack the thing together in the reverse. This may explain Rauls situation and Fleibs assumptions. I don't believe that any inspector will ever admit to have done anything wrong because all what they do is exactly according to the prescriptions. Exactly like the tax inspectors who however will also provide you with 33 articles from the Tax law to shut your mouth. |
MY Aged Audiophile grade Cartridge Attachment Affixers "CAA's" are made of pure stock from Henry Ford's original Brazilian Rubber Plantations under close advision by Thomas Edison and as used exclusively in his Cylinder Phonograph Players. Only $495.99. Not Cryo'd.... Armorall'od!! Limited Edition. (limited to as many as we can sell) |
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Ct, I am just like that guy in the video, only without the 'fro.
Re customs abuse. I have found that the border between the US and Canada is a much more problematic one across which to send packages than any other. I get capacitors from Russia in better shape and in less time than it takes to get capacitors from Parts Conexion in Canada. And once I endured a lengthy nightmare trying to receive a Lenco from Canada, where the pkg was erroneously sent to North Dakota and then BACK to the sender in Canada, before finally it arrived here with some damage. I bought a cartridge from Raul a few years ago that arrived OK, but I can imagine that there is even more paranoia and incompetence surrounding US and Mexico customs interactions. But it does seem improbable that Customs was responsible for the ball of tape caper. |
It would be nice if Raul would answer the charges, or at least make an attempt to kiss and make up. |
Hi Lew - LOL - sorry I could not resist - all in fun. I was actually thinking of linking Kate Bush Rubberband Girl instead – She is much easier on the eyes. Fwiw - for empire 4000d iii fans
A few months ago I added a very small smidgen of super glue to the bottom of the shaft on my well used empire 4000 diii and shoved her in. This was a recommendation of Frogman. It elevated that cartridge to the next level for me. It has however become disposable now unless someone can tell me a way to remove it. The stylus costs almost as much as the whole cartridge so I figured WTH. These MM's offer incredible sonic value - that’s all that matters to me – what I hear - not what it looks like spinning on the table with the light on it. Their construction however for the most part for the ones I have bought is reflected in the price I have paid for them. |
Dear Raul, 'last week I was tempted by an ebay auction...' is the worst excuse I have ever heard except, perhaps, the excuse which Lew is used to use: 'the price was such that it was impossible to resist'. This way one can 'justify' and 'explain' +100 carts as well as 4 TT's, 5 tonearms and two kinds of the 'best electrostatic speakers ever'. But such excuses you both may need for yourself and not for us. The rest of us see such phenomena in the context of the question : what one can afford.
Regards, |
Dear Nandric: Maybe a excuse, I have to say a good excuse. The Karat Nova 13D is not a legendary cartridge but the most " chased " cartridge out there.
I have no idea/can't imagine its quality level performance but I trust is people like Dover/J.C whom I respect and whom have only high praise for it.
How can any one refuse to own/listen it when you have the unique opportunity to do it?
Not many persons were aware of this " best chased " Karat Nova 13D, I'm almost sure that if you were aware of its " importance " and you saw it you were bought it: with no excuse for that. Am I wrong?
Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
Dear Raul, I got punishment for my teasing of my comrades. Two hours search on the internet for this Karat Nova 13 D without any result. Are you sure that this cart exist? My MC 'collection' (3 x) feels negleted in comparison with the MM collection. What about AT 1000 ?
Regards, |
Nandric,
If you are in the market for a MC, might I suggest this ebay gem. It's currently being listed and the item # is 320875067385. I have one in which I had Expert Stylus retip it with a Saphire/Paratrace cantiliver tip. It was one of my favorites when it was the eliptical version like the one being sold on ebay. It is no longer one of my favorites. The paratrace has made it the one and only! Regards, Don |