Audio Technica AT ML-180 Cartridge Advice

chakster
It was top of the line Victor tonearm for their TT-101

Not to be overly nit-picky but the UA-7045 arm was supplied on the 
N.A. JVC QL-10 and in Japan the TT-101 drive would be found used with 
the longer UA-7082.

Now back to the original topic.

@totem395  well, it's the same arm, just a bit longer, and both units were available separately, so 7045 or 7082 doesn't really matter - they are both top models. ok  

@nandric,  I had a long conversation with the VdH representative here in the US a few weeks ago and he explained that Mr VdH performs all the rebuilds himself and that he bought the last remaining supply of Boron tube.

Whilst he did not go into details on the specific step by step approach of how he performs the rebuild, he did explain that a new boron tube cantilever, VdH natural diamond and new suspension would cost me $750 and assured me that Mr VdH does this work himself in his retirement.  

I was only passing on this information from a reputable agent of VdH it is not my assumption or opinion.

Also I am pretty certain that if VdH can build "The Colibri" they can perform a rebuild of an ML180 stylus.
 

Dear @ateal: Thank's. Stupid people always exist since the human been exists.

Northwest as VdH are cartridge builders with all the know how and skills to rebuild cartridges, obviously that can't put in exactly the same condition the 180 as an original one.

The Lyra designer here and in other threads already left very clear how cartridge manufacturers works and its advantages against re-tippers.

Now, the more important issue is that you are really happy with your 180/150. Just stay that way till you find out a better cartridge for your system and music/sound priorities.

Btw, if can be true that a tube cantilever can has lower wiegth than same material in rod way exist no true facts that can tell us that hollow cantilevers always are better than its rod ones. Both have its own kind of resonances and we have to think that that hollow/tube or rod characteristics per sé does not defines the overall cartridge quality level performance. Tha's why we have very good performers with hollow material cantilevers and very good performers with rod material cantilevers.

That's the same as when in other thread we analyzed the best material for cantilevers and with scientific facts was not the berylium ( as many people think. ) the best one for that specific work but diamond followed by boron.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Obviously, my comments originate from 'the nickel seats', so everyone can apply the grain-of-salt factor easily.

In years past, I studied psychoacoustics partly as a hobby, and partly to aid in supplying sound for live gigs.  I came to the realization that, despite factual evidence, oftentimes people preferred sound that was not quite the best that could be offered.  Their judgement of 'great sound' was mostly subjective and that was that. 

Without beating a dead horse, or denigrating anyone's hearing ability, I become amused at the microscopic hair-splitting that arises over tubes vs rods; both of which are an order of dimension smaller than I could ever hear the difference.  My personal preference is Beryllium with a Line Contact stylus, i.e. the ATN155lc.  I recently acquired an AT150mlx and an AT150sa within a few weeks' time.  "Now, I can have a shoot-off between the TOTL AT carts from 3 different eras", I told myself.  Current results:  The AT155lc is still my favorite, but the other 2 are simply different, not better or worse.  Add to that, due to my small listening room, my 3-way column speakers are only 8 feet from my ears, which essentially provide a near-field environment, like a sound studio.  Auditioning new components or vinyl is also dependent on what part of the day it's done in.  Personally, I also have to factor in whether or not I've eaten recently and the effect low blood sugar has on my ability to process information.

I love facts and information and charts just as much as the rest of you 'audioholics', but I need to remind myself frequently that my musical enjoyment is not a laboratory pursuit, rather a respite from a day in a life.

YRMV