Help with cartridge
With the world turned off, I finally got my Michell Gyrodec SE going. It has some model of a Rega arm, and a cartridge I cannot identify. Not sure how to post photos here?
Due to several cross country moves, the stylus is bent. I do know it is a low output moving coil. I need to either replace the cartridge or fix the stylus if possible. It is tan with a red line going from the head to the slight V down by the stylus. Any suggestions would help as I feel I have a jigsaw puzzle without the lid right now.
The rest of the system is all tubes including the Wright phono stage, with a step up unit.
I am considering having it upgraded by the Needle Doctor, to the sapphire boron with nude micro ridge stylus. Sapphire or Boron, not all together What's the price and why do you think it will be better than another cartridge (not a refurbished one, but a factory made) with similar advanced cantilever and stylus ? You have to ask about compliance of the new combo. Actually what Needle Doctor offering for Denon can be purchased for many vintage MM cartridges, because modern JICO SAS stylus is sapphire (or ruby) with S.A.S. profile. And a broken cartridges body like Victor Z1 cost almost nothing (fully compatible with JICO SAS stylus). Denon is LOMC and you need a SUT of high gain MC phono stage, also proper phono cable. |
Sad to say it but you’ll have a hard time working with Needle Doctor (Minneapolis MN); the owner closed it last year due to poor health. I’m also pretty certain they didn’t do repairs or upgrades, just re-tip trade-ins. Perhaps you’re thinking of Soundsmith? They do re-tips and upgrades. Their boron/nude contact line diamond combo is $450. FWIW, you might want to consider investing some extra $$$ and making a real upgrade. The Denon is a nice cartridge, but yours is rather old now and there are vastly superior carts out there brand new at the $900-$1200 price point. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do. |
