Seeking Advice on SPU Retip

[Wiredcon]

Hello all,

Well, I don't know exactly when/what happened, but I just found my SPU Royal GM MKii with twisted cantilevel in this morning.
So.... here I am trying to get some help to figure out if it is worth to retip this SPU or should I consider buying a new cartridge all together? If I go with retip route, where can I get such service and possible cost associated with it?

I've been using it with old ortofon 12" tonearm on Garrard 301. It is my understanding that my setup isn't really friendly with lots of MC cartridges on the market. I've been recommended to try Decon 103 variants, SPU, and Koetsu. Is there any other MC cartridges that I can consider with my setup?


Any advices would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[petrat]

Ortofon HQ in Denmark do re-builds. Basically, you get complete new cartridge for €925 ... they replace everything except the shell.

http://www.ortofon.com/spu-royal-gm-mkii-p-524-n-3597
http://www.ortofon.com/hifi/products/repair-service

You may have import taxes to pay on return, so you maybe need to establish evidence of 'exporting' to avoid paying? You could also ask the US distributor or one of the three or four dealers around Seattle how much they charge ... might save on hassle.

[Clive197]

I would only use Ortofon to rebuild your SPU. Retipped cartridges by other suppliers however professional are never as good as the original maker.
I would certainly contact Ortofon's US distributer in the first instance to enquire about replacement or rebuild, as that would be the prefered route for your system.
The alternative of seeking a totally different cartridge is a long slippery slope. Demo's for cartridges (and headshells in this instance) is difficult at the best of times.

[walpurgis]

Goldring offer servicing and repairs for just about any cartridge of any make and their work has a fine reputation. http://www.goldring.co.uk/cartridge-repair.htm

I have one of their Eroica LX low output MCs and it's extremely musical. Most enjoyable to listen to.

[Wiredcon]

Petrat - Thanks for your information. It turned out that the U.S distributor only gives you US$100 off from the new cartridge price for the repair. If I go with retip service with Ortofon in Denmark, it may save me US$200-300 compare to buying a new Cartridge after all said and done.

Clive197 - Thanks for your advice. Even though I enjoy SPU sound, I am curious about Denon 103 as it is quite cheaper than procuring another working SPU.


Walpurgis - Thank you for the information! I will contact Goldring and see what they can do for me.



It seems like I am not going to save a lot of money even if I decide to retip the cartridge. If goldring offers a competitive repair price, I might consider their service and accept it may never be the same cartridge and buy another new SPU later on.
Even on the Ortofon website, it states that it may not be the same sound as new cart, and it gives me a second thought.


Thank you all for your help!

[Wiredcon]

I just found out that Goldring is not offering any Repair service duing the summer period....hmm Are there any other reputable places where they can retip SPU besides Goldring?

Thanks for your help in advance!

[walpurgis]

That's odd. I wasn't aware.

There's a Denon DL-103 on offer here if that would tide you over: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?45316-Denon-103

You could try Dominic Harper at Northwest Analogue: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?45316-Denon-103

Dom is a nice guy to deal with. He does good cartridge work. There are examples on the website. I suspect you may find the prices a bit high though.

[blake]

I just found out that Goldring is not offering any Repair service duing the summer period....hmm Are there any other reputable places where they can retip SPU besides Goldring?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Not sure if he would do SPU but cannot see any reason why he would not. Literally in your backyard, you'll save substantially on shipping and possibly import duties and taxes and Andy does excellent work. Contrary to the statement above I have had a number of cartridges retipped by both Peter Ledermann at Soundsmith and Andy at phonocartridgeretipping.com that have ended up being considerably better than their stock counterparts. My current cartridge, an Ortofon MC 20 Super totally rebuilt by Andy with new coil, suspension and boron cantilever with a microridge stylus is a fine example of that.

I think you'll find that if he can repair it his price will be more than competitive with anything in the UK. Cost on the above rebuild of my Ortofon was around $500 U.S. or the equivalent of about 350 GBP. Your repair, if it is just a new cantilever & stylus with a suspension rebuild should be around $400 U.S. I'd suspect if Andy will do it.

Considering the fact that you appear to be about 15 minutes away from him it would appear to be a no brainer to at least contact him.

http://www.phonocartridgeretipping.com/contact.html

[Wiredcon]

walpurgis - Thanks for your help again. I will check it out. It seemed like the Goldring is dedicating their workforce on production and training new employees, stopping the repair service for a while.


blake - Thanks for your suggestion! I wasn't even aware of such place existed so near by!

Thank you all for your kind help!

[Ammonite Audio]

Hello all,

Well, I don't know exactly when/what happened, but I just found my SPU Royal GM MKii with twisted cantilevel in this morning.
So.... here I am trying to get some help to figure out if it is worth to retip this SPU or should I consider buying a new cartridge all together? If I go with retip route, where can I get such service and possible cost associated with it?

I've been using it with old ortofon 12" tonearm on Garrard 301. It is my understanding that my setup isn't really friendly with lots of MC cartridges on the market. I've been recommended to try Decon 103 variants, SPU, and Koetsu. Is there any other MC cartridges that I can consider with my setup?


Any advices would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Your old Ortofon arm is a natural match for low compliance cartridges. I'm biased, of course, but a Miyajima Shilabe would sing very nicely, paired with your arm and 'table. Lovely lyrical, musical and notably low-distortion sound.

[montesquieu]

I went to Goldring with an SPU a while back and for whatever reason they wouldn't work on it. This was a vintage cartridge, which Ortofon don't work on. With a modern SPU the best bet is undoubtedly Ortofon. I personally wouldn't send it to anyone else, my experience of retips has been almost universally disappointing.

If you are looking to replace it I would certainly consider Miyajima, I have the Miyajima Kansui currently along with the Zero mono, and have previously owned the Shilabe, I would say it's a modern take on the big, ballsy Ortofon sound, with an extra layer of subtlety and coherence. I also have an SPU Royal N in the stable but the Kansui is my 'critical listening' cartridge. All proper low compliance cartridges as well so will suit your arm. I use them on the same SUT setting (Hashimoto HM7 'high' setting).

Might be interested if selling your headshell, I've been on the hunt for a headshell for my Royal N!

EDIT - just spotted you are in the USA - I'm sure Ortofon have direct repair arrangements there where you wouldn't have extra import taxes to pay.

[Wiredcon]

Ammonite Acoustics - Thanks for your suggestion. I've never hard of this particular cartridge brand. I will do some readings to find out.

Montesquieu - Thank you for sharing your detailed experience on those cartridges and retips. I am not sure what to do yet but I am more inclined to purchase a new cartridge and keep this Royal SPU as a back-up after retip, if I can find an affordable service within the U.S. Speaking of SUT, would you be able to share your experience with your SUT? I've never used one in my setup and always used a stand alone MC phonostage. I've noticed that I can't get the same level of micro dynamics and details compare to when I was using HOMC with the same phonostage. I've been considering to replace my phonostage, Fosgate Signature, with something else, or get a SUT to increase gain level a bit, hoping it will bring out a bit micro dynamics.


Thank you both for your suggestions!

[montesquieu]

If I was in the US it would be a no-brainier for the Choir Audio SUT which also uses Hashmoto HM7s. For Ortofon there are quite a few option - I had a shoot our with seven, I think it was, recorded here a while back - but the Choir Audio is hard to beat and is remarkable VFM at USD 1100 or thereabouts.


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[petrat]

If I was in the US it would be a no-brainier for the Choir Audio SUT which also uses Hashmoto HM7s. For Ortofon there are quite a few option - I had a shoot our with seven, I think it was, recorded here a while back - but the Choir Audio is hard to beat and is remarkable VFM at USD 1100 or thereabouts.


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Are they still in business? Can't seem to find anything recent on the web.

[montesquieu]

Are they still in business? Can't seem to find anything recent on the web.

Weird! You are right. Vanished. Was run by a guy called John Parker.

Alternative is a chap called Isao Asakura who is an American-based Japanese guy, runs a site called tube amps http://www.tube-amps.net/index.htm selling Hashimoto transformers as well as finished devices. His gear uses identical transformers to the Choir Audio stuff (HM3 or HM7).

He had my HM7s delivered direct from the factory to a little onsen hot spring spa hotel out in the wilds where I was staying in Japan - can't think of a better way to beat the dreaded VAT ... and was incredibly helpful. I only thought Choir Audio as they are (were?) well known for making completed devices ... it was hearing the Choir Audio HM7 with a Miyajima that convinced me to flog off my Audio Note Io and Kondo AN-S6C SUT. Funnily enough Peter you recently did the same on purchase of a Miyajima!