Wanted Audio Note IO

[duo(2)]

I would like to buy a Audio Note Io Cartridge
Preferably an Io Gold, but the other versions could also be interresting

[Frog-n-Oatcakes]

Hi

I have a couple of IO carts currently undergoing restoration through a well respected technician...he would laugh at that one :)

The first is a more recent Kondo IO-J.
The second is a wonderful, early IO-LTD with rare battery power supply and custom made loom (by the said technician) for your tonearm.

If of interest please let me know. Both will be sold as having undergone a full rebuild.

[duo(2)]

Thank’s Ritchie

Two very nice carts you have,
But i would prefere a original rebuild at AN UK or Kondo

[Chivas]

There is an IO gold on a certain auction site. Somewhat old in years, but low mileage. With the relative low rebuild cost by IO a relatively low risk purchase?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mike Adams]

Not that Ive been looking....
There have been two Golds listed recently.
One on that auction site, resisted as they muddled its description. This an older type and from memory has a VdH diamond.
(Rebuilds are reasonable so this could still be an OK price.)
The other on a UK hifi sale site which was much newer- but I think this may have now sold.
There were some at a Danish Audio Consultancy but I have no idea about these anymore.

[montesquieu]

There is an IO gold on a certain auction site. Somewhat old in years, but low mileage. With the relative low rebuild cost by IO a relatively low risk purchase?



Rebuild of mine at Audio Note cost me £650 (to Io2 level)... was a few years ago but I'm sure still very affordable I imagine. They don't rebuild it as I understand it, they keep the body and the magnets and replace the cantilever/coil assembly.

Should be possible to pick up an old Japanese one with the flying leads needing a retip for £800 or so if you can track one down.


Bear in mind you will need a special step-up transformer for an Io cartridge. The turns ratio needs to be between about 1:80 and 1:100. It's probably impossible to get a decent signal-to-noise ratio without the right transformer.

In my view this is the biggest issue. The output is 0.05mv which is tiny. The AN-S2 is affordable but not that great sounding/not really up to the level of the cartridge's performance. You really want an AN-S4 at a minimum to get the best out of it. (£4k new, £2k second hand).

[chris@panteg]

Rebuild of mine at Audio Note cost me £650 (to Io2 level)... was a few years ago but I'm sure still very affordable I imagine. They don't rebuild it as I understand it, they keep the body and the magnets and replace the cantilever/coil assembly.

Should be possible to pick up an old Japanese one with the flying leads needing a retip for £800 or so if you can track one down.



In my view this is the biggest issue. The output is 0.05mv which is tiny. The AN-S2 is affordable but not that great sounding/not really up to the level of the cartridge's performance. You really want an AN-S4 at a minimum to get the best out of it. (£4k new, £2k second hand).

A friend of mine has an IO rebuilt by Northwest Analogue and is very happy with it, he's still using the Audio innovations series 1000 SUT, is the AN-S2 the current equivalent?

[montesquieu]

A friend of mine has an IO rebuilt by Northwest Analogue and is very happy with it, he's still using the Audio innovations series 1000 SUT, is the AN-S2 the current equivalent?

There are several flavours of the AN-S2, the one I tried with my Io (at the same time as the AN-S4L and Kondo-built AN-S6c) was the AN-S2L (like the others this has a high turns ratio of about 1:70 IIRC, for use with 1 ohm cartridges like the Io). While the AN-S4L and AN-S6c were reasonably close in performance, I though the AN-S2L was well adrift.

[chris@panteg]

That transformer has a high turns ratio and should be the right kind of transformer for a cartridge like an Io (extremely low coil impedance and output voltage).
BTW, I just found this thread on another forum:
https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=89297
There really is some rubbish talked on forums and some very bad advice given. All that stuff about raising the impedance of the phonostage so the AI 1000 transformer will work well with a 10 ohm cartridge is nonsense. The flawed idea might fit the grossly over-simplified theories bandied about on some forums but it won't work in practice - certainly not well enough if you've just spent hundreds of pounds on a cartridge.
Rant over.

It is confusing and unhelpful, I think to better the 1000 SUT, you're looking at a lot more money, interesting thanks.

[chris@panteg]

There are several flavours of the AN-S2, the one I tried with my Io (at the same time as the AN-S4L and Kondo-built AN-S6c) was the AN-S2L (like the others this has a high turns ratio of about 1:70 IIRC, for use with 1 ohm cartridges like the Io). While the AN-S4L and AN-S6c were reasonably close in performance, I though the AN-S2L was well adrift.

Thanks for that, there is a AN-S2L for sale on a well known auction site that we were looking at but after a bit of research, realised it's not going to be any better.

[montesquieu]

Thanks for that, there is a AN-S2L for sale on a well known auction site that we were looking at but after a bit of research, realised it's not going to be any better.

The Io Gold also on a well known auction site is way overpriced for one that's a non-original re-tip.

[duo(2)]

Hi

Thanks for all of the good directions and ideas and good advice
I have found an IO here in Denmark,

[montesquieu]

Hi

Thanks for all of the good directions and ideas and good advice
I have found an IO here in Denmark,

Any tips on places to find reasonably price SPUs? (There must be a secret stash whose location is know only to locals ...)

[WESTLOWER]

Any tips on places to find reasonably price SPUs? (There must be a secret stash whose location is know only to locals ...)

:popcorn:

[Jw67]

Hi, it’s an old thread I know.. but hopefully not quite dead.
I have an old kondo cartridge-bought from a friend. It could do with a retip/rebuild...maybe the suspension has gone a bit. I emailed kondo in Japan and they quoted £2000 for a rebuild and £3000 if I get it re silvered. A lot of money but I would effectively be getting a new io back fir £3000. However it has an aluminium cantilever and I cannot believe that this is the best solution- things have moved on in 20 plus years, boron etc. Where did you get your kondo’s rebuilt? I was looking at soundsmith in USA as they gave good reviews and are well thought of.
Thanks in advance.




Hi

I have a couple of IO carts currently undergoing restoration through a well respected technician...he would laugh at that one :)

The first is a more recent Kondo IO-J.
The second is a wonderful, early IO-LTD with rare battery power supply and custom made loom (by the said technician) for your tonearm.

If of interest please let me know. Both will be sold as having undergone a full rebuild.

[nigeh]

Hi,

If your still selling the Io-J, please let me know.

Thanks.

N

[flapland]

Definitive Audio have a few on their Stuff sale page. Extra 20% off and I suspect further deals to be had if you talk with Lynn or Kevin.