New cartridge is looming...

[NRG]

My Kontra B is getting long in the tooth so will need attention soon. I gave Expert Stylus a call and had a very interesting and open chat without any hard 'sell', most gratifying,...if the suspension on my cart is good (I suspect it is as the cart rides OK) then they can re-tip mine for £279 inc VAT and Delivery, or it may just need a clean. If the suspension is shot then there's nowt they can do and I'll need to seek an exchange unit which currently runs at £600 notes...ouch!

Anyhow I decided to take a look at the stylus along side a Goldring and a DL103R....here's the pics....

The goldring (actually a Reson Reca):





The DL103r conical stylus:





Neither the Goldring or the 103 have had much use as you will tell by viewing my Kontra B ...



I think I need to improve my hygiene

Front shot looks worse than it is:



Side shot not too bad:



The pics don't show all the detail and look worse than it is but there are signs of wear and I think I'll take the plunge in a few months....the most disturbing this I noted is the stylus is not 100% square with the cartridge body...if you go back and look at the head on shot you can see is a little off to the left... [EDIT] ooops! no you can't as I cropped the pic!

Coils on the KB:



Anyhow thought you might like seeing some close up shots...

[Marco]

Excellent stuff, Neil - and most interesting! Thanks for taking the time and effort posting those rather artistic pictures

Hey mate, if the Ortofon's gone somewhat 'tits-up', then now's as good a time as any to use that other excellent cartridge of yours (beginning with a 'D') and spend any money instead on partnering it properly



Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

HI NRG

WOW, how did you take those pictures ? Yes its scary when you can see a close up and thinks don't look true. Was it me did I do it, was it that cleaning brush/vibrator or is this a quality control issue ? Oh crap has it damaged my Vinyl !

Fantastic pictures, very illuminating. Your right about dirt. I recently put a 1997 circa S/H Ortofon 7500 on my TT. I have had it awhile as it came with the TT, a SME Model 20. I had thought it was shot and not worth trying . I had a look through a Magnifying glass and after cleaning it,it looked okay. I tried it and not only is it okay but it was brilliant . Obviously it has a very finite life (being so old and having been used before I got it) so maybe it too can be retipped ? EXCELLENT.

Regards D S D L----Neil

[Mike]

Thanks for taking the time and effort posting those rather artictic pictures

The what?

[Marco]

HAHAHA... Typo! Now fixed

Marco.

[Mike]

[Beechwoods]

Super pictures Thank you!

[NRG]

....Hey mate, if the Ortofon's gone somewhat 'tits-up', then now's as good a time as any to use that other excellent cartridge of yours (beginning with a 'D') and spend any money instead on partnering it properly



Marco.

Errrrrr....yes....I don't think so...I'm not going to bend my system to fit that old tractor!

WOW, how did you take those pictures ?

My other hobby is Watch collecting and watch making/servicing so I have a Jewlers Stereoscope for inspection and oiling of all those little itty bitty parts!

[Marco]

Errrrrr....yes....I don't think so...I'm not going to bend my system to fit that old tractor!

LOL. Why own one then in the first place? You must have wasted money on it for a reason

Marco.

[blake]

I'm new to the forum and can't seem to find your system listed (may be I'm just not looking in the right spots) and notwithstanding the tractor remarks on the Denon, if you have a low hours 103R kicking around you might want to consider this for 100 Euros:

http://www.theanalogdept.com/images/.../Bodies3-1.pdf


You'll need to do a little surgery as outlined here:

http://www.thomas-schick.com/Denon103.htm

and the cartridge will be significantly improved. Improved to the point that others have replaced cartridges like Shelter 901, Koetsu Rosewood and Benz Ebony L with it.

As I said, I'm new to the forum so I apologise if this info has already been posted in earlier threads. But at the price if you've already got the 103R I would suggest to you that it's a no brainer.