Nooo...! My cleaner killed my cartridge :(

[nickbaba]

Nightmare

Despite several times mentioning that no-one messes with my TT except me, I got home yesterday to have my cleaner tell me 'oh I dusted your record player for you as it was looking dusty.'

Cue sinking feeling... sure enough on examination the Jelco arm is cocked at a weird angle and has definitely been swung out of place...gulp... what cartridge did I leave on there?

Oh #$%#!!! of course, it's my Denon DL-103SA... and the cantilever is well and truly bent off-centre. It would have to be the cartridge that is no longer made or replaceable.

Now not sure what to do... pretty sure the aluminium cantilever has been knackered... I could replace it I suppose... I have spoken to Expert Stylus and also Francois at Ana Mighty Sound in Paris... but looks like I'll be spending several hundred quid to get it back up and running and I'm not 100% it's worth it... that's pretty much what I paid for the thing...

...sigh...

[Ammonite Audio]

I think a DL-103SA is worth rescuing

[topoxforddoc]

Sorry to hear the news. I would suggest that you send it to Wyndham Hodgson at ESCo. Ask him to do the sapphire cantilever/paratrace mod. I had a pair of 103 carts rebuilt in this way last month -103C1 and standard 103. The transformation is stunning. Price was £330.

[karma67]

bugger,that was my mine it was NOS with low hrs,ok think positive,now's the time to try a different tip profile,it may transfer it to new sonic heights.

[antonio]

Sorry to hear about the cartridge, bloody annoying. The only thing I would recommend is check your household insurance, many years ago my wife damaged my Lyra, but I got a replacement through the insurance. Good luck.

[nickbaba]

Thanks for the recommend about the sapphire cantilever/paratrace mod - will definitely look into it, and it's on budget too

[Sherwood]

Perhaps you should invest in one of these before any expensive repairs https://www.amazon.co.uk/Addis-Ostri...ateway&sr=8-14

[nickbaba]

haha yes unfortunately too late for this particular cartridge!

[nickbaba]

Hi Jamie yes it was your one of course - and I was really bloody enjoying it too!

[alphaGT]

Firstly, I recommend that you take a cat’o 9 tails to your cleaning lady! Just wow! I mean really, how upsetting, I feel your pain.

But I’ve heard that a sapphire or other such cantilever is a major upgrade for that cartridge! It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise?

Best of luck with it...

Russell