Can Sound-Smith tip sound as good as original?

Dear Jwglista: One of the cartridges that I re-tipped through SS was my Virtuoso ( no Ruby cantilever but aluminum. ) and I can say is like the original.

IMHO if any one of us in any cartridge change the cantilever build material ( Ruby instead boron or aluminum, et. ) change the original cartridge design/performance, no single doubt about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Jwglista: +++++ " you will alter the sonic balance away from what the cartridge manufacturer originally intended " +++++

IMHO every cartridge design reflects the designer preferences/priorities and normally the cartridge voicing is made taking in count those preferences and a quality performance level, of course that in some models the designer has to make some trade-offs on his preferences for commercial factors.

In any case and specially on the expensive cartridges if any one like the original cartridge sound we have to pay for it making the re-tip through the cartridge manufacturer, this is what I do always.

I can't think to send a Xv-1 or KRSP or MC7500, Titan i or Orpheus to any re-tipper people like SS, no way.
Of course that I can d it but IMHO the cartridge that I will receive with the whole re-tip job will be a different cartridge where the designer hard work ( research, voicing, selecton of parts, the design it self, et, et ) disappear in favor of what?.

If you speak with the re-tipper people ( I already do with at least three of them ) they say that we don't have to worry about that their work is first rate and that the cartridge will " sound " at least like the original and better yet. Well all them are promoting their commercial job.

Do you think that is true? do you want that your cartridges ( example ) on the 5K-10K price range " receive " for 500 dollars a re-tip other than through the original manufacturer only because is a low price and the promise that maybe it will sound better?, well I don't take that risk, do you? it makes sense to you? anyone?

IMHO I don't think that that re-tip cartridge alternative is like the tube rolling exercise. Well this is only an opinion.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Jwglista: Yes you are correct.

Ferrari sad to know about maybe I'm lucky, four times I bent the cantilever on my Colibri ( it is very difficult " to move/work " around ten tonearms/cartridges at the same time. ) and Van denHul give me first rate service, one time the XV-1 and Dynavector give me first rate service even one of my Koetsus has to be re-build and I got very good service.
This week my friend Guillermo bent the cantilever on his XV-1s and Dynavector ( again ) give him the right support.

Of course that every one speaks on its own experiences that in your case are really bad but in my case really fine ????!!!!!!

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Jcarr: Really thank you for the wide information on your last post.

It was/is time that some one like you ( a cartridge designer ) put things in the right perspective puting a precise line between a cartridge manufacturer re-tip/re-build and a non cartridge manufacturer re-tip job: Huge difference for say the least!!!!!!Good. ( even for no expensive cartridges ).

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.