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Newb - damaged cartridge?

OK - I feel like a complete newb. I was loading my new MC cartrdige (Ortofon X5-MC), and not 5 minutes afterwards, I had taken off the stylus cover and was about to align it, and the tonearm somehow slips from my hand, and the stylus bumps right into my left hand.

How frustrating! The stylus was bent just a little to the right, and feeling very upset/embarrassed/hoping to just rewrite history, I out of desperation pushed the stylus to the left...didn't see anybody around me so, who knows? hehe

Anyhow, realizing the cartridge was likely toast, I again out of desperation figured I would see if it played at all on an old LP. It does play, and reasonbly well. But it does appear to not be completely perpendicular, slanting a little the the left.

Last night I did notice a little distortion in the left channel I had never heard before. So, have I ruined the cartridge? Anything I can do; re-tip or have to replace it?

Thanks for the advice.
rgkd

Showing 1 response by kurt_tank

kurt_tank
1,189 posts
 
Yes, it is gone. Talk to the dealer who sold you the cartridge, as they might be able to either retip the cartridge or even offer you a trade-in on a different cartridge. (This happened to my Benz Micro Glider II, due to its exposed cantilever.)

Look upon it as a learning experience. (I did, and will no longer buy cartridges with exposed cantilevers. I bought a Koetsu, which has a fairly well protected stylus and a stylus guard!)

Good Luck.
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