2. analog
  3. 130876-5640

Benz Ebony L retip

I am looking to get my Benz retipped.  I also wish to keep the original boron cantilever, condition permitting.

I does not appear that Benz offers these services so I am down to van den Hul, Soundsmith, Expert Stylus (UK) and Northwest Analogue (also UK).  Any one have experience with these names and if so:
1) make and model of cart?
2) work done?
3) approximate time taken?
4) level of satisfaction and how close to the original cart sound was the retip.

Thanks
barolobrain
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

''esoteric'' and other retip kinds. My Koetsu rosewood signature

was ''refurbished'' by Koetsu for 2000 euro. My Koetsu Blue Sky

which needed only a new stylus got an boron/Shibata combo

by Axel for 500 euro. My Allaerts MC 2 got a new ''Paratrace''

stylus (only) for 180 GBP by Expert stylus. uk . I felt stupid by

the first two and smart by the last one. A kind of Raul's ''learning

curve''.

barolobrain OP
45 posts
 
Thanks for the all responses.  Based on the feedback I am leaning towards SoundSmith, also convenient as I live in Connecticut.  That being said, plenty of time to cogitate on this one.  Will also contact Expert.  Again, appreciate all the suggestions.
tooblue
1,882 posts
 
I have had 2 Lyra Helikons rebuilt (level 2/ruby cantilever/line contact stylus), Shelter 90X (level 3 ruby line contact), 2 Shelter 901s (level 2 and level 3), Koetsu  Goldline Black (level 2) Shelter 501 (level 2) and a Dynavector DRT XV1s (level3) all by Soundsmith, all these carts came back sounding the same if not better than in stock form with the exception of the Dynavector which came back sounding a bit different and at worst was a bit of a lateral move. With this said I have a Dynavector DRT XV1s that is around half life and an original ZYX that has about 600 hours of life (accessed by Soundsmith) that when it comes time will have Soundsmith retip the original cantilevers if at all possible and if not will try to get them to match as close as possible the original cantilevers. I might also add that the lateral move of the rebuilt Dynavector DRT XV1s left it as the second best cartridge I had ever owned at that time.
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