Re-tipped stylus vs original manufacturer

I agree with @mijostyn that it is hard to know the difference, also because by the time you’re sending your cart for a retip it is starting to sound ratty. I will tell you that I am listening to a Soundmith retip Transfiguration right now and it sounds wonderful. I don’t buy used carts, but if you do, I wouldn’t worry about anything done by Soundsmith.  But I think the price should be adjusted accordingly for non-factory work

Dear @sidvicious88  : There is no way that are-tipper fix any " today " LOMC model to its original status.

Cartridge manufacturers ask  to the cantilever/stylus tip premium and sometimes special parts that only that manufacturer can has. 

In the other side when you send to the manufacturer say A koetsu you will receive not only a new cartridge but a new cartridge with manufaturer up-grades on it that any re-tipper can know about and we have to take in count that ith top of the line cartridges the designers make listening tests ( with the designer room/system that is different on each manufacturer and certainly no re-tipper mimic any of those room/systems. ) on it and fine tunning to what they have as their own tragets/priorities on quality performance level of those cartridges.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

If the Cantilever Material is identical and the selected Styli is identical as the OP is suggesting as being their assumption ?

If it is also assumed that a Cart'  made available from either of the mentioned services, 'Third Party or Manufacturer', is in a very similar condition to each other ?

One variable that would most likely have a impact on a Sonic that has been attractive, is if a Styli is bonded to a Cantilever.

The Sonic could altered, by the material chosen to attach Styli, and the mass of the material used to produce the adhesion for the Styli attachment. 

When looking at a few of the Third Party Services who are willing to post images of their work, it can be seen their is a willingness to use what appears to be a increased volume of a adhesive substance.

Styli that are viewed as a supplied part as a pre assembled Cantilever/Styli from a Parts Supplier, does not appear to have a Volume of adhesive applied that looks to be with an excess visible.       

Everyone agrees that a factory exchange is best. Absolutely. But when you are faced with a $500 retip by an excellent person versus a multi-thousand dollar trade in, many people choose the former. I have never read a post anywhere saying that the work from Soundsmith or VAS did not sound like the original cartridge. I personally can’t say whether mine did or didn’t, but I would assume someone would have been able to make the statement if it were true. 

My bet is with original manufacturer for an extra reason, you can upgrade/exchange the cartridge for a better model too.

For someone though who wants to keep budget at min choosing someone like Soundsmith is one way the other is to get a VDH cartridge.