Opinions sought: % contribution to sound by component — specifically cartridges

I see many say the cartridge makes little difference to the final sound. However, if you have cartridges to compare, it is easy to tell which one is playing (and that's with just half an ear, in my case!)

@ebalog Why is the E' SL not able to be returned to a condition once experienced.

It most likely able to be returned to a condition that far surpasses what is the condition that is last recollected as being at its best to your memories.

To learn what is required will cost near $80, which is typical for a Cart' Inspection from a trusted Third Party Service.

What will be supplied will be a quote to undertake the work with the $80 usually included in the Quote, as part of the operation is already undertaken.

Typically, a Cart' renovation will require an outlay of $400 - $500, which will cover a Cartridge returned in a very very very healthy condition.

"Necessity is the Mother of Invention"

That is rock bottom as a price, or $00.45c per Album Replay if the next period of usage successfully achieves 1000hrs.

Pristine Clean Albums being replayed, has the possibility attached to extend Stylus Life to 1500Hrs +, quite easily reducing hourly replay to near $00.30c, and even better bargain. 

One Forum Member who had been die hard, non-Franken Cart' advocate. Who owns stupid monies of Value for owned Cart's, sent a $10K Cart' with a years usage to a well respected Third Party Service and were very impressed by the Cart' Sound Production on its return. If they could drop their ideals to only use OEM Follow Up Support and seek the alternative option. Where the returned Cart' proved much improved that previously experienced, I'm sure that owners of lesser Value Cart's will really reap the rewards from the alternative options to be considered.

If I were to do this with a E' SL, I would personally do all possible to keep the Cantilever, there is enough done with the Cantilever to suggest it offers a mechanical interface advantage.

I would side step the Line Contact idea, but if Line Contact was wanted, the Ogura Stylus is the one to go for. The Ogura Vital has different forms (dimensions) for their Vital Line Contact form styli.

I use a Vital+ on a Beryllium Cantilever, but know from other users the Substrate the Stylus ploughs through must be totally clean, if 500Hrs is to be comfortably extended on. I am over these hours at the present with my Vital+ on a Cartridge Redesign/Build.

If 1500Hrs was to be the ideal, a FGS would be my choice of Stylus for your Cantilever.

I believe if speaking to the correct Service, this is all achievable at the above estimates.   

Good Luck

@ghdprentice Thank you for answering the question! I realize it is a tough one to ask. By that rationale, the cartridge is about 5% of the total. I appreciate the thoughts.

@larsman Thanks!! Seems like your answer is directionally aligned with ghdprentice's.

@dogberry - I get what you're saying. The cartridge can impart a "voice" on a system. I also agree that if one has multiple cartridges of an equivalent level, in an otherwise competent system, one can hear the differences.

This is an answer to a slightly different question than what I was trying to ask.

@lewm — No, that's not really my question, although that is an interesting one.

Isn’t your question really “how can I replace or repair my Lyra cartridge at a cost I can afford “?

I am considering options for the future. One of them is that I may not be able to do anything that is not a step down. I may not be able to afford the exchange, they may not be able to restore it, and a 3rd party retipper may not be able to work with a cartridge whose cantilever is directly bonded to the body in a way that would not drastically alter the sound. 

 

@pindac Thank you for the response.

To address some of the points you raised:

1: Lyra offers an inspection service. They will determine if they can restore a cartridge to 100% of factory performance at a reasonable rate. This is my preferred option, but one doesn't know if it is possible until they inspect it. I very much hope it is!

2: If a Lyra cartridge cannot be restored to full factory performance, one can purchase a new one at a discount from full retail. This is a great offer, though due to price increases and a change in my own situation I may not be able to make it work.

3: I've had multiple cartridges re-tipped before (Soundsmith). The cartridges that came back sounded good, but they never sounded the same as the originals. I also understand that Lyra's cartridges are different in that the cantilever is directly bonded to the body. Please correct me if I am mistaken. 

This means that any rebuild, if it is even possible, would likely completely change the cartridge.

Yes, it might be a "reasonable" price, but it may not retain the spirit of what I heard from that cartridge in the first place.

Has anyone retipped a Lyra? 

Again, I am hopeful that mine can be restored by Lyra and will provide more years of service. From every interaction I've had with Lyra or their representatives/distribution, they have treated me with absolute professionalism.

I wish I could buy another as I loved the sound so much; that's not really my reality going forward.

If I do wind up in a situation where I need a new cartridge, it will likely be a much lower level. 

That's really the spirit of my original question: In a system that is otherwise excellent from tonearm to speakers, how much will I be losing if I had to drop down a couple levels from current top-end LOMCs...

Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective.

That is especially difficult when you have come to love a particular cartridge. What I would like to be able to tell you is that there are often other cartridges that can be just as entrancing, even if different, but that is something you must discover for yourself. Retirement brings some benefits, but affording expensive cartridge upkeep isn't one of them.