The Needle Clinic Andy Kim


To all analogue lovers, I thought of sharing my experiences of a fantastic service and product from the Needle Clinic of Andy Kim ( https://phonocartridgeretipping.com/). After a few excellent and super-efficient Microridge retippings of my Bez Micro Glider by Andy, the suspension was too worn, and I decided to retire the cartridge.   Andy suggested to me the heavily modified Denon 103 (Boron cantilever, Microridge stylus, changed body geometry).   I could not believe the sound: the soundstage, timber, rhythm - a quality that I frankly never experienced before with the Glider and with more expensive cartridges I had.   Andy's modified Denon already took a cult cartridge and brought it to a level that matches, if not surpasses, top cartridges out there.   I have used it with my Nottingham Analogue Hyperspace with Space arm and Klyne Audio Arts phono preamplifier with Premier Contrad Johnson amplification and Harbeth M32 XD speakers.  You really ought to hear this cartridge, and I think I have found the cartridge I will keep and when replacement is due, I will get the same one.   We had some correspondence before, and Andy was supremely communicative and patient with all the questions I had, and also with setting up properly.  That communication inspired much confidence in Andy's advice and craftsmanship.   Previously, in my retipping, Andy would clean excessive gunk over the coil generators if needed and would complete and send it to the UK ever so quickly.    I feel that the prices of his services and indeed the modified Denon are one of the very best keep secret in analogue reproduction.  It does not get much better than that.  Enjoy the music, Oren 

orenb
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I am also a fan of Andy Kim's NC-103, the modified Denon DL-13.  I liked it so much that I bought two.  Fremer also liked it.  https://trackingangle.com/equipment/needle-clinics-denon-103-phono-cartridge  It is one of the great values in high end audio at lo-fi prices.  And nobody believes it because it is too cheap LOL.  I used it in preference to my Ortofon Cadenza Bronze or Koetsu Black.

Sounds like you have found a jewel when it is time to replace your jewel.  Thanks for the post.

Andy worked his magic on my Zu Denon DL-103 and it's really close to my Dynavector XV-1s and van den Hul Crimson XGW Stradivarius, both of which cost many times what the Denon does.

Did anyone have a new stylus successfully put in a Beryllium Cantilever?

IF so, by whom?

I've got 4 that will wear too much eventually.