Is it worth getting an 11 year old cartridge re-tipped?


Hi - I have a Lyra Kleos which is 11 years old with about 1500 hours use. It now mis-tracks on a few LP's that play perfectly on a friends system. My dealer had a look at it through his USB miocroscope and said that the stylus was rounded and suspension seemed a bit flat. He said he didn't think there was much life left in it.

 

So, I could send it away to be re-tipped, but given its age I am wondering whether or not I shoukd just get a new unit in case the damper/suspension is beyond repair...

bazb

@jmrrobbie1 

 

Do you mind telling me what it cost you to have all that work done on the cartridge that you described?  If you don't want to be exact, a rough estimate?  I've never had this work done before on a cartridge, and I'm about to get a Koetsu from a late relatives estate.  Thank you.

I listen with a Supex SD-909 MkII manufactured the 70s or 80s, bought used. Needle Clinic has retipped it twice with boron/micro reach. Suspension is very delicate and the ability to pick up subtlety and detail make it competitive with far more expensive carts. I put about 20 hours a week on it

@bazb 

If I were you I would get a factory rebuild - this is the same as a new cartridge.

As far as I am aware the factory rebuild is significantly less than the  full price pot a new one.

With all due respect to the rebuilders the Lyra styli are special order, and a retip cannot match the performance of a factory rebuild.

As an example JCarr has posted on this forum that the Soundsmith retip stylus are signicifantly larger than the original Lyra stylus.

Although others may say the retips sound excellent, remember they are comparing the performance to a worn out cartridge, not factory new.