2. analog
  3. 1199204916

cantelever not straight, advise please.

So I purchased a Dynavector 17D Mk2 from a fellow audiogoner here a couple weeks ago and received it yesterday. First thing I did was open the box and without removing the cart from the mounting plate or even removing the stylus guard I peeked a look at the cantelever. First thing I noticed is that it is not straight (by that I mean not parallel to the sides and square to the front of the cartridge body) I have seen other Dynavectors advertised as not having straight cantelvers and have purposly avoided them. The one I bought was advertised as being like new with 10 hours of use, no mention of the cantelever not being straight.

I'm not splitting hairs here either, it's way off, to the point where you could not use the cartridge body to align it.

I don't know how much of a big deal this is, except that I now own a cartridge that I would not sell without stating clearly that the cantelever is not straight.

I talked to the selling and he says he checked it under a microscope and that is was straight when it left his hands.

I don't think this is my problem at all and I should be offered a refund, but I'm not so sure the seller sees it that way. I told him I would be willing to give it a try, but if it falls off or something then he should stand behind it. I don't think he likes that either.

Just thought I'd run it by you guys here and see what the general consensus would be and if you think I should should just drop it mount it and hope it is OK, or demand a refund.
128x128ejlif
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,517 posts
 
So, don't accept the cartridge, demand a refund. If he refuses, please post his name so we can avoid him.

That sounds like good advice Oregon, and it would certainly helps the rest of us to know the seller's name, except if the seller refuses (like it sounds he might) that leaves Ejlif exactly nowhere, and possibly facing charges of false accusation and slander. Negotiation is always the best policy if one has no proof -- which BTW was the same problem you faced.
.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
It may or may not be a problem. It really depends on how out of true the cantilever is. Raul gives the best advice, IMO. As far as resale goes, who in their right mind would purchase a twice owned cartridge without the expectation that it would need rebuilding?
ejlif's avatar
ejlif OP
1,243 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses, this is some really good advise.

I really can't say for sure that the seller is refusing anything, other than I haven't heard back from him for a day, but that is no big deal, it's a holiday.

I just wanted to get the general consensous as to what I should do here and it sounds like returning it for a refund is the the way to go.

It was advertised as 9/10 10 hours of use and like new.
ejlif's avatar
ejlif OP
1,243 posts
 
Looked at it one more time with a good light and magnifying lense and not only is the cantelver not straight or "true" but it is extremely crudded up with gunk and dust, something I would not think would happen with a cart with only 10 hours on it? I have a cart with at least 100 hours since I bought it new and it looks very clean and not coated with crud and gunk.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I'm sure it doesn't have only 10 hours on it. That's just like the old "check is in the mail" routine. There is no way to know how many hours are on a used cartridge. There is no way of telling how hard a cartridge was run (excess VTF, misalignment, etc). There is no way of knowing that the cartridge was set up and/or cared for properly. There is no way of knowing whether or not you even bought it from the original owner. Even with a receipt, it could have been a store demo.

Too many variables buying a used cartridge to even consider it, IMHO.

Happy New Year,
John
More to discover