FWIW, I just received notice from Soundsmith that they have completed the work on my ZYX Universe and it is on its way back to me, sent in for a retip but Peter said the original cantilever would not allow for the pressing of a new stylus through it so he replaced with his boron cantilever with the OLC stylus to best mimic the original parts. Will post impressions as I get the cart settled in for those who might be curious. Can't wait to get it up and running and after putting over 2200 hours on it before the work done I should be able to detect any differences to the sound character of the newly rebuilt Universe.
Retip for zyx
I have an airy3 that is about 5 years old. Zyx does not have a retip, you get a new cartridge for a discount. Has anyone had a zyx retipped and how did you make out?
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This is an old thread so my post was based on experience with Axel Schurholz but without any experience with ZYX kinds. I now own ZYX Airy and, say, know what I am talking about. The cantilever/stylus construction by ZYX is different in comparison with all other carts. On the ''nose'' of the (boron) cantilever one can see an small tube in which the stylus is fastened. There is obviously no hole in the cantilever in which a new stylus can be fitted. So the only option is to exchange the whole cantilever/stylus combo. This retip kind will cost about $500. The stylus (alone) retip about $200 (180 GBP by Expert stylus UK). As is mentioned elsewhere stylus alone retip is the least problematic. But, according to me, not possible by ZYX. |
This is original ZYX cantilever with original MicroRidge stylus tip. No one can do the same, re-tipped or re-cantilevered ZYX is no longer ZYX cartridge, but some sort of hybrid with different sound. |
Dear chakstr, As we usually say : ''it depends..''. In present case it depends from what you mean by ''No one can do the same''? Identity relation is pretty complex. ''Relation'' imply at least two objects. But Wittgenstein stated: '' for two objects to state that they are identical make no sense and to say that every object is identical with itself says nothing''. One can actually state that two ZYX carts are not identical but, hopeful ''equal''. Something like two eggs. I have no idea how two eggs sound but two ZYX Airy should sound ''equal''. Shame that postage to Russian Federation is so expensive. Otherwise I would post my ZYX , retipped by Axel, to you so you could do the comaprison. Apriori statements like this may impress Kantians but not Fregean kinds of persons (grin). |
@nandric "the same" is what on the picture, "the hybrid" is what you have from Axel. I believe you have not even tried the original ZYX (did you?), what you have is not a ZYX, but no doubt that it’s still an MC cartridge that you can use, maybe you like it, but i know it’s not your favorite cartridge anyway. I don’t use ZYX cartridges anymore for practical reason, i just don’t want to buy new ZYX cartridge almost for 60-70% of full price each time the stylus is expired. I have better cartridges than my ex Zyx Airy III and Zyx Premium 4D (but 5 times cheaper rare vintage MM and some MC). What i know for sure is that my re-cantilevered (by Axel) cartridges are not equal to the original cartridges (same model). I’ve had at least 4 carts refurbished by Axel long time ago for previous owner, they were OK only until i’ve managed to buy an original. Then i realized the original is superior, completely different sound. It was Technics top of the line carts. Why do i have to believe that refurbished ZYX with different cantilever, different stylus is equal to the original ZYX made by Nakatsuka-San? For me it’s obvious that they are not equal, especially after i’ve tried and compared 4 samples of Axel work to the original Technics. So i don’t like the idea at all, but it’s just me (i am using only original cartridges so far). |
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