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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?
128x128truemaineiac
chakster's avatar
chakster
2,482 posts
 
@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).



nandric's avatar
nandric
3,263 posts
 

Dear chakster, Comparing retips of MM carts with MC carts is

like comparing apples with pears. By MC carts the cantilever/stylus

combo is glued in the called ''joint pipe'' . Usually aluminum tube.

The joint pipe can be also called the moving part of the MC cart.

This part consist of cantilever /stylus and coils and is connected

with the generator by tension wire. The ''rubber ring'' or the

suspension is fastened on the generator . Aka behind the moving

part. There is not much difference between boron cantilevers and

all those variations (copies) of shibata stylus shape. Because of

the patent issues those have different names. In my metaphoric

description they look as one egg to the other. One can hardly

see any difference . Considering the fact that those cantilever/

styli combos are provided by the same producer(s) to the

retippers as well the (cart) producers it is not reasonable to

assume different ''animals''. I retipped just one of my MM

carts. When I have seen how this is done I have never again

retipped any of my MM carts. The new cantilever is glued on

the restant or cut off old cantilever. Besides those MM carts

with tension wire can't be fixed by any retipper. Not to mention

the suspension by such carts. I have had many disputes with

you about those ''details''. I think that I have more experience

then you in this ,uh, ''field''.


gilles130
104 posts
 
I have a zyx airy 3. The problem is the exchange price for all these cartridge. If you have a van den hull cartridge, it cost peanuts to get it retipped , very honest.
lewm
6,770 posts
 
I am glad this thread got resurrected, because I was interested to re-read JCarr's comments from 2013.  For me, the take home lesson is that if you choose to economize by engaging the services of an after-market re-tipper for a "boutique" LOMC cartridge, the best course of action is to choose a cantilever material and stylus shape that most closely matches those of the original.  In other words, if you love love love the cartridge and want to preserve its SQ, it is not a good idea to switch from aluminum to sapphire/ruby for the cantilever or from elliptical to OCL for the stylus, even though both sound more "sexy".  (This should seem obvious.) However, if the cartridge in question is not an object of affection, and if you are a gambler, then go ahead and shoot for the moon.  You might re-invent the wheel.

It is my 40+ year habit as a scientist to boil things down to a few easily cathected bits of information.
nandric's avatar
nandric
3,263 posts
 

@gilles130 , As you can see in my post I don't believe that by

ZYX only the stylus can be retiped. Well the whole cantilever/

stylus combo. There are only few producers of cantilevers and

styli in the world. From this follows that retipper as well as the

cart producers have the same supplier. Gluing such cantilever/

stylus combo in the ''joint pipe'' is no big deal. This job can be

done by any retipper.

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