Re-tipped cartridges

I wonder if Sound Smith can warm up a Lyra Clavis da Capo without losing its ability to dig out details, soundstage and imaging. Keep the refinement but warm it up...

A retip is actually the substitution of the existing cantilever/stylus combo with some other combo. The manufacturer produce them as a complete unit. They are than put in the tube behind the cantilever and glued.
This seems to be more easy to do then to glue the stylus
alone in the existing cantilever. In the aluminum cantilever the stylus can be 'pressure fitted' which means that the use of glue can be avoided and a better connection
between the cantilever and the stylus achieved. By the so called 'exotic cantilevers' (boron, ruby or sapphire,etc) the stylus can be only fitted with glue. As Syntax already pointed out the quality of the styli is very important.
That is to say not only the stylus shape but even more important the quality of the diamond and its manufacturing (polishing,etc.).
Raul has the most experience with retipping so I hope he will contribute to this thread.

Nandric,

As I understand it based on my experience with Soundsmith, a retip is the replacement of the stylus alone. When the cantilever is replaced (due to a damaged cantilever or to upgrade the sound), this is usually referred to as a rebuild.

Roscoeiii, based on your experience, what has been your experience? What cart did you send for repair? What option(s) did you select? What were the results?

I had Soundsmith rebuild a Dynavector XX-2 MkII that I bought with the cantilever broken off (seller was nice to sell it on the condition that Soundsmith confirmed that the cart was repairable). So no chance to A/B before and after. The rebuilt cart ($250 ruby cantilever with line contact stylus) was fabulous sounding. But it was my first high end cart and had nothing else comparable. Moved up from MMs like Shure M91ED with a JICO SAS (a great budget MM).