Waaaah. Snapped off my cantilever.

Dear Rodman99999: cartridge cantilever and cantilever build material is only a single part of the cartridge design, important yes but certainly not the one that makes the difference. A cartridge design is the sum of its parts where and through those parts and fine tunning it the designer works to achieve the quality performce targets and only the cartridge designer knows exactly why boron or why ruby or why aluminum. All is about design targets.

Now, it is not only the cantilever build material important but the cantilever shape/length/rod or tube/thikness of cantilever walls and the like.

In the other side the cantilever does not transmit music but only movements that the trasducer convert in " music ". Even IMHO the stylus as a whole is more important than the cantilever along the kind of cartridge suspension because that gives the abilitie or not to track the grooves accurately. Yes, the cantilever is important but maybe not in the way you are looking at.

A re-tipped cartridge that was not re-tipped by the cartridge manufacturer is a different cartridge and not a better one because the cantilever build material.

A universal retipper does not rebuild the whole cartridge with a retipper quality performance targets, he only change cantilever/stylus and suspension adjustments and at random left the cartridge quality performance.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

Even I can assure that the universal re-tipped cartridge specs are different from the original one.

R.

Like I said, "depending on the length of the cantilever, compliance AND OTHER MECHANICAL CONSIDERATIONS. However: Being a tuned SYSTEM; every cartridge is unique and(like every recording's mix) SUBJECT to the TUNER'S BIASES." BUT- Thanx for pontificating. =;^)

I am sorry a simple mistake caused such damage to your cartridge. I did that ONCE to a Benz Micro cantilever. Their trade up program allowed me to get a better cartridge. I am extremely cautious and give my complete attention/focus to my TT when playing LPs.

Contact the manufacturer to see if you can upgrade or if they can fix it for a minimal fee as you are trying to stay "brand loyal." Good luck.

Thanks for all the comments. I'm heartened to hear that at least some think that the ruby cantilever might even improve the excellent sound I was getting from my XX2 MkII. I did send it off to Soundsmith, and will wait 3 months. I don't mind this as $350 seems a reasonable repair price for a $2K cartridge.

In the meantime, I've purchased a new Lyra Delos from Hi-Fi Heaven. It's in the system but I've only had it for one night. I would say that there is definitely more clarity in the high frequencies. My system is a bit in flux at the moment so I'm not sure what I'll end up preferring and keeping once I have the DV back to compare.

I will say that if I break another cantilever, my next cartridge will be the Dynavector 17d3 with it's ridiculously short and well-protected tip.