Europe: Dynavector DV-23RS repair

[oshifis]

I have two of the above named MC cartridges, both one channel broken. DV used to have a replacement service, but they haven't got this cartridge in their product line any longer. They offer DV-17D which is for me too expensive even when they count in the old cart. Anybody knows a specialized firm who can fix them?

[oshifis]

Anybody has some experience with retipping services? I've heard of Van den Hul was/is doing cartridge revitalization, is it worth contacting him? Or some other firm in this field?

[kraljmatjaz]

You can try contacting Roberto Torlai in Italy. He is the best italian expert in phono cartridge repair.

www.torlai.it

Regards,
Boris

[Aleksunder]

Sorry to be the harbinger, but from what I gather, losing a channel on an MC means the single strand of coil- wire from the cantilever/coil to the cartridge body has broken, and the only practical way to fix it is a complete rewind (of both channels) - very tricky.

As far as I know only a handful of individuals on Earth are capable of this work, so unfortunately most people regard such damage as terminal (or very expensive), unless the manufacturer still exchanges them.

from van den Hul's website;

................... This is a totally one-man operation carried out from van den Hul’s own home in Holland. He completes all the stylus re-tipping and cartridge modifications — rewinding the coils, changing the rubber and so on — by hand with no mechanised aids whatsoever. He has attempted to train apprentices in his skills but the last such person to be taken on managed to ruin 11 out of a group of 20 cartridges. Van den Hul has since carried-out all the work re-tipping cartridges himself!

[Panicos K]

oshifis how both cartridges have the same damage?Maybe it is better to look for the reason before you repair them.Is there any possibility that your phono stage has any dc that might have damaged the coils?If this is the reason it will happen again.

[oshifis]

I definitely know that one damage was caused by DC current from the MC preamplifier. I replaced it since then. The cause of the other break is unknown.

[Panicos K]

Hello again,I know that you must have checkd things carefully,but as a last thing before you take any decisions,check with cartridge disconnected, continuity from headshell wires to arm cable RCA plugs.Once,I thought my cartridge had a problem and in the end it was one of the headshell wire clips.If eventually the cartridge is the problem,think before any repair,coil replacement IS a costly service.In fact you might find the exchange service offered by Dynavector not so expensive.If you want,you may e-mail me at kontemeniotis@cytanet.com.cy maybe I can help in some way.

[oshifis]

I checked them (with 100 k resistor in series, just to be safe), and they are dead. Unfortunately thy are not in production any more. The 17D with diamond cantilever is the closest upgrade/replacement possibility, but it is way more expensive.

[oshifis]

Should I contact Mr Van den Hul? I would also trade in one of the cartridges in return to rewinding the other. Anybody has a good idea?

[AuroraB]

What is the cost for retipping/cantilever...?
I too have a DV23 .....