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Kudos to SoundSmith and Brooks Berdan LTD.

108.184.91.219

Hello All,

I wanted to add my two cents on the SoundSmith retipping service. I broke the stylus off of my Shelter 501 MKII so I opted for the level 3 stylus/cantilever modification from SoundSmith.

When I received it back I immediately took it to Brooks Berdan LTD. Rick at Brooks' did a marvelous job. Although he had a few problems he managed to make the necessary corrections.

At first the playback was very bright but Rick recommended I get a Music Hall Mat which helped tremendously. I have now put about 10 hours on the cartridge and the sound is crisp, clean, and focused. There are instruments I have never heard before and the sound stage is so good. I can now really pick out where instruments are. Peter said the break-in period is about 50 hours. In just the ten hours of play the brightness is subsiding.

Only draw back is a badly recorded album really stands out. Otherwise, I am extremely happy and would highly recommend anyone wanting a retip to go to SoundSmith (the wait is worth it) and for those in So. Cal. to go see Rick at Brooks' he is good people.

Regards

Richard

Follow Ups:

What did the mat do other than change VTA? nt - volunteer 19:03:22 10/18/14 (7)
NT

-Wendell
- RE: What did the mat do other than change VTA? nt - rockpassion 21:11:10 10/18/14 (6)
  According to Rick the SRA setting was what he was having trouble setting. He was unable to achieve the 92 degrees he was attempting. As a result he tried a mat and found that it calmed down the brightness and also increased the bass. My tonearm is an Origin Live modded RB250. He was unable to lower it enough to achieve the angle on the stylus he desired. He felt the mat helped achieve the SRA angle.
  
  I tried with and without the Mat and found that Rick's recommendation worked and worked well. I am not exactly sure how increasing the height of the LP would compensate for the SRA angle. But what ever it did it seemed to work.
  
  Richard
  - Did he try raising the platter? - Rick W 08:41:22 10/19/14 (2)
    The platter/bearing can be raised by turning the "screw" on the bottom of the bearing.
    - I thought about suggesting that. - Tre' 12:10:22 10/19/14 (1)
      That may be the simplest solution.
      
      What stopped me is the possibility of him having the inverted bearing.
      
      I didn't think the inverted bearing has that adjustment.
      
      Tre'
      Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
      "Still Working the Problem"
      - 19 mk. 4 doesn't have an inverted bearing unless he changed his bearing. nt - Rick W 12:25:39 10/19/14 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I thought about suggesting that. posted by Tre' on October 19, 2014 at 12:10:22
        
        nt
  - RE: What did the mat do other than change VTA? nt - Tre' 21:29:30 10/18/14 (2)
    "He was unable to lower it enough to achieve the angle on the stylus he desired. He felt the mat helped achieve the SRA angle."
    
    "I am not exactly sure how increasing the height of the LP would compensate for the SRA angle. But what ever it did it seemed to work. "
    
    Lowering the back of the tonearm or raising the height of the platter (adding a mat) would change the SRA in the same way.
    
    I don't understand why he couldn't lower the back of the tonearm enough.
    
    I assume that with your VPI HW 19 MKIV you have the thicker VPI arm board?
    
    Maybe going to the thinner VPI arm board, or a custom thickness arm board, would have been a solution?
    
    The VPI platter was made to be used without a mat. The vinyl is suppose to be clamped directly to the platter and that system works very well.
    
    A mat, IMO, is a compromise. I would lower the height of the arm board.
    
    Thinking this all the way through, I'm a little surprised that Rick didn't suggest changing the thickness of arm board to get the tonearm at the proper height.
    
    Tre'
    Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
    "Still Working the Problem"
    - RE: What did the mat do other than change VTA? nt - rockpassion 22:36:31 10/18/14 (1)
      I am not sure why Rick did not suggest that. I appreciate the idea, I think it is an idea worth pursuing.
      
      Thanks
      
      Richard
      - You're very welcome. - Tre' 12:06:30 10/19/14 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: What did the mat do other than change VTA? nt posted by rockpassion on October 18, 2014 at 22:36:31
        
        I think it's good to have options.
        
        Options that can get you back to having the vinyl in direct contact with the platter.
        
        Tre'
        Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
        "Still Working the Problem"

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