I think it comes down to what you are hoping to get out of having a cartridge rebuilt. The consensus seems to be that the soundsmith cartridges are at least as good as the originals,  and you cartridges you own already  have known faults.

If I have read the adverts correctly the retipping/rebuild service does not replace anything other than the diamond tip and the cantilever, the suspension, coils  etc. will still be at least 20 years old and prone to failure. Soundsmith used to offer a complete rebuild service but the link on the site appears not to work. From memory it costs more than their new cartridges.  

My advice would be to buy new Soundsmith cartridges. I am sure soundsmith themselves would be happy to advise but I am not at all sure that the stylus/cantilever is the problem on your current cartridges so the retyping process might not be of any value  to you.

Simon

If you have a dead channel, then as far as I am aware, the cartridge is scrap.

And I also don't think Soundsmith retip B&O cartridges anymore, unless special arrangements have been made with them.

There is a company in Germany who offer a retipping service for B&O and other cartridges, but the name escapes me at the moment.

Thanks Bwaje, but it's just too risky to buy from eBay. My cartridges look very good but they don't do the job. There's no guarantee. Even if they work, the age is another isse, I may end up with another faulty cartridge in 6 months!

Gracias;

If you are planning on keeping the Beograms then I would go with a Soundsmith replacement. They sound even better than the originals IMO.

Craig🙂

At the moment I'm using a original low used MMC20EN on my just rebuild Beogram 6006. Also on hand is a nearly unused MMC20CL. With that I'm pretty biased as it's sounding good. I have yet to notice the tonal differences between them but they still work perfectly despite the age. The MMC20CL has 1981 stamps on the paperwork included.

I do recommend Soundsmith's cartridges. I had to get one for my Beogram 8002. It took 3 times in total back and forth US and Denmark because of customs wanting tax declarence on it. In the end they shipped it uninsured and glided through. It still sounds great and they know how do build them right.

As it is I've got plenty MMC types around like S,E, EN and CL. When needed I will get new ones from Soundsmith.

Thanks Friedmett;

I remember having read your story somewhere in the forum but couldn't recall exactly what happened. I'm writing a note to Soundsmith asking for details on the shipping. I'll ask them to send them without tax clearance to avoid the hassle you mention. Once I get them I'll try to paint them silver the way Peter did.🤒

Regards;