|
Phono-Pre Amps & Cartridges Welcome to the Dark Side! |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
VAS Audio Clearaudio Maestro Wood Repair
After 10 years my Dynavector XX-2 was starting to sound weird, the next logical thing was to consider a retip, trade it in towards the purchase of a new one or look at other carts. Since I was very happy with the XX2, I decided to have it retipped. My dilemma was that I didn't have any LOMC carts to hold me over in the interim or any decent MM carts.
That's when I remembered the Maestro Wood which the Dyna XX2 replaced, unfortunately when doing the swap my tonearm rolled on me and sheared off the cantilever and I forgot about it until now. I heard about Steve Leung at VAS Audio, after speaking with him and reading numerous positive reviews including one from Harry Weisfeld, I decided to send the Maestro off for repair. 7 days later I received the Maestro back from Steve with a new boron cantilever, suspension and line contact stylus, it was looking pristine. I set up the Maestro using the Mint Best Tractor, once I had the VTA, VTF, azimuth, anti-skate and the stylus dead smack aligned per Mint's specs I sat back to listen. I didn't know what to expect for a couple of reasons. When I first purchased the Maestro, my system was not tweaked as it is now and once I went with a LOMC cart there was no turning back. From the first record to the last the Maestro was exceptional, this was not my expectation. In fact, I have not sent my XX2 off for repair yet, the Maestro has been that good. It has immediacy, impact, great micro-detail, velvety mid range, great bass and surprisingly a wider sound stage. This cart is intoxicating, I am on my 4th hour of listening tonight, I just want to keep on listening which is why we are in this game. I am also happy with the service and quick turnaround Steve provided, top notch.
__________________
Listening Room – MC2301s, C2300, VPI Prime Sig. Rosewood, w/Fatboy 10” Tonearm, SDS, Periphery Ring, Dynavector DRT XV-1s, Sutherland LittleLOCO Mk2, Harbeth SHL5, Skylan Stands, Synergistic Research: Record Clamp, PowerCell SX, Active Ground Block, Galileo Discovery PCs, Atmosphere X Euphoria ICs, Phono and Speaker Cables, GIK Impression Series Diffusers and Acoustimac DMD Panels, CA Double Matrix Pro Sonic RCM Theater Room - 7.2.4, Marantz SR7012 & MM7025, Klipsch: RF-7 III, RP-450C, RP-160M, R-112SW Atmos: CDT 5800-CII, Sunfire True EQ Sub, Samsung 75” Q60R QLED 4K UHD TV, Sony UBP-X800 4K UHD Blu-ray, VPI Scoutmaster, Clearaudio Maestro, Cambridge Audio 640P, PS Audio PPP Office - Fisher 500C, Denon DP-59L, Audio Technica AT14S Cartridge, Bluesound NODE, Acoustic Research AR-3a, Technics RS 1500 Vintage System - Pioneer SX 1980, Jolida JD100 CD, JBL Studio Monitors 4425 Semper Fidelis Teufel Hunden Last edited by MarSanz; 10-12-2019 at 03:53 AM. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Bit of a horror story, and glad it worked out as I am sure you are!
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Steve at VAS does excellent work. He did the retip on my Ortofon Cadenza Black in '19 and it is my favorite cartridge (by a slight margin). Have also had a few retips by Soundsmith over the years, who also does superlative work. Can't go wrong with either.
__________________
Glenn... Canton Reference 9 Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 & MR88 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B, ST-J75 & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag Last edited by Formerly YB-2; 11-17-2020 at 06:02 PM. |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
I've heard nothing but good things about Steve, enjoy!
|
#5
|
||||
|
||||
I have been told Steve can turnaround quicker than Soundsmith, but both are excellent providers.
__________________
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Another enthusiastic thumbs up for Steve!
__________________
Wilson Alexia V, ARC Ref 160M MkII,Ref 40,Ref Phono2SE, Shunyata Triton3, Typhon, Sigma PCs, ICs & SCs, Spectral SDR4000SV (w MIT IC), Belcanto PL1, Oppo 205, Marantz 2270 (tuner only):AudioDesk and VPI record cleaners, Furutech Demag & Destat; Stillpoint Apertures, TechDas AF 3S Premium with SAT CF9 and Kuzma 4pt 9" arms, Lyra Atlas Lambda SL, Dynavector XV1-t stereo and XV1-s mono carts, Miyajima mono, Shure V15VxMR, |
|
|
Audio Aficionado Sponsors | |