[sfox7076]

I have a question on a cartridge I just acquired (a Dynavector DV-20X).  I got it online.  Seller claims it was never mounted or used.  However, when I opened the box, the cantilever was not parallel to the cartridge wall.  Instead, it was bent about 5-10 degrees to the right (see the picture below, though it is left because of the orientation of the cart).  Any ideas why it would be like this, or if it will still work?  The seller still contends that it is fine and was never used.



 

Shawn

[FullRangeMan]

Of course it was never used, one can not use a cartridge with a bent cantilever.
If is impossible return this item, you may try take the cantilever to the right position.
The cantilever is tied by the suspension, usually a rubber part inside the cartridge.

Before try fix it you may contact the factory asking if is recommended move the cantilever.
My 2 cents.

[Wayner]

Because the owner F'd it up and looked for someone to take his problem off of his own hands, which would be you, you inherited the problem .

I'm sorry to be so blunt, but you are the sucker in this case.......

That doesn't mean your the bad person, just the sucker.....

Sometimes trying to save a buck is very costly. Also, not all classrooms are indoors......or in skool for that matter.

Wayner

[orthobiz]

I would contact Peter Ledermann at SoundSmith (sound-smith dot com) and ask his advice. They are slow to answer the phone, but on occasion Peter himself picks up.

I would send an e-mail to Mikey Fremer at analog planet dot com, in the "contact" area. Once I had a question and he graciously answered it. Go ahead and attach the photo...

They might be able to give you advice on how to proceed.

I would also consider leaving negative feedback (if the seller won't take it back and if you bought it off eBay or AudioGon or the like) as your fellow AC'ers have identified this as a problem!

Good luck. Live and learn!

Paul

[sfox7076]

Oh I have an education. And I do not play the fool well as I know my rights and how to assert them (I am a lawyer at a big firm that does litigation).  The issue is really about time, not about money as it will cost more in tine than money to assert those rights. 

[Quiet Earth]

 I got it online.

Did you buy it from an idividual (person), or from a legitimate business?

[neobop]

Because moving coils are hand made, sometimes the cantilever isn't perfectly parallel.  The cart will probably work.  You'd have to align to the cantilever rather than the cart body.  Maybe it's the picture, but the cantilever also looks like it's going sort of straight up and down. 

That said, I wouldn't accept that on an $850 (new) cart.  I'm sure you know how to recover your payment from paypal or credit card.  It may be a PIA to return, but it should only take a few minutes to cancel your charge. 
neo

[Minn Mark]

I agree with neobop. In my expereince, I'm on my second Sumiko Blackbird. The cantilever on the first was ruler straight; the second is slightly 'off'. I have had this second one mounted and aligned by Galen Carol Audio, and it has always worked fine, whether by my mount/alignment or the aforementioned 'pro'.    I would give it a listen before passing jugdement.

Mark

[jarcher]

Because the owner F'd it up and looked for someone to take his problem off of his own hands, which would be you, you inherited the problem .

I'm sorry to be so blunt, but you are the sucker in this case.......

That doesn't mean your the bad person, just the sucker.....

Sometimes trying to save a buck is very costly. Also, not all classrooms are indoors......or in skool for that matter.

Wayner

Not very helpful wayner. Sucker implies some fault on the part of the buyer, whereas here the buyer was assured of an as-new item, which was not the case.  This is fraud.

sfox7076 : I ended up buying a pricey MC cartridge that had a cantilever bent over more than yours. In my case though I was aware of the defect before I bought it. I was able to gently place the cantilever more back in the proper position - though not perfect.  I mounted it & it sounded fine far as I could tell.  I bought it because it worked & I wanted to save more than 50%.

As Minn Mark suggested below : try mounting & listening to it before taking further action.  If you don't notice any further problems, best to let things go w/ the seller : leaving negative feedback is at your discretion.

[jjc1]

  Shawn, I have a similar problem but it is the cantilever on my own cartridge that seems to be bent. I won't go into how it happened because I am not sure. To me it is gut wrenching being the paranoid person I am when it comes to my audio equipment. I have, however, spent hours of critical listening as well as running it thru tests with a test record and really can't say that there is a difference since I discovered it being bent.  It seemed to pass all the tests. Of course every time I now listen to a record I am constantly questioning whether all is OK.
  I would give it a try and if not satisfied, return it to the seller if possible.