[Syrah]

Good move.  Tough to pass up the 7000 for that price!  There are so many variables that the more carts you try the better.  The problem, of course, is that unlike trying out cables, cartridges seriously depreciate on the used market.  For good reason, since you have no idea how they've been treated, how much mileage they actually have, etc.

Let me know and I might consider buying the "loser" from you.  I've seriously considered the XX2.  And I love my Shelter 501II, so I doubt the 7000 is any slouch.  If you're like me, you'll probably keep them both to hedge your next accident - cat, cleaning lady, kid, etc.

You'll be impressed with the work Soundsmith does.  Peter Lederman is a class act.

[2bigears]

  thank you.  Buying a cart used is tricky as you have to believe the seller.   Faith in mankind extraordinaire.
           The seller can say 100 easy miles to church and back .  Yet may have been four by fouring that cart
    through the desert after too many drinks in the roadhouse.  Crazy hobby this is.  Crazy good.   
        And really ,  I may truly only need one. The XX2 will be hard to beat.  But we will give the Shelter
       a fair comparo.     greatful for the advice.  Needing anolog in Canada ,   

[sunnydaze]

Once you have it back, I'm curious to hear your impressions of re-tip vs. stock XX2.   I won't be surprised if you feel re-tip outperforms it.

[2bigears]

  me too.  7000 for sale either way I think. I don't need two carts.   It was just moving that caused
     the disruption.   Moving is one of those yuk things in life. 

[sunnydaze]

You going with Soundsmith or Andy Kim?

[2bigears]

  I phoned Andy.  He seems like a very nice guy.  I haven't decided. East or West ?  SS has such a great
          rep.  Hard not to notice. Same $ so it's one of those kinda things.  :scratch   

[sunnydaze]

I phoned Andy.  He seems like a very nice guy.  I haven't decided. East or West ?  SS has such a great
          rep.  Hard not to notice. Same $ so it's one of those kinda things.  :scratch   

What are you considering from Soundsmith.....Level 2 or Level 3?

[2bigears]

  this just keeps getting funnier and funnier.  Levels ????   Haha ....   good god ? Back to research.
        When you ship to SS ,  they get you to fill a pre-work form .  But they really need to see the cart 1st. 

[sunnydaze]

this just keeps getting funnier and funnier.  Levels ????   Haha ....   good god ? Back to research.
        When you ship to SS ,  they get you to fill a pre-work form .  But they really need to see the cart 1st. 

Yeah, very tough to reach them on phone.  They prefer you do it all online.  They have a very regimented process.  But don't fear, it works.  Just follow the online instructions.  Never spoke to a person when I did my retip.  All done through their website.

As far as levels.....
They offer different levels of service, each at a different price.  My 20X was rebuilt with level 2.  Based on all the online reports I read, I'd say it's the most popular one.

UPDATE:  I just noticed the website has changed since my last visit years ago.   I don't see reference to "levels" anymore, just verbal descriptions of various options.   What used to be called "level 2" is the ruby cantilever / nude contact line diamond.

I also notice his prices have risen.   This level 2 rebuild is currently $350, previously was $250.

It also looks like he's added an option or two for rebuild.  I remember only 3 options last I was on the site.     

Read general info here.  Explains it better than I can.

http://www.sound-smith.com/services/cartridge-rebuilding-retipping

and here for specific rebuild options:

http://www.sound-smith.com/options-cantilever-and-stylus-shapes

[sunnydaze]

Hey Mr. Bigears......thought you might like to see this......a coupla guys discussing their recent and very good experiences with Andy Kim re-tips, and how incredibly quick his service is:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/cartridge-repair-re-tipping-canitlever-replacement-the-needle-clinic

[2bigears]

  yes,,, and thanks.   I did call him and he sounds like a straight shooter and very nice gent.
        I just might go west ,,,, 

[S1NN3R]

Hi 2bigears,

I had the XX2 MKII that I thought was great. Then upgraded to Shelter 7000. It is completely in a different league. Lower noise floor, very detailed clean midrange, bass are tighter, highs are smoother. The Shelter 7000 is heavier than the usual cartridge so make sure you'll be able to add more weight to your tonearm. I'm using Clearaudio Innovation Compact and Pass Labs XP15 on both XX2 and 7000. All components remained the same during the upgrade. Happy listening ;^)

[2bigears]

 . Ohh,   You had both.  And you endorse the 7000.  I'm glad.  Buying different stuff is scary.   I will have the Shelter in a couple days.  Thank you for sharing that.  It makes me feel better. 

[2bigears]

  just picked up the above said cart from the mail.  Now I haven't really set a cart up for a long time .   Can anyone suggest a good vid I can watch to brush up before I attemp a mounting.  It's kinda simple yet I don't want to wreck the cart. I have a good tractor and a old fashion balance beam scale. I have a Best Tractor made for the P9 .  And I have a DB Systems tractor.  Not sure which to use.  The glass Best I would guess is a good one.    Thanks for any help.  A little unsure .. 

[sunnydaze]

Best Tractor uses the arc method to set overhang.  It's an excellent method -- very quick, easy, accurate -- but the tonearm mount distance must be spot-on 100% accurate for it to give good result.  Don't recall your table.....Rega?   If so, arm was factory set on table, and should be good.

Do steps in this exact order:

[1]  Mount cart to headshell with screws centered in slots.   Attach firmly but not tight.

[2]  Attach wires to cartridge pins. Mind the color coding.

[3]  Set VTF roughly, a bit below mfr rec.  Exactitude not required yet.

[4]  Set bias / anti-skate to zero.  Drop needle on record,  raise / lower arm rear to make arm tube parallel to record surface.  This is a very good starting point for VTA.  Use a lined index card as a gauge.  Rest needle on record, gently lay card on spindle side of arm, get low and sight from side of arm.  Adjust arm to make top of arm tube parallel to lines.

[5]  use your Tractor to set overhang and offset angle: 

* Overhang:    swing arm over arc, move cart fore and aft in slots till stylus perfectly traces the arc and touches down exactly on arc at any point.

*  Offset Angle:   drop needle exactly on a null point. Twist cart in headshell till the cantilever is precisely centered between the parallel lines.   Get down low, eyes close to platter,  view head-on,  use bright light and magnifier lens.  (I lay a small bright flashlight right on platter.  Makes it quick and easy to see).   Move needle to other null point and drop it exactly between lines.    If your first 2 steps with tractor are accurate, alignment here will be perfect.  Just used to confirm.  If cantilever is not parallel to both lines, your OH is off.

[6]  Carefully tighten headshell screws.  Careful to not shift cartridge in headshell.   Use Tractor again to confirm no shifting.

[7]  set VTF in middle of mfr rec'd range

[8]  set bias / anti-skate in range 50% to 100% of VTF      (a)

[9]  set azimuth          (a)

(a)   important, but not hugely critical at this point.  Get up and running, spend some time researching these parameters, then address them.  For azimuth initially, just make sure headshell when viewed head-on is parallel to record surface.  (does your Rega arm even provide for azimuth adjustment??)

Over time, as cart plays and settles in,  fine tune VTF and VTA by ear.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/setting-up-a-phono-cartridge/

There are many many YOUTUBE videos on setup.   IMO most are junk and full of misinformation.

Follow these steps carefully and you are guaranteed good results.  With a little practise the entire procedure should take about 30 mins.

Good Luck!

~  John

[sunnydaze]

PS:   lose the old fashioned Shure balance scale.  Get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Image-Digital-Turntable-Stylus-Tester/dp/B00BSP498K

No disrespect to the Shure.  I own one and it's very accurate -- if used carefully. (I've confirmed its accuracy with this exact digital scale).   But it's onerous and time consuming to use, requiring patience and good eyesight.  The digital scale is sooooo cheap, quick and easy to use it's hard to make an arguement for the Shure.

[2bigears]

  thanks very much John.  Well written and sounds ok.  And ten bucks well spent for the dig scale.
       Thanks again.   

[2bigears]

  John ,,,, your going to kill me now ..  i was looking at the 7000 and i can't even see the tip.   My peeps are not that good anymore or this cart has a very small diamond. Shelter cutbacks i guess,  ha .  I wil have to take this to the local audio shop that sets up all kinds of big buck tt's.  they said it would be about 80 bucks.   They play the tt for an hour or so to make sure air sounds and looks ok ....     Your instructions were very well written and i thank you very much.  For all to use here too.   

[Syrah]

My fave is Michael Fremer for set up instructions.  He has many videos online, including this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQDa7suJn64

I suspect he has one where he does a Rega arm as well.

It's actually not "hard" to do in the sense that it requires any skills that you don't otherwise have, it just takes lots of fiddling - adjust this thing, check it, adjust it again, etc., etc.

It seems much scarier and daunting than it actually is.

[2bigears]

  you are very right.   I set up the last cart but i could see way better.   I cant even see the tip on this cart ,,   Good lord its small ,, bad peeps ,,