HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

My Lyra Helikon, although still sounding good, must be coming to the nd of it life. I have looked around at cartridge repairs and come up with two suppliers. NorthWest Analogue who do a Fritz Gyger tip and Expert Stylus Co. who do Paratrace tips. Any recommendations.

Dom at northwest analogue is very very very good and is also a lyra stockist.
And builds his own mc cart.
Hes looked at all my carts at some point. I personally wouldnt use anyone else.

He was kinda favourite, since he does sell Lyra.

I recommend ESCo as they're proper professionals who've been doing this for decades and their work usually betters the new article. They can also replace diamonds alone, and not just the entire bought-in diamond/cantilever assembly like others do! Goldring used to do cartridge restorations and I heard needle drops of a Troika thus rebuilt. MUCH better than the original (less dull). ESCo also repaired a bent cantilever on a troiks when it was new and again, the thing sounded amazing compared to a factory fresh example.

I have read very good reports about ESCo repairs, and then came a spanner in the works, the Paratrace tip. I read a couple of reports about it being very fussy re azimuth and having a Rega arm I don`t believe this can be adjusted, also the tip may not have a very extended life span. Yes, I know it was on the internet, but it does place doubts in your mind and that is why I was asking the question.

Id give both a ring and speak to Dom and expert stylus.
Have a word and tell them what you need. Then make a decision. Ive never used esco so I can't comment on them, but a conversation with the companies in question is always going to be better than wondering wether to believe possible t'internet bollocks

ESCo don't just do the Paratrace, which is pretty well the same as most fine-line types, but they do ellipticals and I think conicals too, as well as general MC cartridge repairs if they can get to the innards... They still make the PN7 for the famous old A&R P77 I understand, but they do have a lot of work from all over the world, so there may be a wait.

I was put off NWA when he posted a pic of a shit Goldring 800 he tarted up, with forty years of crud all over the plastic stylus housing that hadn't been cleaned away. Kind of made the fancy-foo cantilever and diamond look like a daisy on a cow-pat!

I may well give them a call, and go from there.

I asked in another thread about cartridge matching my RB250 and have now sent my Lyra cart to ESCo for checking/retipping. I was doubtful I would be able to buy a new cart. up to £500 that would have the same refinement as my Lyra. Will update when I have the cart. returned in 3 to 4 weeks.