Thread: Getting a cadenza bronze re tipped - rebuilt?

I've had a busted cadenza bronze for quite sometime now sitting in a container. I've spoke with several people about re tipping, re building. Some say if it gets re tipped by anyone other than Ortofon it won't sound the same, others swear it sometimes sounds better or I might just sell it and buy one from a dealer friend of mine. I've been enjoying a Sony PS 8750 with a blue, and a Classic 1 with a red, I'm not rich, but it's kind of embarrassing having a bronze just sitting there. Any opinions?
Thanks

For a rebuild or retip, Soundsmith should definitely be considered.

Although I appreciate all the opinions, and yes Bruce and Doug, I've read a lot of nice things about Soundsmith and Van del Hul I tend to agree with Steve and Jeff. I've read where some sound worse, some sound better. I just wanted to get some opinions. It just takes so long with Ortofon but sometimes it's worth the weight, maybe not in gold, but with the Bronze..lol
i really appreciate it. Thanks everyone

Originally Posted by RSG

Although I appreciate all the opinions, and yes Bruce and Doug, I've read a lot of nice things about Soundsmith and Van del Hul I tend to agree with Steve and Jeff. I've read where some sound worse, some sound better. I just wanted to get some opinions. It just takes so long with Ortofon but sometimes it's worth the weight, maybe not in gold, but with the Bronze..lol
i really appreciate it. Thanks everyone

Just curious after close to a year if you ended up re-tipping your Bronze; I currently own a Bronze and love it; I am guessing I will be able to use it for about another year before needing to take action; just trying to find out if a SS re-tip (if that is the route you chose) worked out well.

No experience with a re-tip here, but then Cadenza Bronze owners are pretty rare to begin with. However, I have also owned the predecessor Kontrapunkt "c", which looks to be the same as the Bronze save for 3 differences ("c" then Bronze attributes):
1. FG80 stylus instead of Replicant 100
2. Silver wire instead of gold/copper Acurum wire
3. Plastic middle piece instead of aluminum

The main difference here is the stylus, so this comparison may be relevant to your inquiry. Unfortunately I no longer have the "c" for a direct comparison, but I loved that cart. The Bronze adds a little more detail and better dynamics; the "c" was a bit warmer. Overall the Bronze sounds cleaner, i.e. going a bit in the direction towards the Jubilee/Winfeld (both of which I also owned for a time) while the "c" could be construed as more musical. Other than that, they're largely similar in character -- the Bronze is still warmer and more plump in midrange than its higher siblings, just not as much as the "c" was. Both have very good detail and bass/dynamics, but cannot stand up to the Winfeld in those categories. Honestly I might prefer the "c" to the Bronze, overall. So I think a re-tip is a very viable option -- but only if you can retain the cantilever though, which I believe is integral to this model's sonic character. On the other hand, 930 euros for a brand new Bronze from Ortofon ("repair" cost) is a pretty sweet deal too. However if the damage does not extend past the stylus, I'd probably try the re-tip.

Originally Posted by Post2338

Just curious after close to a year if you ended up re-tipping your Bronze; I currently own a Bronze and love it; I am guessing I will be able to use it for about another year before needing to take action; just trying to find out if a SS re-tip (if that is the route you chose) worked out well.

I'm so sorry I haven't answered you earlier. No I haven't gotten the Bronze re tipped yet but if I did I would have Ortofon do it. I wondering about selling it like it is. Now I getting tempted because of Steve, Petro85 to inquire about the Winfield! Lately I've been having some fun with digital, Tidal, I like records, but the kind of music I listen to lately is from Echoes, WXPN and a lot of that is on cd's, because you asked I'm motivated to do something with it
thanks,
Robert