Broken Lyra Kleos

MDP

MDP

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As some of you know, I bent the cantilever on my Kleos after I got it mounted on my new TT. I contacted Audioquest, Lyra's NA distributor about repair. I received an email back quoting me a price of $2,775.00 for a rebuild. I almost fell out of my chair. That's only $1,000 less than the retail price of a brand new one :amazing: And who the Hell pays retail!

Now I don't expect them to lose any money on something that was totally my fault, but when you blow up the engine in your Porsche they don't make you pay for a new car! I am so disappointed in their response that it made me feel sick. Audioquest's cost on a new one is probably between $1,500-1800, so how can a rebuild possibly cost $2775?

So I guess if you screw up like I did, they want to make money off you twice. Not quite the customer support I was looking for.

I won't be buying anything from Audioquest/Lyra ever again!
 
Another Audioquest scheme. Lets see new $3695 list, repair $2,775.00. Something is wrong with this picture.

Mark give Soundsmith a call as they do repair for all cartridges, but I see great minds work the same and Dan has already pointed you to Soundsmith. I just spoke to them about a cartridge and asked about your repair and they say yes.
 
That's too bad Mark. It's not all bad though....

When I destroyed my 12 hour old Dynavector 20X2H by trying to put the stylus cover on it (and after the nausea subsided) I purchased another one and sent the busted one to Soundsmith for a retip. (Granted, the Dynavector 20X2H is one third the cost of your Lyra so purchasing another one wasn't the end of the world.) My plan from the moment I sent it in to Soundsmith and since I purchased another one anyway, was to sell the retip for a loss but try to recoup at least half of my money which I did.

With the Lyra Kleos priced where it is, I'd think that you'd have no trouble selling a "premium Soundsmith retipped Kleos" in short order and for a surprisingly decent price. That would allow you to make some money back and then move on to whatever brand cartridge you prefer.

Luckily you have a spare cart to listen with until you can get all this sorted out. And, it does take Soundsmith a couple months to do their work so be prepared for the wait.

Good luck whatever you decide.
 
Mark I bet your glad I didn't take that Zephyr cartridge from you when you offered as you would be in a pickle :afraid:
(ps: everyone, I purchased/took ownership of Marks Classic 1 once he got his Avenger )
 
Mark...sorry about that. I still have a busted Benz Micro Glider SL that I have not dealt with. Before you do anything, check out what the trade-in value of your cart is towards a new Kleos or higher up Lyra is. If I remember correctly, you may get a decent enough trade-in value on your busted cartridge that might be equivalent or even better proposition than doing Soundsmith retip and then selling it to recoup some of the cost (especially given wait times).

If you call online retailers like Needledoctor.com, MusicDirect.com, who stock these carts, you may find them motivated to make that trade-in sale and they may give you a but more of a break beyond trade-in value to get transaction done. Something to consider.
 
Mark...by the way, the reason why the rebuild costs so much is that all Lyra carts are hand made and doing the rebuild is almost like building a new cart. Your cart is taken apart, often the generator and cantilever assembly are replaced (I.e., all internals) and so the cost has to do not so much with parts (although given quality of parts Lyra uses that dies explain some of it) but more so the man-hour labor of rebuilding, tuning and adjusting to Mishima-san's ear, etc...

Overture is another dealer that takes any phono carts as trade-in towards Lyra carts and might be a good place to see how much you can get towards a new Lyra with your busted Kleos.
 
cmalak said:
Mark...sorry about that. I still have a busted Benz Micro Glider SL that I have not dealt with. Before you do anything, check out what the trade-in value of your cart is towards a new Kleos or higher up Lyra is. If I remember correctly, you may get a decent enough trade-in value on your busted cartridge that might be equivalent or even better proposition than doing Soundsmith retip and then selling it to recoup some of the cost (especially given wait times).

If you call online retailers like Needledoctor.com, MusicDirect.com, who stock these carts, you may find them motivated to make that trade-in sale and they may give you a but more of a break beyond trade-in value to get transaction done. Something to consider.
Click to expand...

I think everything would depend on what Soundsmith is going to charge. Trading in a non functional cartridge gives a seller nothing to work with, they still have to get it repaired to sell.
 
CPP said:
I think everything would depend on what Soundsmith is going to charge. Trading in a non functional cartridge gives a seller nothing to work with, they still have to get it repaired to sell.
Click to expand...

Soundsmith has 3 levels of retips ranging from $150 to $350 for highest level of parts. The sellers who take in old Lyra carts are using Lyra's assigned trade-in values towards new cart sales. The busted carts get sent back to Lyra.
 
MDP said:
As some of you know, I bent the cantilever on my Kleos after I got it mounted on my new TT. I contacted Audioquest, Lyra's NA distributor about repair. I received an email back quoting me a price of $2,775.00 for a rebuild. I almost fell out of my chair. That's only $1,000 less than the retail price of a brand new one :amazing: And who the Hell pays retail!

Now I don't expect them to lose any money on something that was totally my fault, but when you blow up the engine in your Porsche they don't make you pay for a new car! I am so disappointed in their response that it made me feel sick. Audioquest's cost on a new one is probably between $1,500-1800, so how can a rebuild possibly cost $2775?

So I guess if you screw up like I did, they want to make money off you twice. Not quite the customer support I was looking for.

I won't be buying anything from Audioquest/Lyra ever again!
Click to expand...


the current US list is $3695. Depending on the mfr and the distributor's exchange/rebuild policy a repair is not made per say, they usually give you a credit towards a new cart. In this case AQ is offering you a new Kleos 25% above dealer cost plus your old cart in trade. The street price in Japan is 2400 USD all day long, you could buy one gray market and keep the old Kleos and have Andy aka Needle Clinic rebuild it with a new boron cantilever/microridge styli for $400. Andy recently rebuilt a Koetsu for me and its as good as new.

I like Mikes suggestion, a My Sonic Labs Eminent GL (2500 USD in japan) also check out the Mutech Kanda (Transfiguration by a different name).
 
IIRC, the msrp new was ~2750 less than 6 months ago. Talk about inflation, and that's for a stereophile class B rated component. :huh:
 
cmalak said:
Mark...by the way, the reason why the rebuild costs so much is that all Lyra carts are hand made and doing the rebuild is almost like building a new cart. Your cart is taken apart, often the generator and cantilever assembly are replaced (I.e., all internals) and so the cost has to do not so much with parts (although given quality of parts Lyra uses that dies explain some of it) but more so the man-hour labor of rebuilding, tuning and adjusting to Mishima-san's ear, etc...

Overture is another dealer that takes any phono carts as trade-in towards Lyra carts and might be a good place to see how much you can get towards a new Lyra with your busted Kleos.
Click to expand...

Plus one

With a Lyra or dynavector you are receiving a new cartridge.

Nobodty will buy a Soundsmith retip for a Lyra or dyna if you do not like new sound.

Use it as a trade for a better Lyra.

Btw,;not sure the op did not contqct the dealer regarding the pricing. The distributor is only going to quote the retail pricing.the dealer will have margiin room to offer if he wants to.
 
XV-1 said:
Plus one

With a Lyra or dynavector you are receiving a new cartridge.

Nobodty will buy a Soundsmith retip for a Lyra or dyna if you do not like new sound.

Use it as a trade for a better Lyra.

Btw,;not sure the op did not contqct the dealer regarding the pricing. The distributor is only going to quote the retail pricing.the dealer will have margiin room to offer if he wants to.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your contribution. I'm undecided on my next move. Shane, I'm short on money right now after buying my new TT.
 
MDP said:
I appreciate your contribution. I'm undecided on my next move. Shane, I'm short on money right now after buying my new TT.
Click to expand...

Hi Mark

understand. Have you listened to the Delos? Its very good and I actually preferred it to the Kleos due to its slightly better jump factor in the top end.

Might tie you over for a while.

cheers
 
XV-1 said:
Hi Mark

understand. Have you listened to the Kleos? Its very good and I actually preferred it to the Kleos due to its slightly better jump factor in the top end.

Might tie you over for a while.

cheers
Click to expand...

I think he meant the Delos as compared to the Kleos
 
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