chartz:

No news from Axel...

Patience my friend, I think he will take note of this thread. If not I can surely help you....

Just got mail!

Axel will send me a new one for comparison. We'll see.

But for him the photos are normal.

Well then, if the new one sounds better you should keep that one

Rich:

Perhaps 30 degrees too far CCW.

Compared to my SMMC 4 and org. MMC 4, yes about 30 degrees to much.

Put it this way - if someone was asking advice on whether to buy this cartridge using your last photo as evidence of condition, I would definately tell them to forget it.

I think we should also say that this isn't at all typical of Axels work & shows that we are all human & prone to mistakes - if indeed this turns out to be the case.

Chris.

Søren Mexico:

Rich:

Perhaps 30 degrees too far CCW.

Compared to my SMMC 4 and org. MMC 4, yes about 30 degrees to much.

Hi Søren, long time, where have you been? Like your avatar

Hi Leslie, stole your avatar and changed it to my like, many years ago we had a logo with "Build Printing Machines, Not Rockets"

I was out 2 weeks working on a 40 tons m/c where I would rather like to work on my BM 4000, got parts but no time, the only thing that disturbes me in this life, is that I will have to work to make a living.

Going out again for a couple of days, province, limited internet. No forum no fun, just work, I'm suffering.

Right on! But I've changed mine (another mood now).  You're logo is or was quite funny, I like that kind of humoristic advertising.  Hope you're doing well and don't suffer

Leslie:

Right on! But I've changed mine (another mood now).

I was at a tender age when that series was on so I remember her well

(Sorry, Jacques. But there's really not much else we could say about your cartridge until you get the other one for comparison )

Hey don't you like my cat?

Hi,

Here you can see the front was glued askew:

A better view of the problem:

Quality issues?

chartz:

Hey don't you like my cat?

We love your cat, any news from Axel, even I can see that the needle angle is totally wrong

Søren Mexico:

Any news from Axel, even I can see that the needle angle is totally wrong

News yes but comments, no!

He's sending me a new cartridge for testing. He hasn't seen this thread I suppose. Anyway, since everybody here says he gives sterling service I'm confident this issue will be solved. I have other cartridges to repair! This one was a test.

"Can't say I've noticed any of these problems - except the long cantilever. Can't use the flip-down stylus protector, as the stylus won't fit inside it!"

Not wanting to pile on Axel, but how could the longer cantilever be right?

Besides differing significantly dynamically and (likely) changing the characteristics of the cart (lower specific output and resonance come to mind),  at minimum, the the tangency goes off a little and the stylus guard becomes useless and possibly dangerous to the stylus assy.

And, as a reluctant edit-

I am a Soundsmith customer. I couldn't be more happy with his carts.

Also, as a small business owner, I know how cruel the internet can be. I would hope that any criticism of Axel has integrity, and am hoping Axel will resolve any and all in the public domain, a win for all.

Hi,

I can confirm the low output problem.

As regards Axel, I'm sure this is a one-off, and I will be more than happy to report back positively. The aim of this thread was really to know whether my cartridge had a specific issue. That's also why I did not create a new topic!

Found this: http://forum.beoworld.org/forums/p/30060/239054.aspx#239054

I have just inspected several MMC4's that Axel has done for me and they would appear to have the same problem visibly. However, the sound quality would appear to be good.

The phenomenon is not apparent on MMC2 and MMC3 which all appear quite "normal".

I noticed a problem with the MMC4 because the arm lift is only just sufficient for the stylus to clear the record!

I will report the matter to Axel.

@Jaques,

Any progress?

Leslie:

@Jacques,

Any progress?

I'm still waiting for the new cart to arrive.

Thanks for checking Graham, with one seriously warped record, I noticed the same thing... I was fast enough to stop everything before the disaster!

Anyway, the angle of the stylus is odd, and it doesn't sound too good to be honest!

I'm thinking MMC2 re-tip then.

Should be exactly the same, all MMCx models are the same apart from the cantilever and diamond.

My two retipped MMC2's, the retipped MMC6000 with shibata needle and the retipped MMC5 with essentially MMC4 specs (done by Axel about a mong ago) are all playing well at the time of writing.

chartz:

Leslie:

@Jacques,

Any progress?

I'm still waiting for the new cart to arrive.

Thanks for checking Graham, with one seriously warped record, I noticed the same thing... I was fast enough to stop everything before the disaster!

Anyway, the angle of the stylus is odd, and it doesn't sound too good to be honest!

I'm thinking MMC2 re-tip then.

 

 

I have had an overnight reply from Axel which I reproduce here:-

Great news!

Ta very much Graham.

joeyboygolf:

chartz:

Leslie:

@Jacques,

Any progress?

I'm still waiting for the new cart to arrive.

Thanks for checking Graham, with one seriously warped record, I noticed the same thing... I was fast enough to stop everything before the disaster!

Anyway, the angle of the stylus is odd, and it doesn't sound too good to be honest!

I'm thinking MMC2 re-tip then.

 

 

 

I have had an overnight reply from Axel which I reproduce here:-

Hi Graham,

thanks for the info.

It has crept a mistake. I will use for all MMC s with the error make a free repair.

I apologize to all my customers for the inconvenience.

Best regards Axel

There are more? Anyway Jaques, let us know how it ends. Got a load to repair...

I will. One more week to wait though!

I wonder how Axel is going to inform his customers... If the mistake (possibly an alignment relative to the body of the cartridge rather than the turntable, which would also explain the extra length) that has "crept in" concerns dozens of cartridges he will have to tell all his customers... Good luck to him then - to you, Axel, if you read this!

Hello!

I have just discovered that someone here in France does B&O re-tips!

I had missed that one. Maybe because since the demise of the Revue du Son I haven't read any other mags than the excellent Hi-Fi World (I'm a 20 year subscriber!).

I'll have to give them a ring to know whether they also renew the suspension. I'll keep you informed.

HERE

They even re-manufacture belts for B&O equipment for heaven's sake!

THERE