Phono Preamp Advice...Dynavector Karat 23RS

[soundmig]

Just called the shop servicing my table (upgraded to the Moth arm). Apparently my uncle, who I inherited the gear from, soldered the Dynavector Karat 23RS to the wires in the Tonearm. My tech says removing the solder will destroy the cart....

Well, if soldering them to the cartridge didn't destroy it, why would unsoldering them destroy it? Use a low wattage iron (say 15 watts) and clip a small copper clip to the cartridge pin (away from the wire) you are working on (to shunt off heat) , apply the heat to the wire (not the pin) till it comes loose and you should have a decent shot at removing the wires from the cartridge without damaging it??? Why do you need to desolder the wires anyway? If its working and that's the cartridge you want to use, can't you just leave it alone?

 

[Bob]

yikes. how about cutting the wires to the cart, repairing the tonearm cable by either adding cable
and the pin connectors or replace the tonearm cable. then carefully add pins to the remaining
wire on the cart. use lots of clip/clamps to draw off the solder heat.

perhaps the cart rebuilders can fashion a fix. no doubt they rewire, resolder, repin things
inside carts. worth a try since that Ruby is one of a kind.

 

[bimasta]

Apparently my uncle, who I inherited the gear from, soldered the Dynavector Karat 23RS to the wires in the Tonearm. My tech says removing the solder will destroy the cart....

Your tech is right. Happened to me with an Accuphase MC. Previous owner soldered the leads to the pins. The 4 pins are mounted in a pin-block, which is glued into the cartridge-body. Same with the Dyna. The heat from the soldering softens that glue — forever. Even a slight tug on the pins can pull the entire pin-block out of the cartridge. The very thin wires from the moving-coil to the pins are immediately broken. Happened to me. Cartridge destroyed — or possibly a $500+ repair if I could find someone to do it.

The Accuphase was one of the greatest cartridges ever. So is the 23 Ruby. I'd hate to see it suffer the same fate.

The suggestions above are tempting because they offer hope, but very risky. I suggest leave it as is, as unsatisfactory as that may be. The damage is done. Soundmig even ends by agreeing with me: "If its working and that's the cartridge you want to use, can't you just leave it alone?"

And whatever you do, don't ever PULL on the wires or pins — the glue on the pin-block is already damaged and will just pull out, breaking all the internal wires.

Treated gently, and with the respect a wounded warrior deserves, you have a great and classic MC.