London Decca Reference to Return

[Bergm@nn]

I would love to get in line with Darius for a DaVa Reference + power supply. Unfortunately, I cannot find any contact information. One person gave me a contact already, but I have lost it. So, here it is again: I need the contact info for Darius for a DaVa Reference order, please. BTW: I am going to Japan in two weeks and will probably come back with a ViV Rigid Float tonearm. There is a following for this highly iconoclastic arm describing it with similar enthusiasm like the folks on this thread for the DaVa. I wonder if the two will make for a match made in heaven.

I have the 7" Viv Labs and can confirm it is something quite different that produces very intriguing results that may make you scratch your head.

 

[djsina2]

I would love to get in line with Darius for a DaVa Reference + power supply. Unfortunately, I cannot find any contact information. One person gave me a contact already, but I have lost it. So, here it is again: I need the contact info for Darius for a DaVa Reference order, please. BTW: I am going to Japan in two weeks and will probably come back with a ViV Rigid Float tonearm. There is a following for this highly iconoclastic arm describing it with similar enthusiasm like the folks on this thread for the DaVa. I wonder if the two will make for a match made in heaven.

I used ViV with DaVa, it was great.

Darius is at service@cartridgeretip.com

 

[Bergm@nn]

I used ViV with DaVa, it was great.

Darius is at service@cartridgeretip.com

When you say 'was great' do you mean you've moved on/ tried something else?

 

[djsina2]

When you say 'was great' do you mean you've moved on/ tried something else?

Yeah that was two turntables ago. You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.

 

[Bergm@nn]

Yeah that was two turntables ago. You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.

Do you mind me asking what you moved on to and whether you kept either of the arm or the cart?

 

[Massimo66]

I have good news today from londondecca.com, from whence Stewart has written:

I have recently put the Reference back into play, and it still feels like putting on an old favourite pair of shoes: it feels right. It doesn't have the warmth and richness of the LP-S, which I still enjoy, but it is plainly more honest about what is on the record, and still makes me tap my toes in response to transients like nothing else. I have never had any grounding issues with it, nor any mistracking. I used it for years on an SME Series V with the damping trough, but right now it is working just as well on a Series IV with no damping. I hope others have the chance to experience this cartridge again, as it is a bloody marvel!

Reading your post made me want to reassemble mine. That's right. I actually dismantled the Benz LPS. It's a real pleasure to listen to her after almost a year.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

people might well be waiting for the new higher compliance, lighter weight, DaVa Soul as well
I am

 

[manisandher]

I have good news today from londondecca.com, from whence Stewart has written:

Yes we will manufacture the current Reference as well as a new version as well. hoping it will be ready in August.

This is great news. I'd buy one in a heartbeat (assuming a not-massive increase in price).

I asked Expert Stylus to take a quick look at my Reference (as I was sending a couple of other cartridges to them for servicing anyhow). They say that the diamond has very little wear.

I'm really looking forward to receiving it back and trying it on my new Korf arm, with headshell, wand and bearings all ceramic. I have a feeling it's going to be something special.

Mani.

 

[Dogberry]

Things are happening over at londondecca.com - https://www.londondecca.com/ld-shop/cartridges

The shop is not yet functional, but the Maroon, Maroon Mono, Super Gold, Jubilee and Reference are to be sold there. And prices haven't jumped as much as I feared, the Reference, for example, is $6,895.

 

[noromance]

I'm really looking forward to receiving it back and trying it on my new Korf arm, with headshell, wand and bearings all ceramic. I have a feeling it's going to be something special.

Mani.

I tried the Korf HS on my 401/12" Jelco 850/Decca Super Gold and found it dry, etched, thin, and skritchy. Curious to hear how you find it.

 

[hb22]

 

[Dogberry]

The londondecca.com shop is now functional and open for purchases.

 

[bdp24]

Is the London/Decca business still in existence? I sent payment for a cartridge rebuild on August 1st, and yesterday sent multiple emails inquiring as to the state of the rebuild. All my emails were returned as undeliverable (due to the email address being non-existent), even when the emails were made as a response to emails I received from London/Decca. Uh oh?

 

[Massimo66]

Hi, they probably don't read emails due to lack of time, however, reading an article on "https://trackingangle.com/features/decca-london-cartridge-rebirth-cat-out-of-the-bag-through-canada" by Michael Fremer I learned that Massif audio design is their privileged partner, try to get in touch with them, maybe they can give you some more information

 

[Dogberry]

Are you using service@londondecca.com ? That's the address that Stewart writes from.

 

[bdp24]

Thanks guys. Yep @Dogberry, that's the address I sent the emails to. And I did so both directly and also as a response to them on the last email I received from them, back on August 1st. @Massimo66, it's not that I received no response, it's that my emails are being returned, the stated reason being that their email address was "not found." But your suggestion is a good one, I'll contact some of their "partners."

 

[bdp24]

Good news London/Decca fans. Stewart of London Decca USA both emailed and phoned me today, explaining in great detail what was going on with the company, including the matter which prompted my initial post above: the fact that emails to both USA and UK addresses were being returned unanswered, the reason being those addresses were "not found." That almost always is because the related business is no longer in business, but I am delighted to report that such is not the case with London Decca. In fact, it is because business was so good that their original email system was not able to keep up with the correspondence sent to the company, resulting in them needing to change servers. Emails sent to the old address were suppose to be forwarded to the new addresses, but due to a technical problem that was not happening.

So all is well with London Decca, feel free to order any of their fantastic phono pickups! Fans of the design/brand include Ken Kessler of HiFi News & Record Review, who contacted Stewart after hearing of my posts concerning the company. Thanks Ken!---Eric Jerde.

 

[Dogberry]

Good news, indeed.

 

[Yeti]

I tried the Korf HS on my 401/12" Jelco 850/Decca Super Gold and found it dry, etched, thin, and skritchy. Curious to hear how you find it.

I used a Korf SF9R with my mono Maroon for a while but found I was reaching for my SPU Royal N instead even for mono records. The last couple of days I’ve swapped out the Korf HS for a Yamamoto HS-1a and that seems to suit the Decca much better.