Is Van den Hul Frog Gold a good choice for my rig?


Hi!  I have what would probably be called a mid-fi system in these parts, although it's made up of components I really love with highish end used/open box parts bought because my tastes are Waygu, while my budget is nice brisket.

I recently acquired a gently-used VPI Titan (the older, belt-driven, model although still sold) with a 12 inch Fat Boy tone arm, in part because the price was fantastic.

After much study, albeit in complete ignorance, I am strongly leaning to the Van den Hul Frog Gold on my own, but a conclusion reinforced because my friend has it on a similarly-designed composite tone arm from Poland and the Frog sounds great. The rest of his system, however, is straight highest-end McIntosh.  (He lives far away or I'd ask to borrow his cartridge for an audition.)

In contrast to his stock top-to-bottom, system, my system is a bit of a hodge-podge of things I love, largely designed around streaming/digital, to wit:

Phone preamp (new to me): Parasound JC3+

Preamp: Evo Luna 400

Amps: Classe Delta Monoblocks

Speakers: B&W 800 D3

Subs: SVS PB-16 ultras (2)  (I have a dual hi-pass, low pass, up at pre-amp to divide between amps and amplified subs before amplification.)

(I do love base and low-end.)

Commercial 20 amp Furman power conditioner

Digital source: Lumin U1, Esoteric K-03XD SACD/CD player with excellent DACs)

This is a $3600 cartridge, which chokes me, but I could pay more or less, for the right thing.

Listen to everything, but mainly listen to classical while streaming (due to excellent choices) and rock/blues/jazz/something that pairs with Scotch while listening to analog.

 

davetheoilguy

I lived very happily with a Van den Hull Frog and VPI Aries turntable for about fifteen years. Very musical, great bass, and quiet combo. a good choice for these reasons.

Hey thanks!  I’ve never messed with anything than a truly mass produced cartridge.

Vary much appreciate the feedback.

After a bit, I’ll probably add another time arm and go for something risky.

Yeah. It was my first audiophile tt / cartridge and it was simply revelatory. Speaking of jaw dropping. The surface noise I was so used to disappeared, the bass slapped me in the face.  It was a completely different ball game. 

I wouldn't spend that much on cartridge straight away. $3600 cartridge requires $7000 phono stage. I would first get good MM or MI cartridge and go from there if I have to. Phono preamp is more important than cartridge and turntable/tonearm more important still.