Well Tempered or Teres .....

Dennis,
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Look into the Loricraft cleaning machine - It costs a ton, but is well worth the price and then some -
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You will never regret getting it and you can save a bit on the ear plugs you would need with either of the VPI machines.
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Dear Cmk: Can you be more specific on the gimbal tonearms inner groove distortion?
It will be interesting to know wich gimbal tonearms and with wich cartridges they were mated.
Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Doug
I don't have extensive experience with gimbal arms, but my experience parallels yours. I used the Kuzma Stogi Reference prior to the Schroeder. A well made gimball arm, very tight tolerances, ABEC 7 bearings(same as SME). Same cart - Dyna TK. Try as I as might, with spot on alinement, I just couldn't get rid of the inner groove distortion. Actually it was thanks to you guys that I started listening for it. I only experienced it on certain LPs, but after knowing what it was, it was an irritation [urgh].

I reckon it is a combination of factors which lead to this inner groove problem, (1) bearing chatter, (2) tracking error, and (3) imperfect/worn LP cutting.

For your problem about coloration across the record, I suggest the use of the Mystic Mat from Living Voice. 4yanx tried it too and I basically agree with his findings. It reduces unwanted resonances.

Rauliruegas
It was a Kuzma Stogi Ref mated with the Dynavector Te Kaitora.

Point to note was that it was only audible on certain LPs. So I reckon that not all LPs are ideally cut, so a certain amount of give is desirable to reduce the inner groove distortion. Just IMO.

Dennis,
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My only experience in comparing arms on my system took place on the same weekend with Doug Deacon & Paul using Graham 2.2, Vector & Schroeder Reference tonearms.
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There were 7 of us listening that weekend (for two full days) and the Schroder, owned by Chris Brady of Teres was the hands down wipe the drool off your chin winner.
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After that there was a split group that preferred the sound of either Basis Vector or the Graham 2.2. I was of the Graham preferring group.
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We used my Shelter 901 cartridge with only 50 hours of use on it and Doug’s 901 with several hundred hours (fully broken in). I think cartridges change so dramatically in their sonic presentation after breaking in that we did not have an ideal situation to make a fair comparison. I am hoping that Doug and Paul will be back after my 901 is broken in and we can really come to understand the differences between the Graham 2.2 and the Basis Vector.
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At this stage of the game. I would pick the Graham over the Vector. The build quality (sturdiness), ease of changing the azimuth and easy access to the VTA adjustment knob, dramatically ease of set up of the Graham ( Vector was harder to set up than the Schroeder) are a big factor.
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The Graham also allows you to have multiple removable arm wands that are quickly interchangeable. You can use two or more arm wands with a different cartridge mounted on each and quickly change out from one cartridge to another. The removable arm wand also allows you to take the arm wand off the main mechanism and sit down comfortably at a table and accurately install a cartridge. That is a huge plus in mounting and accurately aligning a cartridge safely with out risk of damaging the cartridge (easier on your back from not having to stoop over your table as well).
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During our weekend of comparing tonearms and cartridges, I came to prefer the sonics of the Graham over the Vector. I think that it is way too early in the game for me to have a final opinion. In the future, I could come to wish for more dynamics that the Vector offered as Doug correctly stated in lieu of the warmth and musicality of the Graham that we heard. That being said, I really think the break-in period needs to take place and we need to listen to the comparison of both arms on the same system using two of the same fully broken in cartridges (same model) after both tonearms and phono cables are broken in.
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If you would like to make the decision easy for yourself, get the Schroder Reference and put a Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum cartridge on it (that was just heaven). You just have to part with some serious money, but it could easily be a lifetime purchase (until Schroeder comes out with the Reference model II).
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In the end, I think the arms are close enough that the break-in needs to take place, another comparison done and then it may turn out that the sonic positives are so close that the convenience and sturdiness of the tonearms might be your deciding factors.
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