Tonearm recommendation

Hello all,
I guess it's time to resurrect this thread and move it in a new direction.
My buddy struck again, and the Blackbird has been replaced by an Amazon Grand Referenz. I've got the Moerch ( 12 inch ) DP8 on it.

My phonostage is presently a Decware ZP3. The only high output cartridge I've got is an Audio Technica AT150MLX, and that is mounted on the Moerch. Set-up via a MF Geodisc. Got a Mint on the way, so set-up will be better.

While I will build a board to mount the FR66s on the Amazon to compare to the Moerch, the Moerch is so sublime ( and it's not optimal yet ), the FR66s has an uphill battle. But I will listen with an open mind. The bass response of the Moerch is superior to anything I've ever heard, and will be tough to walk away from. But I want this to be as good as possible within the following confines.

I'm seriously looking at a couple of other arms instead of the Moerch or FR.
1). One of the Reed arms ( 12 inch ).
2). A Durand arm ( either the Talea2 or the Kairos ).

Has anybody ever had a chance to compare, or listen to, any of these arms.

The Moerch and FR66s are really very good. But if the Durand or Reed arms will elevate the musical experience, I would like to know your thoughts.

I'm not getting any younger, and I want to finalize my path to vinyl nirvana.

Thanks for any help.

Cheers,                                  Crazy Bill

If I were you Crazy Bill....I'd be investing my funds in better cartridges.
Much greater 'bang for buck' in that department IMHO and your arms are more than adequate to reap the benefits.

Thanks Halcro. That clearly is on the horizon.

I've always felt the various Denon's I've had here, and the Koetsu Rosewood, would not be my final resting place. While they are good, with both of them I've always felt something was missing. It's entirely possible the problem has been my setup and I need to work on this. I may end up satisfied, but I don't think so.

That said, I have a Grado Statement here. It does need a retip. I bought it in 2000, and its got a few hours on it. Its a high compliance cartridge, so obviously the FR or the blue wand on the Moerch need not apply. I'm waiting for Grado to come up with the new Statement and I may upgrade. ( Or maybe a Soundsmith retip ).Problem is, on the Moerch, I would probably need the lightest wand to match it, and that's only available in the 9 inch version, so I would have to accommodate that ( new wand and new mounting board for the Amazon ). I really like what 12 inch arms bring to the table so I probably won't go this route. But it still sticks in the back of my mind as I've got it here. We'll see.

If I had half a brain ( and that's stretching it on a good day !! ), I would stick with the Moerch DP8. Sell the Blackbird, the FR66s, the modified Jelco, the Grado, and everything else I won't need and get a very high end cartridge. With a little luck I can probably raise 10K. I'm in the process of building a very high end SET amp, and I still need about 2.5K to finish that. So I'm hopeful I'll have around 7.5 K for a new cartridge.

At that price, I feel, the world opens up. The Amazon importer, Sorasound, is very high on ZYX cartridges. I should probably take a serious look at what ZYX  will mate well with the Moerch at around that price.

More to come. 

Thanks, as always.

Cheers,                      Crazy Bill
P.S.  As setup is such an important consideration, I need to address that properly. Now I am using my MF Geodisc. I know that it is not the end game, which is why I ordered the Mint for the Moerch. Again, if I had half a brain, I would get the Smart Tractor and be done with it.

If after the Mint is in house and I do get the Moerch set up properly with it, and I still feel something is missing, I may opt for the SmartTractor to try the UNI-DIN alignment. We'll see where it leads.

Anyone, please feel free to offer your two cents on what I'm thinking. as I've posted previously, I'm a neophyte compared to most of you and I covet your thoughts and experience.

Please feel free to chime in.

Cheers again,                   Crazy Bill

Before you spend 'silly' money unnecessary Crazy Bill....can you maybe try something cheap and easy....?
I have had dozens of high-compliance MM cartridges sound amazing in both FR64s and FR66S tonearms so please park that misunderstood audio 'myth' in the corner where it belongs and start enjoying the possibilities 🙈
High cost in audio is rarely a guarantee of 'greatness' but particularly with cartridges....I have constantly been disappointed with the 'über'cost MCs over the last 20 years and I have owned many of them. I find the sound of a current $12,000 multi-awarded MC cartridge to be simply unacceptable.
The world does not "open up" at this price point.....rather, the world opens up when you discover that most of the great cartridge knowledge and design occurred in the 'golden' age of analogue....the 70s and 80s.
This is true, not only for MM design but also, as I've discovered......with LOMCs as well. The vintage SPUs and FR-7 series and Sony X-55 and MIT 1 leave every modern MC I've heard, gasping....
For approx. $200 you can buy a used Shure V15/III from HiFiDo and purchase a Neo SAS from Jico for another $200. A carbon-fibre Yamamoto HS-4S for $140 more will give you an under $600 cartridge/headshell combination for your FR-66s that will leave a ZYX UNIverse (and I have three) sounding insipid.
What do you have to lose?.....😜

Hello Halcro,
Absolutely nothing, but first a couple of questions if I may.

as noted above, I have the AT150MLX on the DP8. I love this combo. While I know it's not optimally set up ( my Mint is on the way ), I could live right here and be happy. It does so many things well. The few things that need improvement I think will be addressed when it's aligned properly.

I used the AT extensively on my FR66 when I had it mounted on the Feickert, and loved it as well. I used an old Supex ( I think ) headshell that was light and mated well. I never heard anything amiss from that combo.

So my question is this.

Since I don't have any biases against using a MM in either the FR or the Moerch, do you think the set-up you suggest would up the ante over the AT. I know I'm asking something very subjective, but I know you have a lot of experience with them.

I started taking a look at the various FR cartridges, but I've got a lot of studying to do. I'll keep at it.

One last question. A few years back I nuded a Denon DL103r, mounted it on an aluminum plate and had Soundsmith put their best ruby cantilever/stylus on it. Sounded pretty good, but apparently late night listening sessions and more than one martini make strange bedfellows. It never had a chance to break in before I snapped the cantilever, so I'm sure better was to come.

Again, I know I'm asking something very suggestive, but do you think here is any merit to upgrading the Denon ? I have a 103r here and the Midas body, and could send it to Soundsmith for upgrading.

Or do you think I should seriously pursue the MM cartridge set-up you recommend over the AT, and forget about upgrading the Denon and go after the FR7 ?

Thanks Halcro,                            Crazy Bill

P.S. Actually, I would welcome any comments from anyone who has experience with the above.