New Townshend Rock 7 owner

Also, the soundstage "bloom or air" seems limited only to one's room size. Awesome!

I've discovered for micro-leveling at the arm side... determine an appropriate amount of blue-tack and just lay it at any point on the upper arm pod plate. Simple, no resonance.  Done!

I just, almost had an "out-of body" experience. I put on Montrose "S/T". I did not know this record could sound this good!

Sammy may be forgotten as one of the great rock singers.

more thoughts upon extended listening...

The trough... this is an integral part of the design. (and a game changer) It should be initiated throughout the industry as a standard. As a layman, I can say that it seems we all have been trying, (through all of our ongoing upgrades, whether it be a multi-thousand $ cart, 12" tonearms out of exotic materials, multi-thousand $ tt's, equipment supports, etc....) to achieve an, up to now.... an elusive sound, one that can enthrall you, one that keeps you entertained with all of your lps, no matter how well recorded.

With all of the well-intentioned designers of high-end carts/tables, what has been missing with-in my experience, is this Townshend Rock 7 /and it's trough. This design will make you sit up and think, "what the hell have I been doing all of my audiophile life?"

I just bought a couple of lps through Insound. At half price and free shipping, well, how could I refuse? One of them is Jethro Tull "Minstrel In the Gallery" the Steven Wilson mix. I confess I haven't complete knowledge of the entire Tull catalog, but just let me say, this lp has over this weekend, become on of my favorite lps this year! The sonics are amazing! I can say that this is a Tull "masterwork", no _hit!

I've read reviewer's posts of the Dyna Karat D3, which I'm currently listening to with MANY hours on it. Actually, it is my second one. (I always felt there was something special about this cartridge).They have said it has a "golden glow". Nothing could be farther from the truth! It is very revealing. and emotionally involving. Of coarse, those reviewers did not have the Rock 7 as their source did they.

more to come..........

just wanted to remark on the Funk Firm FXR tonearm.

My first hearing/listening to a Rega /(based) tonearm.

When I called Max Townshend a couple of weeks ago, I told him that my table came with this arm. He seemed to not know of it. When I said it was an upgraded Rega with better bearings and a stiffer arm wand,  he remarked that the Rega had excellent bearings. (I got the feeling he did not think it could be improved). He seemed to be unaware of this arm that was reviewed in Stereophile with this table around 3/4 years ago! (I've learned to give designers a pass on what's going on in the industry because they are so focused on their own projects.) Ok, so what? All that matters is I've seen it, heard it, felt it in my hand... it is a solid arm and I cannot now find of any faults. 

more to come.............

Slaw, a while back Max was offering an arm that was a heavily-modified Rega 300, with the outrigger assembly built into the front end of the arm. It's model name and number was Excalibur 3, and retailed for $2500. The classic arms found to work especially well on Rocks are the Zeta and Fidelity Research 64, higher mass designs. A modern arm often partnered with the table is the Helius Omega, a really sophisticated design. It is available with tungsten bearings and copper internal wiring for around $3200, I believe, and with ruby bearings and silver wire for $5200.