@cleeds FR-64fx is lighweight tonearm, less popular than high mass FR-64s for some reason. Lustre GST-801 is universal, i use it with FR-7f cartridge (also with SPU Royal G mkII, it's about about 32g. weight). Lustre GST-801 also works fine with my lightweigh MM cartridges. I do not own the FR-64 arms, but as far as i know the armtube of Lustre GST-801 is very well damped, but the tube of FR64s is not damped at all. All i can say is that low compliance FR-7f LOMC sounds fantastic on Lustre GST-801 tonearm. My arm was rewired with Discovery Litz, i still need some tiny (missed) screws to munt the armlift etc, but i'm happy about the quality of this tonearm. I love my Reed 3p "12 too, but without arms like Lustre it would be impossible to use FR-7f in my arsenal.
Rega RP8 or Technics SL1200G
I'm a bit reluctant to post this "either or question" because I know that everything in this hobby is subjective, but here goes.
I currently have a Rega RP3-24 with an Exact 2 and I want to upgrade to my final turntable. I have read all the reviews that are available on both tables and both received stellar reviews, although Fremer stated that his RP8 sample table ran a little fast. I like the simplicity of the RP8 ($3000), however, I also like the adjustability of the SL1200G ($4000) which eases the task of trying different cartridges, although I don't plan on swapping out cartridges very often. On the other hand, I am not adverse to using spacers to adjust VTA on the Rega so I can try non Rega cartridges.
So it really comes down to which table sounds better, which is built better, etc. I would like to hear from anyone who owns or has heard either of these tables. I won't have the opportunity to audition either one.
I listen to rock, jazz and some classical.
The rest of my system is:
Cayin A-88T MKII Integrated with Gold Lion KT88's or Svetlana Winged C EL34
PS Audio GCPH w/Underwood Mod (planning to upgrade to Parasound JC3+)
Harbeth SHL5 Plus 40th Anniversary
Rega Apollo-R
Accuphase T101
Cables: Morrow PH4 to phone preamp
Thanks in advance.
Eric
I currently have a Rega RP3-24 with an Exact 2 and I want to upgrade to my final turntable. I have read all the reviews that are available on both tables and both received stellar reviews, although Fremer stated that his RP8 sample table ran a little fast. I like the simplicity of the RP8 ($3000), however, I also like the adjustability of the SL1200G ($4000) which eases the task of trying different cartridges, although I don't plan on swapping out cartridges very often. On the other hand, I am not adverse to using spacers to adjust VTA on the Rega so I can try non Rega cartridges.
So it really comes down to which table sounds better, which is built better, etc. I would like to hear from anyone who owns or has heard either of these tables. I won't have the opportunity to audition either one.
I listen to rock, jazz and some classical.
The rest of my system is:
Cayin A-88T MKII Integrated with Gold Lion KT88's or Svetlana Winged C EL34
PS Audio GCPH w/Underwood Mod (planning to upgrade to Parasound JC3+)
Harbeth SHL5 Plus 40th Anniversary
Rega Apollo-R
Accuphase T101
Cables: Morrow PH4 to phone preamp
Thanks in advance.
Eric
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- 126 posts total
rauliruegas The GST-801 is a engineeering tonearm lesson for any manufacturer designer. Way way better than your V that I owned.The GST-801 suffered from a host of problems, including its compromised geometry by not getting the counterweight in the same plane as the record. That makes it a pretty poor "tonearm lesson." They also suffered from quality control problems, which is why my dealer at the time stopped selling them and why used ones are often sold in pieces, with some parts missing entirely. It's no wonder that they are no longer manufactured. According to vinylengine.com, it's the same as the Acos, so I'm not sure why you think that the two are "way different." I ditched my Lustre probably 30 years ago and never looked back. As I mentioned, the Fidelity Research and SME put it to shame in my systems although - to be fair - those are more expensive pickup arms. And you couldn't possibly have owned my SME V, because I bought mine new from a local dealer. all those undamped FR are the worst design ever. Period.That's an interesting pronouncement but coming from the same guy who (iirc) insists the Triplanar arm suffers an inherent design flaw, it doesn't mean much. In fact, such extreme pronouncements are usually meaningless. The world of audio - and especially turntables and pickup arms - isn't as simple as those like you would insist. The Lustre GST-801 was an interesting design, though. If the manufacturer had ever updated it with better geometry, materials and QC, it might have been a contender. Now it's just an oddity. |
- 126 posts total