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Anyone try the replica B-60 Fidelity Research VTA?

My sammle moved not only up an down but also sidewards.
The reason as far as I can judge is the pin on the screw
which connect the inner and the outer collar. The inner collar
slides along this pin up and down but if there is
any play between this pin and the notch of the inner collar
the tonearm will move also sidewards. This means that the
'replica' is not as 'exact' as claimed by the producer.
I assume that this screw is better made by the orginal B-60 .
128x128nandric
nandric's avatar
nandric OP
4,086 posts
 
Hi all, I got the new (bronze) screw from Tien the seller of
the B-60 replica. My assumption that this screw caused
my problem was right. No 'sideway' movement of the collar
of my FR-64 anymore. So I am glad to be able to recommend
the replica. For the price of $450 there is no contest and
I think that each owner of the FR 64/66 tonearms should
own one. Like Lew I think that this VTA adjuster is indispensable.

Regards,
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Interesting thread! Am i the last one on the train ?

My B-60 replica has arrived last week, now FR-64s tonearm marathon is completed. In fact without the B-60 that 64s could not compete with 64fx, but with the B-60 i hope it will surpass the 64fx.

Now my Fidelity-Research FR-64s looks like a solid piece of engineering with that beautifully machined B-60 replica in mint condition.

While the original B-60 goes for insane price over 1300 euro, the replica looks amazing, it’s superheavy stainless steel base, love it. I’m so glad that i found it locally in my country (not in Asia) ! They are so rare these days. The seller, however, has bought it from Japan long time ago when it was released.

Anyway, what i just don’t understand is the price even for replica. One of the main reason is that my Lustre GST-801 toneam has its base with the same ability to adjust VTA on the fly quickly and easily, it’s just not so massive and may not solve some resonance issues as the B-60, but some huge stabilizer is easy to made to screw under the tonearm (if the VTA on the fly is already available with tonearm design like Lustre).
edgewear
543 posts
 
Well, you're not actually! I'm also looking for the B-60, but since I'm not prepared to pay the going price for an original, let alone the new price for the (identical) Ikeda version, this will probably remain so.

I even have a Micro AX-8G armbase specifically made for the B-60 just waiting to be put to work. So if you ever have another lead on one of those replica's, please drop me a line......

nandric's avatar
nandric OP
4,086 posts
 

''Look in the mirror'' has, except  metaphorical also some other

meanings. We ''the Serbian warriors admire and love our

Russian brothers.  Anyone can see that I usually refer to ''our''

chakster as my ''Slavic brother''.  However no single Serbian

would ever buy an Lada if he can afford whatever German car.

On eBay I regular see Russian listings but would not even

dream to buy any ''hifi stuff'' from there. In some sense this

can be described as ''prejudice''. In my case a ''double kind''.

So I am not only surprised that my Slavic brother can afford

an B-60 but much more that the thing was/ is available in

the Russian Federation. Those new rich Russians obviously

changed Russian usual market conditions.

Now regarding this ''damn screw''. After long thoughts I decided

to buy an professional (aka German+ digital) caliper. According

to ''measuring is knowing'' principle no (other) argument kinds

can surpass this one. Anyway no chance  to otherwise satisfy

Lew's criterions in such matters .

Well my steel (?) screws which caused the problem measure

at or on their ''nose'' 1.8mm while the moving collar trench

for the up and dawn movement is 2mm. My ''gun metal''

samples are 1.9 mm. So while the problem is about fractions

of one mm the results are very different. Those ''damn details''.

ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Those ''damn details''.

I would like to know how much difference there is in Cartridge VTF, between the lowest and highest setting when using this B60.  When I had a FR64s it was without the B60 and setting VTA was a PITA. 

I am curious. Anyone.  
thanks. 
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