Hana Umami Red or Lyra Kleos?

@skyscraper

If you were going to spend $4k on a cartridge and then $4k on another arm down the road - you would be better off buying a new turntable/arm package. None of the VPI arms are that great, and a change requires new armboard etc.

My recommendation would be to buy the dual pivot option and new cartridge.

Down the road reevaluate arm upgrade vs new TT/arm.

Something like Feickert/Kuzma 4Point9 combo down the line would far exceed the VPI combos at a reasonable price.

I would argue that an upgrade to Fieckert/Kuzma with a $1k cartridge ( example Audio Technica ART9 ) would give you a better overall result than buy-in a $4k cartridge now.

Dover, appreciate your advice. Another factor is installing the dual pivot changes settings like the azimuth etc. So since I’m going to have the tone arm set up professionally done, I’d need to get the dual pivot mod in place prior to having my newly purchased Lyra Kleos installed. That’s why I’ve go to make a decision on getting the mod now. as it can’t simply be installed as an add-on. I’ll have a little leeway as it will take some time for a Lyra to get here from Japan.

Not to appear stupid, but it can’t be helped, What part of a tonearm assembly. constitutes the "armband" you mentioned? That piece of info will begin my education on tonearms. Thanks,

Mike

Dover, I found a VPI youtube video that shows one of their gimbal tonearms can easily be swapped out with their unipvot tonearm. You simply unscrew the point to get it out of the way. Then their gimbal tonearm fits right into the same hole the unipivot point was in. I’ll need to find out if tonearms other than VPI’s would fit in that hole.

For any other interested rookies, the video is below.:

Mike

Mike. Hope this isn't perceived as sage advice  but maybe you should go with your "gut" feelings. Mount the Kleos to the unipivot and enjoy for now. These "experts" are trying to give you good advice but are only adding anxiety to your learning curve. This is also supposed to be fun, right? Get a new arm, mod, or whatever as you can afford it. I have the same financial limitations you have.

Mr_m, that does sound like sensible and sage advice. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do when you get advice from some diametrically opposed to other’s advice. But that’s the internet for you. I do enjoy gathering information, trying to figure things out, and making considered decisions, Especially where there’s some significant cash on the line, So that part of the equation’s not an issue.

I’ll share a little bit of personal background, Before retiring my previous career was in corrections and mental health, When running a correctional unit or institution there are potentially serious consequences for not figuring things out correctly and making sound decisions . Nobody’s going to get hurt if I end up making the wrong choice about some stereo equipment. This is only a fun hobby like you say. So if folk get too adamant, you have to take it with a grain of salt.

My gut tells me now I should get the dual pivot mod, so to not potentially waste the cost of a professional turntable setup, so that’s what I’ll probably do. But If adding a dual pivot mod later only involves readjusting the azimuth you could be right to just go ahead .and consider adding only the mod later. I’ll look into that and consider that option. Could be a money saver.

Thanks for your thoughtful post,

Mike