Maybe the trip can be planned to incorporate the enjoyment of music, there are a lot of live performances that are arranged to be performed within the confines of ancient structures.
It does not seem too far stretched to acquire a ticket to a concert during your trip.
I spent the afternoon yesterday with an owner of a Garrard 401 with a Origin Live Tonearm and Sumiko Pearwood Cartridge.
The 401 Owner recently sold their SME 20/12 and SME V Tonearm and was keen to receive a assessment from the local group of the new TT Set Up.
For the occasion, I supplied various Patter Mats, various Platter Spindle Weights produced from different materials, Panzerholz Sub Plinths and AT-616 Footers.
The attendees have all been quite familiar with the SME Set Up and the system the Garrard 401 was demonstrated in.
After a few configurations of ancillaries used along with the TT, the performance was superb, the changes were not nominal but quite noticeable.
One attendee claimed that the simplicity of the changes made and the impact on the SQ, was akin to having put a Cartridge put into the Set Up at twice the value of the Sumiko.
I agree without reservation, there was substantial changes made for the better, just by swapping the materials used in the support structure and the weights of a Platter Spindle Puck in use.
As there was such a impression made and detected by all the attendees, I was asked to describe my reasons for suggesting making the changes, and it was solely that my experiences has shown certain things I have perceived as being unattractive, can be diminished quite substantially by changing the environment the Cartridge functions in.
For me the environment is not the ambience of the room, but the materials the Cartridge is sharing its connection to the LP with.
This starts from the Rack, Rack Shelve and is then considered up through the structure and is not stopped until the contact the LP has with materials is addressed.
I was able to show an improvement yesterday with a few trusted material exchanges, if I was able to sit with the TT for a few hours and work with the material exchanges further, on all parts belonging to the support structure, I feel sure there was a further improvement to be eked for the better of the Cartridge.
I inform you of this as the Sumiko and Kleos are of a similar purchase value.
The Origin Live Tonearm 'Illustrious' model and your own Tonearm, even though not the same mechanical designs, might have similarities through the constraints for the design.
The above info' is made known, as investigating a little further into your mounting methods, the swapping of Sub Plinth materials can be quite cheap, your footers are already addressed.
The discoveries made, might impress you even further when the honeymoon period is ending with the Cartridge.
Being familiar with the Carts capabilities in the present set up is a very good start point, the suggestions I have made are not ones that will expose the Cart' to a risk of damage.
The idea to experiment and create an interface that is proving to be a better environment for the Cartridge to function in is the goal.
