New 55,000 Euro tonearm

Early days, but how does it compare to the Durand Tosca - particularly in terms of transparency and overall balance.

@dover 24 hours in with the Primary Control FCL, it fair to say it has a leg up on the Tosca in terms of liquidity, textures and grain lessness. it’s very sexy. might be a touch more micro-dynamic and life like. the Tosca is similarly transparent and balanced.

at these levels we are talking about small differences, but also at these levels small differences equal big differences in musical terms.

the Tosca really has no weaknesses; but the FCL adds more realism and expressiveness. the FCL is doing things that no other arm can do. it might not be the counting angels on heads of pins champ, but maybe it’s the sexyness champ.

the FCL and Tosca are two different levels of refinement; as one might hope for with the FCL at twice the price.

Dear @mikelavigne  : "" the FCL is doing things that no other arm can do. ""

That's a serious statement, so I would like to ask: like what things?

Thank's in advance.

R.

@mikelavigne  : "  but the FCL adds more realism and expressiveness. "

Are those things what you posted here or something else?

R.

Mijostyn, you are consistent in your preference for low inertia tonearms, but we’ve mentioned before that some of the “best” cartridges are low in compliance and work best with higher inertia tonearms. So in a world where we are matching cartridges with tonearms, isn’t it a bit specious to suggest that low inertia is a quality you want in any and all tonearms, regardless? and anyway, I would agree with some others who have already pointed out that mass at or around the pivot has much less effect on inertia than mass either in the counterweight or at the cartridge/headshell end of the tonearm. I am sure you know that. So I am not sure why you keep insisting that the bearing of the SAT tonearm is per se evidence of high inertia.

@lewm 

@mijostyn is all over the place on effective mass and low compliance cartridges.

Here's what he said about the Kuzma Safir ( 60g effective mass )

I just wandered onto Kuzma's web site to check on the specs of one turntable only to be confronted with a $25,000 9 " sapphire tubed sorta 4 point arm. Looks like a winner to me. I think it is a better design than the SAT arms but then I thought the 4 Point 9 was a better design than the SAT arms. Next will be a diamond arm tube:-)

mijostyn04-06-2022 12:36pm

I can't see the SAT getting anywhere near 60g effective mass of the Safir.

He;s also had a turnaround on low compliance cartridges, After several posts insisting low compliance cartridges are no good, he is now buying a low compliance Mysoniclab.

mijostyn

6,225 posts

06-26-2022 at 04:42am 

@rsf507 , I am currently using a Soundsmith Voice through an Audio Research PH3-SE. I have a Channel D Seta L Plus coming which opens the door for very low impedance cartridge's like the MSL PS and the Lyra Atlas SL the two cartridges I am interested in most. It looks like I am going to get the MSL first.