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Looking for Tonearm Advice/Suggestions

I am looking down the road at potentially upgrading my tonearm and cartridge (tonearm first) and would greatly appreciate any advice and suggestions this board may have.  I have always received great feedback from the Audiogon community and I always learn a lot when asking these questions so thanks in advance for your help.

Here is my current setup:

  • Dr. Feickert Volare turntable
  • Jelco TK-850S tonearm
  • Lyra Delos MC cartridge
  • Manley Chinook phono stage
  • Prima Luna Dialogue HP Premium integrated amp
  • Dynaudio Contour S 3.4LE speakers
  • Twin REL T/9i subs
  • Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cables
  • Innuos Zenith music server
  • Lumin T2 streamer
  • Bryston CD player
  • AudioQuest Niagara 1200 Power Conditioner

I listen to variety of music but mainly classic rock, country/folk (not bro-country) and singer/songwriter. I prefer listening to vinyl although I also still play CD’s as well as stream. Overall I have put this system together trying to minimize harshness as I gravitate to a “warmer” sound. In thinking about a tonearm upgrade I am considering the Kuzma Stogi 9 or possibly the Reed 1h 9.5.  Down the road I would love a Hana Unami Red cartridge but not sure I want to pay that price.  The Unami Blue is also a consideration.

I’m not in a hurry but would greatly appreciate your thoughts on these tonearm options as well as cartridges. I know there are many other tonearms out there and countless combinations so feel free to lob in any thoughts you have.  I am all ears and open minded.

Many thanks,

@puppyt 

 

 

 

 

 

Ag insider logo xs@2xpuppyt
sounds_real_audio
1,007 posts
 

Puppyt

Tube friendly speaker often have fewer drivers, ie. not two or more woofers.

They would typically be 8 ohms. John Devore does a nice presentation on YouTube I believe about this.

They tend not to brag about having deep bass. 

Having said this I am not a fan of compression horn tweeters. Many actually serve as the midrange as well, dropping to 1.5 kHz. For me good midrange is fast and cohesive with the bass, 

When I was in business I attended the RMAF in Denver. Here are some reviews of my room at the show. 

“Though I've heard the Wilson-Benesch Curve floorstanders many times before, I found that they sounded spectacularly good as driven by Kara Chaffee's amazing deHavilland tube electronics . Nothing I heard at RMAF, save perhaps for the far more expensive Vandersteen/ARC system, could touch this rig for sheer midrange purity, detail, three-dimensionality ."  Chris Martens TAS on the 2009 show.

"deHavilland Electonics with Wilson Bensch speakers, the room we revisited most. Sound to die for." John Zurek from positive-feedback.com

 

 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
puppyt OP
97 posts
 

@sounds_real_audio 

Thank you very much. 

I really appreciate everyone’s commentary. Even when opinions and suggestions wildly diverge I find them very interesting and helpful.

karl_desch's avatar
karl_desch
426 posts
 

I think that Jelco of yours is a fine arm and the 4P9 is even better and not adding a sound to the equation. I have had both in my system. I am currently using a Lyra Etna SL on my 4P9. Clarity is what you should be sensing compared to the Jelco. Lyra carts are sensitive to VTA, VTF and Zenith so as Raul suggests, make sure the arm and cartridge are mounted correctly. You should be very pleased with the improvement here compared to the Jelco. If you hear something off, then I suspect its not the arm, its the setup.

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