Used TechDAS Air Force III vs New Feickert Firebird with Kuzma Safir 9 vs SME 20 MK 2

I demo'd a TechDas V in my system for a month and really enjoyed every minute.  Being a fan of the Kuzma 4P9, I ended up going for a Kuzma Stabi R with two arm "wings".  NO regrets!  This table has excellent speed stability and weight.  Translates to great dynamics and drama.  Very enjoyable.

I don't really miss the the vacuum hold down offered by the TechDas (sonically) but that and the air bearing are clear technical advantages of the TechDas over the Stabi R.  I used a Vibraplane for both tables.  Some vibration isolation should be part of your table budget unless you go for the SME.

Dear @mijostyn ​@chauncey  : " It is otherwise well designed. If you are going to spend the rest of your like with a Koetsu, fine. "

Not with the Rosewood Signature Platinum ( that I still own ) due that it's not really low compliance.

What is really " weird " is that MF review where all the cartridges he used with the Safir have between medium to high compliance as the Atlas Lambda SL where the frequency resonance in between the Safir and all those cartridge statttttes at 4hz-5hz. From where comes that clean or exemplary low bass?

Now those tonearm 60grs plus de cartridge weigth is what the cantilever/suspension cartridge is looking due that exist not only the effective mass at rest position but exist too a dynamyc mass during play along the " tremendous " forces developed by the stylus tip movements that goes to the Safir bearing ( four unipivots as MF posted. ): no " chatter " at all at microscopic levels? who knows.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

@rauliruegas 

Sorry I haven't spent a lot of time investigating cartridges yet.  What is a high compliance cartridge vs low compliance?  

What I would like to use since I already own it!  Is a Mutech Hayabusa MC Cartridge.  Thoughts?

Dear @chauncey  : The cartridge compliance along the cartridge weigth numbers makes " differences " with the tonearm you will " marry " it.

High compliance cartridges normally ( everything the same. ) are has better cartridge tracking abilities that means can pick-up " more " music information that came in the LP groove modulations and that's per sé an advantage over a low compliance cartridges and other advantage of the HC is that tracks better at the inner grooves of the LP than a LC.

Low compliance could be in the range of 4cu to 9cu, medium compliance from 10cu to around 15-16cu and high compliance over this last compliance range.

 The ideal frequency resonance range between a cartridge and tonearm combination should be between: 8hz to 12hz for that cartridge could shows at its best.

If you buy the Safir for the Hayabusa probably you were out of that range what's not a good idea. For the Safir with a cartridge weigthing 9grs. you need that the cartridge has between 5cu to 7cu.

I never has the opportunity to listen the Safir and I never buy a tonearm with that kind of very high effective mass because that all mass will be what the cartridge cantilever/suspension will looks during play due that's a dynamic mass.

R.

@rauliruegas 

What about the Hayabusa with an older SME IV.VI arm?