The view I take is that everything is important. It is not rocket science to design an arm correctly in all respects. Looks is not ever a factor in my decision making. The arm I use is esthetically rather dull. It is also a brilliant arm in my estimation. Are you going to get a Sapphire? Everyone is raving about it. Theoretically it is way to heavy for most cartridges. That does not seem to matter to everyone except maybe bottom dwellers like me.
The Popularity of the Kuzma 4P (11")
I was looking at my 2019 invoice of a Kuzma 4P and noticed that I had paid $6800 plus taxes (at full retail). Today, that the price is at $10k - which is almost a 50% increase over a four-year period. Compared to my other two arms- Glanz MH124S and SME 3012 R, performance wise, the Glanz holds the top position with the 4P in close second. I do have to say that the queuing mechanism of the 4P is the best I’ve experienced – super smooth. I have had no issues with the 4P, but I guess its popularity has increased the price point significantly. I'm also not aware of any improvements since the ruby sapphire cups which were rolled out in ~ 2018. So, is it because the arm is worth $10k or just the way things are going in today's economy or something else?
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- 16 posts total
@mijostyn : Sapphire? only ignorantas or extremely low knowledge " audiophiles " can go for it and the ones that already own are extremely happy with. No, it's not yet a perfect tonearm.
R. |
@mijostyn , please do report back. |
@mijostyn : That cartridge is heavy weigth and low compliance and can works with that Kuzma tonearm but other than theresonance frequency issue is that dynamic mass ( 75grs. ) that looks the cartridge suspension during that heavy tortuose LP grooves tracking and that comes not at " free " but through the time could be negative/degradation consequwences for that cartridge. The main issue for any cartridge and specially for tonearm designers is to give all facilities to the hard cartridge ridding work and such heavy way heavy tonearm effective mass can’t helps about.
The " problems " issue with that dynamic mass is not for 100-200 play hours and as a fact almost any cartridge can runs in any tonearm including that Kuzma and will sounds good because today and several cartridges in the past can’t sound bad. Why sapphire/ruby 70grs. instead a stiffer material and way better like boron? is out of my mind and Kuzma really does not gives a wide explanation. Boron is ideal material for a tonearm as is in top cartridges like your Lambda SL.
R. |
- 16 posts total