ZYX Universe and Lyra Titan

Hi Paul,
why does Schroeder everytime someone post that the
system with his Tonearm sound awfull, he replies
that this is due to the setup, or mismatch of other
components in the system or the room etc....
As with other Tonearm, there are less responce from
the designer.
This gives me as a potential buyer an unsatisfied view
of the Schroeder Tonearm, as I am not willing to modify
the setting each time I hear an LP.

Regards KHA

Hi Kha

I think Mr.Schroeder likes to "watch from the sideline" about what others are writing about the arm he makes because he knows them best. Like a parent looking out for his kids.

I was not at the show but having spoken the Mr.Schroeder he did the setup of his arm and Chris as a dealer and owner is probably more than capable of doing a adequate setup. WHen you are put in a show setting like that, with your doors open to the public "have to run what you brung". So I would attribute it to something else in the room, but a public forum like this I will not repeat what was thought to be wrong with the sound of that room.

I know someone who has is using a Schroeder Ref one and he cannot say enough good things about the sound it produces. It is not like any other pivoted arm he uses, but some may not like it and will be more than willing to state it a public forum like this.

Pcosta
Are you referring to the recent RMAF show at Denver?

If yes, I would agree that the setup was err... "less than ideal".

I did get a chance to listen to the Titan/VPI in another room demoing the Audiospace amps driving Harbeths and I was truely impressed by what I heard, certainly one of the better analog setups.

Kha, these comments about the Schroeder/Teres sound at RMAF are foolish at best, or possibly borne of the desire to trash a great product purely out of malice.

The electronics in the room where mid-fi at best, and the speakers were unimpressive. Based on these facts, how can you determine that the arm and cartridge were to blame.

I will concur that the sound in that room was not real good, but to place the blame on the best two componants makes the reader question the wisdom of the writer, or perhaps their absolute intelligence!?!

Hello Paul, dear KHA,
KHA, all I try to do is offer advice to (potential)customers on how to get the best out of what I consider a serious investment. If someone doesn't like what he hears even after perfecting his setup, then so be it. Other parents have beautiful children too...
Paul, I didn't setup the table in the room for which Chris Brady had provided his turntable as the analog frontend. Any attempt to improve upon the sound by readjusting the arm would have meant compensating for other flaws. This isn't meant to be an excuse, but as you said, if a hitchhiker gets a free ride, he can hardly complain about the poor suspension on that car(particularly if he's never met the driver). What I'd like to do is bring an entire system to the show, but this is rather impossible(distance, cost...).
Back to the original topic:
I did compare the Universe(copper coils, 2.4mV) with the Titan i for an extended period this summer.
The Universe has a very coherent and more "fleshed out" midrange(very seductive!), the highs appear to be ever so slightly rolled off, the low bass is a smidgeon soft, but extremely natural sounding(yes, this sounds like a contradiction...). It means, that the leading edge is slower than on the Titan, but the harmonic envelope, the "bloom" of, say, a bowed double bass comes a cross as less "hifi", more like the real thing.
The soundstage is vast(very deep too, when called for), imaging very "3D". Mid and high frequency detail rendering is exceptional, but not of the "in your face" type.
The Titan has a more "matter of fact" sound, very revealing, seemingly limitless extension at the frequency extremes. It's perceived speed and punch could be attributed to the "louder" highs and/or the leaner(some will call it more neutral) lower midrange. The soundstage is very wide and images within are "bold", with the images reaching not quite as far back as with the Universe(still very,very good).
My take on this is that the Titan i will appeal more to the engineer and the Universe more to the poet. They both serve the music equally well, only in different ways...
Impressions valid on my system only, ymmv off course.

Cheerio,

Frank Schröder