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Ideal TT & Arm for the following top cartridges...

Koetsu RS Platinum
Van Den Hul Colibri XGW
Miyabi/47 Labs
Allaerts MC2 Finish

So the search is on. I agree with a colleague's comment that although it is convenient for AB'ing cartridges, my VPI extended Aries (ver. 1, no flywheel, no SDS) with a 12.6 bearing assembly and JMW 12.5 and two 12.6 armwands does not fully show the potential of these cartridges. Certainly I can upgrade to the Aries 3 and add the flywheel and SDS or step up to the TNT line, but considering the performance level of these cartirdges, I do not want to overlook something else.

The Allaerts is enroute so I cannot comment on it yet. But I really like the RSP and Miyabi (the RSP being more refined overall) vs. the VDH for now. It could be a loading issue (now at 250 Ohms) but the VDH, although fast, transparent, detailed and dimensional, it is also lean and uninvolving (I hear the VDH platinum option can address this).

So I would appreciate your recommendations on a TT and Arm combo in the $5k-10k range as used/demo demo pieces that are capable of showcasing the performance potential of these fine cartridges. Feel free to make a single recommendation (arm or TT only) or synergistic combination.

The rest of the system includes the Ear 88pb phono stage, a modded Electron Images MCP-1 and trying a friend's Whest PS 2.0 for kicks (a Wavestream Kinetics phonostage is coming), Bent TX103 step up as needed, First Sound Paramount Mk II pre, Dehavilland Aries 845G monoblocks (NOS tubed), highly modded Coincident Milleniums.

TIA & best regards!
ctm_cra
sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
Ctm_cra,You clearly know alot more than you let on!!

You might want to consider buying a used Audio Research Phono stage,for a fairly low cost,and having a reputable "modifier" like Great Norther Sound,give it a significant facelift.They mod many lines,btw!Both I,and my friend had our older units completely rebuilt,a couple of years ago.INCREDIBLE results!!!Steve Huntley(the owner)does absolutely amazing work.I have never seen any manufacturer/or modder pay the attention to detail,that he does.

I know this may seem like like I'm going a bit over the top,but they work on a ton of tubed designs,turning them to "gold".It wouldn't hurt to take a look at their website.You may be able to get what you want,for less dough!

Raul,you are way off base in thinking everything has to be gone over(in the system chain)to be able to identify whether something is "sounding good"!Are you implying that when I swapped out some NOS phono tubes,for a better sounding set,that it is unclear to ascertain the reason for improvement?Or a cartridge change,or arm,or amp,etc!
I hope I misunderstood you!

Best!
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,050 posts
 
Dear Norm: +++++ " . Feel free to recommend either here or offline your top choices of DC coupled phonostages in the $4-7k range. " +++++

This is what you told me in this thread: I'm sorry to disturb you about, I'm only trying to help " someone " with a very high targets ( real music ), that's all. Maybe there was a misunderstood by me.

Btw, I already give you my experiences with your cartridges ( that I own, too ) and in which tonearms.

+++++ " but the VDH, although fast, transparent, detailed and dimensional, it is also lean and uninvolving... "+++++

This tell me that something is really wrong in your system or in the set-up of the Colibri: my experience with it tell me that in no way is a " lean and uninvolving " cartridge. Plkease take a " look " to this thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1132299685&read&3&4&

There is something important about the Colibri: Dr. Van denHul recomended that after 250-300 hours we have to send the cartridge to him for he makes the " final touch ", when the Colibri return it was amazing ( he do this for free, you only do a payment for the shipping ).

Sirspeedy, oviously is a misunderstood, please re-read carefully and off-line we could talk about for not following disturbing Norm.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
ctm_cra OP
86 posts
 
Rauliruegas - Thanks for the VDH info.

Dear owners Koetsu RS Platinum, Van Den Hul Colibri (XGW or otherwise), Miyabi/47 Labs and Allaerts MC2 Finish - Please share your tonearm preferences and what you found to be most synergistic with your fine cartridges. Many thanks.
ctm_cra OP
86 posts
 
sirspeedy70680 - Thanks for the tip on the AR and Steve Huntley and Great Northern Sound. A colleague has used them and is very happy with their expertise and the results. Best regards!
ctm_cra OP
86 posts
 
Dear Vetterone - We recently revisited the question of the sonic characteristics of the Phantom vs. the Brinkman arms. If you recall last time we compared the Brinkman arm/cartridge combo vs the Phantom/90x on the La Grange. This time we used two cartridges - the Dyna XV-1S and the Shelter 90X, evaluating them one at a time mounting/aligning each one on both arms on the fabulous Brinkman tt.

Consistent with our suspicions that began when we first visited this topic, it was unanimous among the members of our local audio club who were present that the Brinkman arm tends to be more analytical and tonally thinner than the Phantom, at least across these two cartridges. The owner was so convinced that he ended up selling his Brinkman arm to fund his next tonearm to audition (a Morsiani, Helius, Da Vinci, Pluto or Tri-Planar). Interestingly, he is bypassing the Schroeder as he feels the TP can at least equal its performance.
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