Tranfiguration Orpheus description

Thom, I'll raise you 20 and call it 100, but basically I think you're correct. Whether it's 80, 100, or 125 really depends on the cartridge's suspension material, the ambient temperature, and the VTF.

Speaking of VTF, I now recommend breaking in cartridges at about 10% more than their max. rated VTF (up to 100 hours or so) By doing this you won't hurt anything but you gain two things: First, the break-in may take a bit less time (which doesn't really matter a lot -- you're going to play records anyway ;--) but second, and much more important, is that if you want to finally run your cart at max VTF (which a lot of folks are beginning to think sounds/tracks best with MCs) then by overflexing the suspension just a wee bit in the beginning, you can be sure that it will be operating at its rated compliance, even at max VTF.

As for your second statement:

"I have never experienced a cartridge that didn't show its nature after 10 and wasn't stable (meaning substantially broken in) after 25."

I just can't agree with that. In fact, my experience has been the opposite, i.e. I've always been "dissappointed" with my (new) cartridges until right around 50 hours when they begin to change just enough that I realize they're not always going to sound like shreiking banshees!

All this could change (i.e. maybe NO break-in period) if/when better(?) suspension materials come along -- already, Transfiguration advertises that their new suspension material is impervious to changes in temperature and humidity.
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I think this thread (specifically comparisons of the Orpheus to the universe)has gone awry.

From my listening the actual sonic differences between these two cartridges were much smaller than what people are perceiving from the comments made by Doug. I think their use of phrases like "virtually unable" and "flawed" are a little unjustified in absolute terms. These comments should really be taken in context to the Universe, which was properly set up....and has a reputation to uphold (sorry doug, couldn't resist:).

As Doug confessed, we did not have much time to fully optimize the O's settings. After the experiment, I evaluated the sensitivity of the VTA/SRA and found that I could produce bomminess in the bass with HF and LF smearing when the SRA was too low. Increasing the arm height in my system above the levels we used in Doug's resolved this.

This comparison was flawed in several respects all of which Doug and I mentioned above, and as I said before, I'm a little embarassed for perfroming such an experiment which has led to unnecessary controversy. I think you will see positive press on the Orpheus as more and more reviewers get a chance to hear it. People reading this thread should not assume the Orpheus is a poor design or poor performer.

Andrew

Dear Thom: Yes, any cartridge show its nature after 10: it is a shadow but it is part of its nature.

The essential character after 80-100?, yes ( too ).

There are cartridges, like my Colibri, that take a lot more time to really know their " secrets ".

Anyway, in my case I take a little more time because I'm testing the cartridge with different tonearms and this is very time consuming.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul this is a little bit off-thread, but it's my thread, so what the hell?!

But I've been wondering: you try many many tonearm-and-cartridge combinations. So how do you remember from one to another so you can decide what you liked best? Do you make written notes? (I assume yes?) And what do you put in the notes (what qualities do you make notes about?)
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All,

I've received private comments from all over the map regarding my break in comments and should have known better than to bring this topic up in the final days before an audio show.

After the Audiofest I'd be very interested in starting up a new thread - with a "proper" title for archival purposes and quick searches ... something like "What's the average break-in time for a cartridge?"

Apart from a customer's willingness to put up with excessive break-in time, I think a manufacturer is behaving against his best interests by releasing a product with such extreme usage requirements.

That an otherwise fine cartridge like a Van denHul requires numerous trips across the ocean for "checkups" until it reaches adolescence is something that I find intolerable. Others may differ. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choices. If you are so smitten by its virtues, be my guest and pay the freight.

The problem with such products is that there are very few people who are dedicated enough to pursue this on an ongoing basis and this hurts the manufacturer in several ways:

(1) many people will give up on the product "prematurely" and it will get a bad name
(2) extreme enthusiasts may pursue what is necessary, but they will be viewed from afar like cult members who drank the Kool-Aid.

This latter point begins by hurting the manufacturer, but ultimately hurts the consumer because the industry as a whole becomes marginalized even more than it currently is . As fewer people are drawn into it, the industry contracts and there are fewer choices for the enthusiast. A vicious cycle perpetuates itself.

Lynn Olson and I were discussing active amplification. Lynn commented that this is the last step you take before you quit audio. Once you pass through that door, you seldom return. I've known several such audio burnouts who checked out of audio after such extreme behavior. Their last step before exiting? Tri-amped systems with active crossovers.

I received a pair of speakers last year which had a claimed break-in time of 400 hours - not for a complete break-in mind you, but merely to wipe the sleep from their eyes. Well, I faithfully found a spot to run them in - 24x7 for some two and a half weeks.

How many customers do we really think will do this before casting "premature" judgment on a product. I don't consider this to be premature, and hence the quotes around the word. To me, such a characteristic is a fatal flaw in a commercial product. Black Gate capacitors? Keep them too. It's in the manufacturer's own best interest to release a product that the customer can experience before they grow old and die.

If you purchased a Porsche, would you expect to have to wait 20,000 miles before you could enjoy it?

As much as I love leading edge audio, one has to have just a faint bit of practicality about it. At some point, we want to kick back and listen to tunes - n'est ce pas?

Regarding this tracking of an XV-1s at 2.5 grams ... please, please ... return to your setup parameters and don't bury your errors in excessive tracking force.

The XV-1s is an absolutely wonderful cartridge (on a Triplanar) at 1.87 to 1.89 grams. I'll give ya another .1 gram out of the kindness of my heart ... allowing for sample to sample consistency but at the same time having set up 4 samples which fall within a very tight cluster of .03 grams. .

Those of you who are coming to the Audiofest are invited to hear an XV-1s tracking at 1.87 grams. Tell me it isn't the best tracking MC you've ever heard. Maybe I'm not giving my turntables enough credit for this? Dunno ... The Universe for the record will track in the 1.93 ballpark.

Until after the 'Fest.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier