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Any opinions on a new arm for NAS Hyperspace?

I have been systematically upgrading my system over the past year and I have now got around to my TT.

I am quite happy with the Hyperspace but I think there may be some benefit in upgrading the tone arm and cartridge. I have a 3 year old carbon fiber Space Arm with a Lyra Argo.

I was thinking of just going ahead and upgrading to a new Ace Space arm (now with azimuth adjustment) and a Lyra Skala (trade-in my Argo makes this a bargain). I unfortunately would have to do this without preview as my local Nottingham/Lyra "dealer" is really not into analogue and when I last checked didn't have a working TT set up!

Has anyone heard the new Ace-Space arm (2006 version)? Would it be a worthwhile upgrade? I am also confusing myself as I'm thinking in the price range (less than $2000) there are a number of other options, viz Morch or second hand SME V. Should I even be looking beyond Nottingham as I understand the Ace-Space is a good arm designed to be synergistic with the Nottingham tables?

As far as a cartridge goes I am also considering a van der Hul Frog as an outside option. I am tending towards the Skala because of the good things I've heard about it. Any opinions on cartridge selection would also be appreciated.

The rest of my system is
Phono amp BAT P-10SE with Super Pac,
Pre-amp BAT 31SE
Amp 150 SE mono blocks
Speakers Dali MS-4
Cables are all Acoustic Zen.

Music is mostly modern jazz, folk , some 70's rock and a smidgen of classical.

My objective is to get more detail and focus. I always listen carefully for sound detail. It pleases me when I upgrade and new sounds are evident which were hidden before.

Thanks for your time,

Tom
motnic
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Good choice on the Moerch. Origin Lives are glorified Regas.
azh's avatar
azh
7 posts
 
With the danger of endlessly repeating the same advice (and being too late): I think that the mating between the arm and this cartridge might be more important than the actual quality of the arm. I only heard the Lyra Dorian, I love it. But I've heard and read that this cartridge is especially sensitive to good adjustment, and to matching with the arm. Is there a way that you could go somewhere were you could listen to different arms with your cartridge and table?

Best regards,
azh
motnic OP
23 posts
 
Hi Folks,

I finally made my choice on arm. I decided to go with the Morch DP-6 with a Red dot Precision armtube. Since finishing the set-up yesterday I have only listened to a few albums but I immediately hear an improvement in clarity and detail. Overall I liked the sound which is lighter and seems more nimble.

This was my first time at installing a tonearm and cartridge. It was fun but frustrating at times and took me the best part of yesterday to do it. I guess practice will make perfect.....

Now onto selecting a new cartridge. I have been told to be patient as there's a new Lyra Helikon on the way.....

Cheers,

Tom
audiotomb's avatar
audiotomb
1,112 posts
 
TOm

I am looking to go with a Moerch DP6 on a spacedeck

Did you get the 9" or 12' arm

I also have not set up a table before so am curious about your results,

thanks
motnic OP
23 posts
 
Audiotomb,

I went with a 9" red dot Precision arm. If you choose a ZYX or Transfiguration cartridge you will be better off with a blue dot.

I chose the 9" for 2 reasons. Namely the 12" required a new arm pod from Nottingham (extra expense) and second the 12" are not sold with the precision headshell. By the way you still have to buy a collet for the 9" arm to fit a Nottingham arm board.

I am happy with my installation (maybe in my case ignorance is bliss!!) Anyway I believe I eventually go it right and I found it was fairly easy using a Feickert protractor.

I got what I was aiming for with the DP-6 which is a lighter and cleaner sound compared to the Space-arm. Where I am a little disappointed is in the dynamics. I think maybe the dynamics will improve as the new Moerch cable burns in. Time will tell on this.

I am still using the Lyra Argo which is my next target for upgrade.

Hope this helps

Tom
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