Best of the Gliders, or?

Hello Doug, To start out, I'd like to say thank you for responding, and also to thank you for your countless posts, and contributions to this group, which many I have read.

I've read numerous archived posts regarding many of the top highly regarded brands, such as Benz, Koetsu, Lyra, Dynavector, ZYX, etc.

I guess what I seek is not too different from what others do, when they wish to climb the Analog Ladder.

I'd like better retrieval from the LP's Grooves, and hopefully with it, a quieter, darker background. Things like better, more authorative bass, midrange magic, smooth, but extremely detailed highs, and a more holographic Soundstage-presentation.

While I have mentioned two earlier candidates in the Benz line (New Glider or the Wood Body right above it), I'm certainly not overlooking brands-models such as the Lyra Argo, and the Helikon.

I've read much good with the Argo-Helikon, and I'm sure either would be an impressive step up from my 1st version HO Glider.

The ML Stylus the Lyra possesses sounds like the way to go for these attributes-qualities I seek. My Sutherland PhD should be up to the task, and able to make good use of the increase in quality with one of these Lyras, as one of my good personal friends Thomas M. Back uses uses the Lyra Titan, and Clearaudio Master Reference with his Sutherland PhD.

The only one possible downside I see going to the Lyra (hopefully the Helikon) would be that I don't believe any Lyra Dealer takes Benz Cartridges in trade, so that would most likely mean selling my Glider perhaps here on Agon for a reasonable price, to help offset the cost of the new Cartridge.

I have no precise knowledge of hour's of use on my Glider, I'd probably have to "guess" 300-450 hour's of use, so it's probably not worn out just yet. Mark

Mark, I'd probably spring for a better tonearm first, since any serious cartridge upgrade will likely be limited by the PT-7 (which I think is a Jelco design). Since you already have a VPI, maybe you could add a JMW? I see that there are two JMW 10 versions available now on Audiogon in the 700-buck range, and there is a 12.6 advertised for 1100.

This will almost certainly give you improved sound from your Glider, and will also be a better platform for future cartridge upgrades. Moving to a better cartridge now will give you better sound, but the extent of the improvement will be limited by the PT-7, and that limitation will still be there when you want to make subsequent cartridge upgrades.

As long as you use a RCM and also are gentle when you lower the cartridge's cantilever onto the LP surface (and the anti-skate setting doesn't unduly bias the cantilever), your Glider should be good for at least 1500 ~ 2000 hours.

hth, jonathan carr

Second Jcarr. If you find yourself upgrading the cart though, for not much more than you're considering check out the new Transfiguration Axia although it would outclass your current rig and would only make sense if you were planning on an upgrade there as well. I don't think the Lyra would be the ticket for your stated desire for smoothness.

Dealer disclaimer.

I'm certainly not in disagreement with your assessments of the AQ Arm JCarr/PiedPiper.

While a very good "what I call entry level audiophile Arm", there's not much path for improvement for upgrades/tweaks with this Arm.

Why have I never heard/read about a Cardas-Incognito rewire to this arm? Is it because they stuffed the arm-wand like a freaking cannoli, and nobody can inside this arm to do the required Mods? This is the impression I get.

I'm limited to Arms, as I'm still using the 19-Jr MDF one piece Plinth. Linn, and a couple of others I understand will work for a quick, painless swap out. Trying to find a new Acrylic/Stainless Plinth, and Separate Armboard to be drilled for Arm of choice will not be an easy task I'm afraid. VPI has appeared to cease all support with this model.

I do understand that there are other very important qualities to an Arm besides just wiring. There's certainly no comparison of an AQ PT Arm, to a TOTL Graham, or SME.

Yes, in a ridiculous, insane sense, one could mount a $4500 Lyra Titan to a $44 Plastic Garrard Table, but as we all know, the Lyra would suffer a very horrible existence on such a Table.

I'd actually like keeping my 19 Turntable. It's got soul, and personality, even though it's meager to much that's out there now. How I wish years ago, I would've at least sprung for the VPI Aries, which was within my budget then, but I flinched. Is it too late? lol Mark

never too late...