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Triplanar VII tonearm & Koetsu Jade Platinum cart.

Hi all

I have the above combo on my Kuzma Stabi Reference. To me, the combo sounds great; and so would like to hear from others who has the same combo, and what their opinion is on this combo.

Secondly, would also like some tips on how to fine-tune the installation of the Koetsu using Triplanar's many features

Looking forward to your opinions and help

Cheers ... Peter
analogheaven
lewm
13,534 posts
 
I must interject that I own a Wheaton Triplanar with a Koetsu Urushi. I tried implementing some of Doug's suggestions. I did not remove the anti-skate weight entirely, but I mounted it as close as possible to the shaft, so that it exerted minimal AS force. I also unscrewed the paddle in the damping trough to the point where it was not making contact with the fluid. These two adjustments had a net negative effect. Overall, the sound was hardened and "peaky", and there was perceptible break-up in the right channel. Adding AS force and re-adjusting the damping paddle eliminated these problems and brought back the sublime sound of this combo in my system. I assumed that Doug's findings simply do not apply to the Wheaton cum Koetsu combination. YMMV and all that.
maxson
84 posts
 
Interesting that JerryS just posted a review saying this wasn't all that great a combo.

10audio review
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I wouldn't intentionally pair a TriPlanar and a Koetsu myself. I've heard both components sound better with other partners. The TriPlanar is better suited to more compliant cartridges, Koetsus do better with higher mass arms.

Therefore, some of the tips on that thread will apply and some won't. As Lewm discovered, a Koetsu does not track well enough on this arm to implement the low antiskating force that works so well with ZYX, Lyra and other medium compliance cartridges. The fact that he needs the damping fluid to control HF's is another indicator of a less than optimal match. No one using more compatible cartridges like the ones just mentioned needs or even likes the damping fluid, AFAIK. Most of us have removed our damping fluid troughs altogether, to good effect.

For those who already have a TriPlanar and Koetsu, I would suggest trying to increase the arm's effective mass. Headshell weights and/or lighter counterweights located farther from the pivot might help the combination work better.

Doug
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
I wouldn't pay too much attention to 10audio.
dgad
782 posts
 
I had the Jade in 3 different arms. Suffice it to say it is a very low compliance cartridge. You have not heard a Jade until you hear it in a high mass (over 28 gm) arm. This brings the bass and treble into focus and gets the Resonant frequency outside of the audio band and actually to an ideal 11 Hz (using the HF test lp). In my system it performed wonderfully in an Ikeda 407. A high mass 12 inch arm. I would suggest any of the variants is ideal. You can also add mass to the arm as suggested.
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