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Cartridge and step up / riaa for TW Acustic Raven

Hi!

I hope you all are well :)

If everything gets together I will buy a TW Acustic Raven One with a Graham Phantom II in the new year. The next step is to buy a cartridge and phono amp.

My equipment consist of Wilson Sophias II, Burmester 032 integrated amp, Burmester 061 cd player, Nordost Tyr interconnects and speaker cables, Thor powerdistributor with Nordost Brahma powerlines. In addition to this I have a Revox B77 mk2 reel to reel player.

The Burmester sound is in many ways similar to McIntosh, but slightly more on the ying side. The sound is clear and open, with a wonderful mids. The treble is smooth and detailed. The bottom is dynamic and deep, but more running with the flow than with a slam. The bigger 911 mk3 amp is more detailed in the bottom. But the price level is different too.

So I have to combine a cartridge and phono amp to this. I play all kind of music, since I am both is a talent buyer for rock pop festivals and a consultant for the national arts council regarding music (all kinds). So I listen a lot to music through the week.

I like dynamic open detailed open sound, but I do not like it overly analytical if that means too much forward in its presentation.

I like the sound in my system at the moment. However, I have to do something with my listening room, but thats another story. Its an ongoing process as we know!

My budget at this point will be approx. USD 3,000 for the phono amp and USD 1,500 for the cartridge. Maybe step later on.

The dealer of TW Acustic has reccommended Koetsu and Air Tight.

Thanks for your help!

Cheeers, ToffenG

toffeng
david12
1,454 posts
 
The Raven and Phantom should be a wonderful combination. I use the Accustic Raven one with an Ortofon 309D. I have used 3 cartridges with it and with the One, you just seem to hear the essential charcter of the cartrige.
the first was a Zyx Airy 3, which was one of the most disappointing cartriges I have owned. Neutral, detailed yes, but lifeless and unenvolving. I know the line is popular, but it just was'nt for me.

Next was the Benz Micro LP. Now these are very expensive in the US, so understandably, not popular. Much cheaper in Europe, I bought mine for about $2100. It has all the neutrality of ther Zyx, but so much more life and dynamics. I could happily live with that forever, but...

I just love Koetsu's and I found a heavily used Onyx on E-bay for $850. If you ever want a cartridge rebuilt, go to the Expert Stylus company in the UK. They have been rebuilding pretty much any cartridge built for over 20 years. They check it over for £25 and a full rebuild, clean, cantilever reallignment, new stylus, cost £290. Now that Onyx just has the edge on the LP, but both are wonderful.

If you can get a cartridge rebuilt cheaply and reliably, I do'nt know why more people do'nt buy second hand, they are often so cheap, bacause buyers are wary of them. I know the koetsu is no longer a Koetsu, but who cares. I am listening to Chick Corea as I type and wondering what better would sound like.
robyatt's avatar
robyatt
55 posts
 
I import the Shilabe and for Bill Feil to say it is overpriced when he has never bought one seems a little like a man who carries many different lines, but is jealous he missed this one!!! (He carries 7 lines of phono cartridges. One line alone carries cartridges at $15K or more. I carry one unique and patented line, and $2800 doesn't seem so expensive when you have to pay $7500 for a middle of the road cartridge from one of his other lines, made in the same country of origin, do the math Bill?)
As for buying them back I bought one single used one as a project to track some grey market cartridges that appeared in the USA. They sell so well with very little marketing, but Stereophile class "A" ratings on the Shilabe and the Premium Mono, and rave reviews from 10 Audio, (who purchased his own directly from the manufacturer).
Please watch for a review in Enjoy the Music, and in TAS!!
So for a "yuk" cartridge in one year in the marketplace, it has garnered both critical acclaim from both reviewers, and purchasers!
BTW. Downunder, maybe you had the cartridge in the wrong tonearm with the wrong loading, oh no, sorry, your buddies owned it not even you!!! I have 60 customers this year alone that would disagree, with your comments.
toffeng OP
41 posts
 
Hi!

And then we have the Christmas question; which is best of Graham II or Triplanar? Ofcourse its a metter of taste, but its impossible to test out beforehand here in Norway. Versality and open dynamic neutral sound is the clue.

Cheeers and thanks for your help!

Toffen, Lillesand, Norway
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
I've heard your cartridge Robyatt.

One needs not buy one to hear one.

Comparing it to anything I sell is irrelevant as my opinion is just as valid as yours. Perhaps more so having heard hundreds of cartridges in over 50 years of the hobby/business.

So let me be clear. The Shilabe is overpriced IMO.

Thank you very much.
robyatt's avatar
robyatt
55 posts
 
OH, in your opinion, well that makes all the difference. Don't forget as you get older in life your hearing starts to decline, for some more, rapidly than others.
The total price of the Shilabe is less than half the EXTRA mark up on the ZYX Omega, that you carry and sell in North America. That is to name just one of the overpriced phono cartridges you carry.
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