TW-Acustic Arm

Hi Downunder,
it sure was obvious - wasn't it?
How could I missed that one - it was handed on a plate.
But seriously - I am quite happy that finally he and me came to some terms and share at least a small common ground and point of view.

The Munich HE show report.... ?
Most feedback from Munich HIgh-End show made favorite mention of the Korean Audiophile displaying - and playing - 1940ies small Western Electric theatre short horns with Allnic amplification (as far as I remember it was Allnic ...).
Since large picture horn systems are terra incognita for most German audiophiles not into vintage theatre sound, this did not fail to make a huge impression on a large portion of the visitors.
A very different )if vintage...) sound which stand out and away from the "crowd" for various reason.
Besides that - hardly anything new to mention. Manuel Huber showed off his Thales and Simplicity tonearms at Brinkmann's and TW of TW brought the white (?) labeled black bird to Munich. They all had their fans and admirers dropping in and out, - well, business as usual.
On the whole scale there was less novelties compared to last year and the side show at the Meridien Hotel in the city centre was a logistic declaration of bankrupt (it wasn't great last year at Fleming's either, but pure gold compared to 2010...).
Soundwise nothing really deserved to be mentioned - blame it to show room conditions, lack of interest, lack of abilities - pick either and you can not go wrong.
In most cases a mixture of all.
So - all in all, kind of disappointing.
With European regulations seriously nipping (snapping.... with brute jaws!) at High-end's heels I really wonder what we will see in 2011.
But the weather was fine the last 2 days .....

Over many decades of listening to vinyl, I've never heard a cartridge that changed so significantly that my opinion went from poor to great.

And vice versa.

IMO, a cartridge's sonic character/personality is very apparent during the first few hours. Sure, there are some refinement and evolution but never a night/day difference in my experience.

YMMV

Audiofeil, agreed. Leopards won't change there spots - no matter how long you expose them to bright sun-light. We have no ugly duck to white majestic swan metamorphosis in high-end cartridges.
Then there are even a few cartridges out there ( mostly from former Pro Audio origin ) which do not need any break-in at all (which in Pro Audio would be a no-go anyway...) and perform their best right from the start.

Audiofeil,

I have had your experience as well. Waiting for a cartridge to break in and never opening up.

Dertonarm,

I should say a new page has turned and for once we agree. But lets agree that when we disagree it should be as gentlemen with kind words for each other and each others biases.

On to the Titan i revised...if it can be one a combination of 3 things I would be so pleased. The detail and soundstage width of the Skala, the dynamics of the Titan but even more, and the magic of the Olympus all combined with a perfect window to the truth. I have a feeling the new version will reach 2 of these 3 and for that I am waiting.

>>05-10-10: Dgad
Audiofeil,
I have had your experience as well. Waiting for a cartridge to break in and never opening up.<<

Well thanks but that wasn't my point. What I meant to convey is a cartridge's sonic character does not change appreciably over time.

Many become a tad more polished or refined but I can't think of a single cartridge I've owned in the past 50 years that has undergone a personality transplant after 25, 50, or 100 hours.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.