Schroeder Reference Arm
Here is a Kuzma 4point review in PDF from Hi-Fi Plus. Excellent pictures. It's an ingenious design with with 2 points for the vertical bearing, another 2 points for horizontal bearing. Fluid damping for both directions. Extremely small contact area (like a unipivot) and very stable (unlike a unipivot) and long armtube (smaller tracking error) with standard mounting distance (easy installation). And pivot point at record level (good for warped records). Pretty neat, I say! Never heard the sound but would love to hear it. ____ |
After e-mailing Frank, and then talking with Joel, Ive come to the conclusion that we're not going to agree on a single cartridge for both arms, and frankly (pun intended) I think this is how it should be. I would argue to let each designer "dance with the one who brung you" (as in choosing their own cartridge). If there's time (which I doubt), we can do a reverso swap, for a total of 4 setups. If you think about it, 4 setups in 3 hours means a total time of 45 minutes per cartridge, including mounting and setup. That's not a whole lot of time. With the Stelvio II being in dual arm mode, once the two arms were set up, all we'd be doing would be plugging and unplugging arm cables, and perhaps changing cartridge loading. Note that Joel and Frank have just begun their dialog, so I may be wrong about this, but I have proposed to them that they each pick a cartridge they like, and be done with trying to do the impossible, which is to attempt a controlled experiment. Read this forum long enough (especially Raul's posts), and you'll find magical synergies in certain arm/cartridge combinations. Now, both the Schroeder and Talea bring out the best in a wide range of cartridges, and in this regard, they are very flexible a Talea wont sound bad with a cartridge Frank chooses, and the same applies to a Schroeder with a cartridge that Joel chooses. I think it would be misguided however to try to settle on a single cartridge, because it would enforce the mentality of a shoot-out, and you know how misguided I think such an approach is. We would be lending credibility to such an approach. This is about having a fun evening, meeting some great individuals, and walking away with the understanding that we have listened to two amazing tonearms which are more alike than they are different. I am honored to be chosen for these festivities, and rest assured, that the Stelvio II will be up to the task. Cheers, Thom @ Galibier |
Thom, your last paragraph hits right on the point. Next to meeting and talking with everyone, I'm hoping to hear some new cartridges for myself in a more relaxed, informal setting. Like the A90, for instance. I'd almost vote to not hear a ZYX, Dynavector, or Lyra. Not that these aren't excellent cartridges, but I've heard them all before. Completely selfish motive on my part. :-) I'm sure you'll have some outstanding electronics in the mix. |
Dear Hiho, I have had the Kuzma 4Point and sold it last autumn. It really is well executed and have some strong design points going with it. From it's outlook it may not appeal to all, but in many ways it is a form-follows-function- as well as a true no-nonsense-design. However it is lacking the kind of internet-following and support enjoyed by so many other tonearms today. Guess it is just a bit to little voodoo and hype around this Kuzma product. Too much down-to-earth and down-to-physics. As for it's sound - very relaxed, smooth and with a very wide and expanded soundstage. For my taste just to little "bite" and dynamic slam (but then I miss that all to often ...) and a touch too relaxed in the sonic performance. This may be credited to the damping fluid(s) and is certainly not a feature of its geometry nor technical execution. In summary a tonearm I would strongly consider today if I were looking for a pivot tonearm suitable to most of today's top-flight cartridges. |
