Schroeder Reference Arm

After e-mailing Frank, and then talking with Joel, I’ve 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 won’t 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.

Dear Thom,
Sorry for taking the discussion in a slightly different direction,but could not resist.
You mentioned that the point[this concerns the screw that
passes through the slot at the end of the Schroder arms]
of looseness where the sound really harmonises, is on-off
with the no 2, and easier to find the sweet spot with the wooden arms,wood being softer.
Question is ,has any of your customers tried some type of washer maybe plastic or rubber on that screw to delete a metal to metal contact.
Finding the spot can be quite tricky sometimes days, after
any kind of adjustment to cartridge grometry.
Maybe Frank has some thoughts on this all important adjustment.
Thank you all.

None of my customers has reported trying to add another material interface between the cartridge carrier and the headshell on Schroeders. I think this is what you're referring to.

It's a simple thing to try if you're interested. The effects will be dramatic, and my guess is for the worse.

I've made changes as "minor" as replacing metal washers with nylon ones on a Tri-Planar, and the reproduction became blurred and uninvolving.

Ths washers were between the mounting screw head and the top of the headshell and NOT on the underside of the headshell (between cartridge and headshell).

Even with the cartridge still still mating up directly with the bottom of the headshell, the sound fell off dramatically, no matter how firmly I torqued the screws..

Frank has told me that the only disadvantage of the alloy headshell on the Model-2 (vs. the wood DPS & Reference) is that alloy construction makes it more difficult to find the torque sweet spot than with the wood headshell models.

Once you achieve the right torque, there's no difference between the alloy and wood headshells, according to Frank.

If I were going to try anything with a Model-2, I'd expereiment with thin pieces of hardwood, but I'd be prepared to try many different woods before coming to any conclusions.

One problem you'll face, will be in matching the screw length so that it engages with the carrier but does not protrude past the bottom of it - interfering with the cartridge mating to the carrier.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier