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Kleos Sibilance

Hello Folks,

I posted this in a Delos thread but I thought I'd better start it's own thread.

I have a new Kleos in a JMW 9 Signature on a Scoutmaster. I am getting sibilance on vocals beyond what I have heard with either a Shelter 501 II or a VPI Ortofon on the same table. My dealer put the Kleos on the wand I had the VPI cart on. I have gone to 1.8g and did not solve it and I have checked the alignment. I brought the rear of the arm down as well. It may be less pronounced but it is still there. Otherwise the Kleos is quite nice. It has 3 or 4 hours on it now. I do not hear misstracking on high level passages, just sibilance and sometimes some grunge on male vocals. It is not on all vocals but it is fairly common.
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tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
He mentioned the rega as it is pretty much a drop in and it is also widely accepted as a standard decent arm. He thought it might give me an idea on what is going on. I have the headshell weight and although it helped, the cartridge did not sound very good with it, to my ears at least. I have also tried the the antiskate and it did not sound as good as without. I have the Mint LP and my cartridge is definitely aligned as good as it will get. The frustrating thing is that it is sort of a teaser, the JMW tonearm allows me to get a taste of what the Benz is capable of, but will not allow the Benz to really shine. Does anyone know of a drop in replacement for the JMW 9. I am open to suggestions or is it just a matter of starting over.
robob's avatar
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robob OP
197 posts
 
"Does anyone know of a drop in replacement for the JMW 9. I am open to suggestions or is it just a matter of starting over."

There are none. VPI does not use any standard mounting hole. Like me, you must start over.

Sorry 'bout that,
Robert
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
so I have been told
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
Why doesn't VPI use a standard mounting? That I am curious of. Are they afraid their tonearm cannot compete with others?
markd51
763 posts
 
I wonder if the problems that are being experienced are rather simple, obvious ones, that something is somehow being overlooked?

Have any of you possibly tried the use of headphones, o eliminate the possibilities of acoustic interaction?
The Headphones should eliminate any such possibilities.

Yes, I suppose if the Rega is a drop in fit, one could perhaps try that route. And later sell a lesser rega, and go up the Rega ladder.

What about Damping the Arm with a Silicone damping Fluid? I haven't read anyone's comments about trying that?

I've never had the pleasure of trying Lyra Cartridges, but I have with Benz, and they seem to be versatile, and usable on a vast array of Arms.

I sort of find it hard to believe that the way this thread has gone so far, that the concensus seems to point to saying-claiming that all VPI JMW Tonearms are somehow inferior, inadequate and not up to the tasks of performing correctly with many world class MC Cartridges?

That it still could possibly be a lack of understanding-knowledge, and the ability to ptoperly set of these Arms?
Note that I am trying to stay in a neutral territory here, not wishing to ruffle anyone's feathers. Just some food for thought? Mark
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