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TW Raven 10.5" Tonearm what cart are you using?

Hi, I would like owners or individules to chime in who have heard this arm and with what cart, what combo did they prefer and why?

My table is the TW Raven Black Knight, my plans are to have only two arms set-up on this table.

Arm 1. - REED 12", is currently set-up already paired up with a My Sonic Labs Ultimate BC cart and I'm lovin it.

Arm 2. - TW 10.5 arm which is actually already mounted but haven't decided which cart as of yet to pair up with it.

I do have a few on my SHORT list, see below in no order;

- Lyra Olympos
- Ortofon MC A90
- Transfiguration Orpheus L
- Dynavector XV-1T

My set-up consist of;

- TW Black Knight table placed on a custom made Minus K
- MBL 101E speakers
- VAC Sig. MK2a pre with phono built in
- VAC Statement 450 mono blocks
- Stealth Audio cables through out
dev
goldeneraguy
442 posts
 
Dev, you are right on.If you are auditioning a cartridge (or any other component for that matter)in a system that you are not familiar with it is extremely difficult(possibly impossible)to pin down which component is doing what.
You have put together a top tier system,I'm sure which ever cartridge you select will be the correct one for you.
dev's avatar
dev OP
832 posts
 
Goldeneraguy, auditioning new pces as we know is bad enough but doing such with carts personally is my least favorite due to what is involved.

So for now two are on my real short list because I have personally heard, Olympos and A90.

Mosin, thanks for your input but currently there are actually a couple brand new A90 for sale as I write this. You mentioned "it's not your cup of tea" did you happen to own one? if so what did you not like about it.

mosin
410 posts
 
I suppose my tastes run more toward the sound of the Lyra. The A90 seemed to be missing something, some expected detail maybe? Anyway, it is a choice of flavors, isn't it?
dev's avatar
dev OP
832 posts
 
Hi Mosin, I won't disagree for sure it's a choice of flavours for sure like everything related in audio.

No disagreeing, I really like the sound of Olympos also.

When I heard the A90 nothing negative jumped out, I preferred the sound over my XV-1s cart.

Using your analogy I would put it in your 2 - Dynavector XV-1T (lively and musical) more so than my XV-1s. Now that being said I have no long term or it actually being in my system so my end thought may change.
inna
7,923 posts
 
If I were operating within or around the budget you are I would consider having two table/arm/cartridge set-ups instead of just one turntable. As an alternative or in addition, I could experiment with different electronics too. One table and two arms/cartridges is never the best solution, as I see it. I would probably start by trying a few phono stages, something like Lamm, Allnic and Zanden.
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