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Miyajima Shilabe with Shindo preamp ?

I recently purchased a Shilabe, and want to get it up and playing soon. I have already spoken with the importer, and have received a few ideas from others. First priority is to play it with my Shindo preamp, and see how well it does. I have two TT setups, a WT Amadeus, and Basis 2500/Vector 3 arm. It was suggested that the latter would be the logical choice to simply try the cartridge. I may start another thread for other tonearm suggestions, but would still appreciate any opinions . The Thomas Schick, SME M2-12R, and Ortofon RS-309D are all considerations. Would like to keep tonearms in the $1800-$2500 range.
fjn04
wrm57
1,054 posts
 
Perhaps I should wait for your tonearm thread but I'll interject here. I just bought a Kansui. I haven't mounted it yet but probably will this week. I'll try it first in my Clearaudio Universal and eventually in my other arms, including an SME M2-12R. I'm a big fan of the SME, although I've only used it for SPUs so far. If you buy one, consider picking up an aftermarket headshell or two because the stock SME isn't slotted, which makes cartridge alignment a little trickier if you use an arc protractor like a MintLP. FWIW, I considered the Ortofon but it has an odd geometry and the Schick but it doesn't allow bias adjustment. Some don't care about bias but I do. And the thumbwheel VTA adjuster on the SME is very useful. It's a very good-sounding arm and easy to use.
restock
831 posts
 
I'm a freak for analog cellos, violins, sopranos and mezzos.

Best cello I heard from any cartridge is using an Allaerts cartridge. The MC1B already has an amazing presence, richness, and scale when playing cello. I run mine with the A23 step-up into a Shindo Monbrison.

As for the Shilabe, I would consider a Schroeder as well, even it takes some finetuning skills.
fjn04 OP
1,561 posts
 
Thanks for all your opinions so far. I really do have to try the Shilabe on the Vector 3, although I have no reason to think the combo will have good synergy. The SME M2 12-R or the Schick would both seem like great choices to maximize the potential of the Shilabe. The only TT I have thought about so far is a Girard 301/401. Are there any opinions on which TT may be best w/ either of these 12" arms. So much for keeping the cart ahead of the horse.
wrm57
1,054 posts
 
My M2-12R is on a Nantais Reference Lenco. It plays well with idlers.
fjn04 OP
1,561 posts
 
Restock - I appreciate the suggestion on the Schroeder. I have heard it takes very good setup skills, in that it's not a set it and forget it arm. I did get most of the way through mounting the Shilabe on the Vector last night, but then I got a bit lazy, and listened to my other TT....
I just have to play with VTA and overhang/alignment a little more. I will set the VTF between 2.5-3.2, which is the recommended tracking weight. Wrm57- definitely good advice on the removable headshell. It was no fun mounting it on the vector, with the screw running from bottom to top, and then affixing the nut on top. I suppose it would have been even worse if the nut actually affixed to the bottom. Well, all set there except for the overhand adjustment.
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