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Clearaudio master reference vs Feickert Blackbird

You may look my system below. I am using a Dr. Feickert Blackbird Turntable with Kuzma Tonearms. Recently My dealer offered me a great bargain "Clearaudio Master Reference Turntable with a TT2 tangential tonearm". As expected, I opened a thread, wishing to hear about the user experience and opinions. Only Hansonaudio left a message, which I am thankful.

Master Reference is an old and very expensive model. It usually paired with tq1 souther tonearm(which had a lots of problems). My offered turntable paired with a tt2 tonearm(10k usd). It is nearly impossible to find user having the same combo, so trying to find a user opinion in audiogon/internet is only a wishfull thinking I guess.

Lately, there is review on audiobeat which compares Master Reference+Tq1 vs. Vpi 4 Classic(handle two tonearm). I think Vpi 4 is very similar to my turntable. I do not know if they are equal competitors, but they are having the same design principles. In this review, reviewer finds out vpi4 is better then Master Reference(nearly in every field). I emailed the reviewer about his findings, but i did not receive an answer. This review is the only opinion I can gather about this turntable.

So when my dealer brought the turntable to my home, I am not very optimistic about this TT+Tonearm. My dealer set up the tt and the tonearm with a Brinkmann cartridge(which he uses for demo). We both agreed that, this cartridge is not equal to Lyra Titani or Zyxx Universe 2 nor Ortofon Cadenza Red. First and the second cartridges are better, last one is worse then the Brinkmann. So just to warm up for this turntable, I started to listened,for a week. My turntable, with 4point+Lyra is far more better then the clearaudio+brinkmann combo. Clearaudio only has a darker background. On every other aspect, bass definition, holographic images etc. 4point+Lyra was king.

After a week I decided to change the cartridges, and mounting my 4point to clearaudio. We changed the cartridge. Lyra gone to tt2 tonearm. But sadly, we cannot mount the 4point, because we did not have the proper armbase(soon we will change)

So now I am trying Clearaudio Master Reference+TT2 tonearm+Lyra Titan. I may say it is very convincing. But I really like to see how 4point+titan react on each turntable, i think this comparison will really show the difference between two turntables. For, TT2 against 4 point, all I can say is Mr Kuzma did a great job with this tonearm(considering tt2 is 10k tonearm)

Generally my first impressions are right, and I ended up with them, but I do not want to rush about this decision. Because whether a good deal or not, I will pay a good amount for trade, and I really like to worth it, or I will not consider this offer.

I am planning to write how 4point+lyra reacts on both turntable. I did not find anything like this on net, so maybe my experience will be useful for another :)

Also I really like to hear your recomendations, about comparing or anything else......
altanpsx
altanpsx OP
70 posts
 
Dear Rauliruegas,

Actually i thought about mounting tt2 on blackbird, but i do not have a proper armboard, and it is impossible to gatjer in short notice.

i am thinking in the same way you are. Thats why i will give my final decision, after trying 4point+tintan i on each turntable. i think this is a fair comparison, which i think you agree.

Also you have a wonderfull system. i am sure it takes years to build it. i am quite sure i have tons of things to learn from you.

İ looked t your setup briefly, (i will dig later :) ), i did not see any tangential tonarm, is it an intended result or just a coincidence.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,103 posts
 
Dear Altanpsx: Everyday is an audio learning one for all of us. Thank's for your words.

Now, even that the tangential tonearms I owned or where I had first hand experiences makes somethings different way that pivoted ones there is a home sound reproduction where I don't find out yet a tangential tonearm that can beat or even the bass mangement of a good pivoted tonearm design.

Bass frequency range is the most critical ( and hard to have accurately and neutral. ) and important range to reproduce and IMHO is down there where music sound reproduction life lives, is the foundation of the home music reproduction.

If your audio system bass management is " right " then the other frequency ranges fine tunning is easy to achieve but if ithat bass magement is wrong then you have almost " nothing " of MUSIC but only just sounds.

Of course that pivoted tonearm are far away to be perfect but tangential ones are neither perfect too.

Trade-offs and choosed trade-offs in audio is the name of the game.

As better/higher as the each one audio learning process grow up as better the trade-offs we choose in favor of the MUSIC enjoyment.

Money always helps to build top audio systems but in reality what define how good an audio system performs is due to your knowledge level and skills to make the right choice on each audio system link trade-offs.

As lower our ignorance level as better decisions we can make/take.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
altanpsx OP
70 posts
 
i Looks like sme 30/2 will be on my rack next week to compare three tables, and choose one of it (wish not to choose). Most of recommended me to keep what i have, but tt2+lyra is doing a fantastic job, which i think can not be easily forget. i think i will be able to mount 4point on master reference this weekend, which will start the real competition. Next week Sme 30/2 will come probably with a sme tonearm(i probably dont have chance to mount 4point, if i may, it would be the best way to compare)c, i do not have any knowledge about the sme tonearm. Wait and see. Things getting interesting, i wish that my dealer had found a brinkmann bakance right now. İ was planning to change my tt in couple of years with brinkmann balance/kuzma 4xl, these tt comes up and i think changed everything. any sme 30/2 rec. Would be usefull..
bpwalsh
1,207 posts
 
Altanpsx, I was the first Kuzma dealer to set up a 4Point on an SME 30/2 for a customer. The customer had purchased a blank armboard from SME (they refuse to machine one for anything but their own arms, yet the blank armboard was $1200), which was sent to Kuzma for machining, the cost of which the customer covered. The result was very good, and the customer got what he wanted, including my flying to California to dial in the alignment as part of his purchase. Kuzma now makes armboards for mounting their arms on SME 'tables and charges less than half what SME does for a blank one.
altanpsx OP
70 posts
 
Essentialaudio thank's for this valuable intel. I had bought my Kuzma arms directly from Mr. Kuzma(because no distributor in my country). So it will be very easy for me to buy armboard. Again many thanks for the intel.

I was planning to buy kuzma 4xl or brinkmann balance, but my dealer brought me a good deal with clear audio master reference+tt2 tonearm, now he maybe offering me another good deal sme 30/2. I really like to hear your thoughts about these turntables. I am aware of your businness relations, but I trust your opinions, and I really think you are very objective about every product. If it is not unappropriate to comment here, I really wish to hear what you are thinking.
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