Anyone try the replica B-60 Fidelity Research VTA?

Dear Lou:

IMHO, analog audio today is saddled by more than a few unjustified myths and misbeliefs. These unfounded beliefs are fettering the progess that audio engineers are able to make, and are also preventing audiophiles from extracting the full performance potential of the components that they pay good money for.

AFAICS, MC cartridge loading is one of the problematic areas. Allowing the old myths to continue unchallenged causes audiophiles to wrongly evaluate the cartridges that they listen to, in addition to holding back progress in phono stage design.

Dispelling the unfounded beliefs by provoking understanding of the fundamental mechanisms and issues will hopefully allow both audiophiles and audio design engineers to take some good steps forward.

BTW, that's a roundabout way of saying that I apologize - it was never my intent to beat up on you.

kind regards, jonathan

JCarr,
Not to worry. When I am corrected or my views are "modified" by an unimpeachable source, such as yourself, I take it as a learning experience. Furthermore, I am all for dispelling BS that prevails in this hobby.

Hi all, I got the new (bronze) screw from Tien the seller of
the B-60 replica. My assumption that this screw caused
my problem was right. No 'sideway' movement of the collar
of my FR-64 anymore. So I am glad to be able to recommend
the replica. For the price of $450 there is no contest and
I think that each owner of the FR 64/66 tonearms should
own one. Like Lew I think that this VTA adjuster is indispensable.

Regards,

Interesting thread! Am i the last one on the train ?

My B-60 replica has arrived last week, now FR-64s tonearm marathon is completed. In fact without the B-60 that 64s could not compete with 64fx, but with the B-60 i hope it will surpass the 64fx.

Now my Fidelity-Research FR-64s looks like a solid piece of engineering with that beautifully machined B-60 replica in mint condition.

While the original B-60 goes for insane price over 1300 euro, the replica looks amazing, it’s superheavy stainless steel base, love it. I’m so glad that i found it locally in my country (not in Asia) ! They are so rare these days. The seller, however, has bought it from Japan long time ago when it was released.

Anyway, what i just don’t understand is the price even for replica. One of the main reason is that my Lustre GST-801 toneam has its base with the same ability to adjust VTA on the fly quickly and easily, it’s just not so massive and may not solve some resonance issues as the B-60, but some huge stabilizer is easy to made to screw under the tonearm (if the VTA on the fly is already available with tonearm design like Lustre).

Well, you're not actually! I'm also looking for the B-60, but since I'm not prepared to pay the going price for an original, let alone the new price for the (identical) Ikeda version, this will probably remain so.

I even have a Micro AX-8G armbase specifically made for the B-60 just waiting to be put to work. So if you ever have another lead on one of those replica's, please drop me a line......