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Headshell leads and Arche headshell

I just received my Arche headshell. Definitely the best looking headshell that I have ever seen. I have been trying a couple of headshells, Phasetech and Ikeda with my Air Tight and FR64s and I did not like the result all that much in comparison to Reed. However, today, Air Tight with Arche headshell and FR66s sounds very very promising.
However, one problem that I have is headshell leads.
I have Oyaide, Ortofon and Ikeda silver leads that are all quite thick and stiff. I think the lead pins on Arche headshell may be a bit thicker than usual and it was really difficult to insert the headshell leads properly and I broke a few leads in the process :( Took me about an hour to finally fit all 4 leads then I found a new problem. The thick silver leads put enough force on the cartridge and kept pushing down the mounting plate essentially affecting SRA angle. As I understand it, the screw on Arche headshell can push down mounting plate for more SRA but there is no mechanism to fasten the mounting plate tightly against the headshell.
Finally I gave up on using those thick silver leads and just using Sumiko coppper leads for now which is so light and flexible that it virtually exerts no pressure to the mounting plate. Now the Air Tight/Arche/FR66s sounds great but I am wondering if there is any good silver leads that are flexible that would not cause any problem with Arche headshell?
suteetat
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
There are Van den Hul and Clearaudio headshell-leads which
are pretty 'thin'. For those who are good in soldering there should be no problem at all. The tags or clips in different quality can be bought on ebay. The added advantage of Arche to me are those inserts on which one can preadjust other carts and also the fact that one need just one set of headshell wire. Anyone else with more inserts than one?
suteetat OP
435 posts
 
I only have one insert so far but will get 2nd Arche for my FR64s for sure though.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Daniel informed me to be aware of the problem. Suteetat should contact him if he needs a direct solution. From July on the appropriate headshell wire will be available. With the same silver litz wire as used in the Axiom and some, strange to me tags ('titanium pincers'?). I asked for more info about those. I myself use the Clearadio tags for the headshell side and Cardas clips with springs for the cart (connectors) side. I ever shortened one of my silver litz phono-cable, bought an professional soldering iron before that and make my own. However my 'gold mine' of silver litz wire is pretty deplited.

suteetat OP
435 posts
 
My problem is solved for now with Acrolink headshell leads.
If Daniel's silver litz wire is also very compliant, it would interesting to try.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
The 'titanium pincers' are the 'medical tweezers' which Daniel recommends for use by handling the wire clips. Those are anti-magnetic , have a firm grip and will not damage the gold plating on the clips. Because of the context I thought that he dicovered some new kind of clips. I asked him to explain those 'pincers' in German to me. His headshell wire which are the same as in the Axiom tonearm are very flexible according to him. I am as curious about them as Suteetat is. One other explanation is about those small screws with which the inserts are fastened in the Arche headshell frame. Those screws have small steel balls on their 'nose' and can hold the inserts very firm in its place while allowing for the SRA 'rotation' at the same time. I need to add that behind those balls in the 'nose' of the screws there are springs which provide the needed tension.
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