New Cart for LP12 Akito

Posted by: Joakim Juhl on 02 October 2015

Its been a while since I posted last. My olde linn k18 cartridge is still 'working' but my feeling is that there is better to be had from a new cart... 

 

My setup is LP12 1989 spec with Akito arm and an Armageddon'ish PS. The arm seems to still be working fine and I don't have the funds yet to change it for something spectacular like an Aro. The question for which I could benefit greatly from the endless collective experience of this forum is what cartridge I should go for?

 

-I was thinking of either getting an Ortofon 2M Bronze or their Quintet Bronze, but then I remembered that I have an old worn down Troika lying around. It seems that there are many happy clients of Expert Stylus which made me wonder whether I should rather spend my money on rebuilding the Troika to best possible specs.

 

Any advice would be highly valuable! 

Thanks

Posted on: 04 October 2015 by Joakim Juhl
Originally Posted by Fugl:

I'm using Adikt on my LP12/Akito. It sounds great. I haven't heard anything else though ;-) I had my LP12 serviced at Hi-Fi Forum on Falconér Allé in Copenhagen. They did a really good job.

 

Thanks Fugl.

I known Hi-Fi Forum very well -although mostly in context of its previous staff and owner. Good place! Wether I take the LP12 there or on of the other few good places it probably end up in the hands of the same guy who knows his way around the LP12 :-) The other LPs that I know have all seen him -and to very good effect!

Posted on: 04 October 2015 by Joakim Juhl
Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Joakim,

 

The AT95E is a great little cartridge for little or no money.  The problem with the AT95E is that it only really begins to perform minor miracles when it's mated to something like an Ittok or Ekos.  Such a combination asks many questions of running a more expensive cartridge in a cheaper arm.

Thanks for the advice Richard.

Is that b/c of their added mass and stiffness keeping the cart in place to work its wonders -another way of saying compliance/mass incompatibility?

I'll have to see how it pans out -despite odds being against it. In any case it should show me how overdue my k18 is... I would love to replace the Akito for something better but prices and availability of proper Ittocks and Ekos are not helping! Recommendations for alternatives would of course be highly appreciated!

 

Thanks! 

Posted on: 04 October 2015 by Joakim Juhl
Originally Posted by Wat:

Wat, the best turntable I have heard was actually equipped with an Ortofon Kontrapunkt B on an Aro arm in a newly services LP12 run on a Naim Armageddon. There was a kind of synergy that just made you want to keep putting on record after record... 

 

Curious ... I tried a Michel Orbe/SME with one and didn't like it all. Replaced it with DV20XL and the music came back. When I decided I preferred the LP12 package I didn't consider an Ortofon based on that experience. Perhaps I misjudged it, 

 

Best TT I have heard is SteveJ's LP12 with Linn Kandid cartridge - wonderful. 

 

All the best, Wat 

I am really no expert but I definitely liked how it mated with the Aro on an LP12. I have the feeling that an Aro on an LP12 is a very different thing than the better Linn arms. With the Kontra B it performed with brilliant flow and detail...

 

cheers 

Posted on: 04 October 2015 by b_lund
Originally Posted by Joakim Juhl:
Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Joakim,

 

I would love to replace the Akito for something better but prices and availability of proper Ittocks and Ekos are not helping! Recommendations for alternatives would of course be highly appreciated!

 

Thanks! 

No need to purchase a complete AT95 as you have the K18, just a replacement stylus of some sort

 

An Aro on the cheapskate (and a much better arm than Akito mk1) is the Roksan Nima

Posted on: 04 October 2015 by Joakim Juhl
Originally Posted by b_lund:
Originally Posted by Joakim Juhl:
Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Joakim,

 

I would love to replace the Akito for something better but prices and availability of proper Ittocks and Ekos are not helping! Recommendations for alternatives would of course be highly appreciated!

 

Thanks! 

No need to purchase a complete AT95 as you have the K18, just a replacement stylus of some sort

 

An Aro on the cheapskate (and a much better arm than Akito mk1) is the Roksan Nima

If used Aro is cheapskate i'm in the wrong business! They seem very expensive second hand. I'm sure their worth it but just not for my wallet... The Nima sounds interesting and seems to be quite a bit more accessible. Any thoughts on Origin Live arms?

Posted on: 04 October 2015 by b_lund
Originally Posted by Joakim Juhl:
 
 

 

 

An Aro on the cheapskate (and a much better arm than Akito mk1) is the Roksan Nima

If used Aro is cheapskate i'm in the wrong business! They seem very expensive second hand. I'm sure their worth it but just not for my wallet...

You read me wrong, The Nima is the cheapskate tonearm and a very good one if you can't afford the Aro

 

Plenty of Nima/LP12 users out there

Posted on: 04 October 2015 by Joakim Juhl
Originally Posted by b_lund:
Originally Posted by Joakim Juhl:
 
 

 

 

An Aro on the cheapskate (and a much better arm than Akito mk1) is the Roksan Nima

If used Aro is cheapskate i'm in the wrong business! They seem very expensive second hand. I'm sure their worth it but just not for my wallet...

You read me wrong, The Nima is the cheapskate tonearm and a very good one if you can't afford the Aro

 

Plenty of Nima/LP12 users out there

Ahh, I see :-) Now I read you! The Aro has actually been on my wishlist for many years, but my wife looks at me with this strange expression every time I insist on putting it back on the wishlist. s/h prices seem to keep going up so probably no luck this christmas either...

 

Regarding replacement styli for the k18 it seems that I can use any made for the at95, right? But, if so, what styli to pick? I seems that there should be a Shibata version if that is as good as some say...