Fast Cartridge matching for Naim Aro tonearm

If Dev sees this, he'll recommend the Ortofon SPU Royal N. I personally haven't heard the Helikon SL, but if its sound is in the same vein as earlier Lyra carts such as the Clavis, which I hace heard, the Ortofon might indeed be a step into the direction you're lusting after.

Not sure how it would perform with an Aro as I use an Ekos but the new Linn Akiva is incredibly fast and dynamic.

Paul

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Originally posted by Markus Sauer:
If Dev sees this, he'll recommend the Ortofon SPU Royal N. I personally haven't heard the Helikon SL, but if its sound is in the same vein as earlier Lyra carts such as the Clavis, which I hace heard, the Ortofon might indeed be a step into the direction you're lusting after.

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Ortofon SPU Royal N. All other options are lacklustre (or more accurately lack bass and rhythm) in comparison.

I love this cartridge, it gets better every day. It smokes any Linn, Koetsu, Clearaudio, or Lyra I have ever heard (I haven't heard the Titan). It takes the Linn to a level that was uncharted. Big thanks to Naim for recommending it to me

ps. And it doesn't need a reversed burndi to work either.

Hey Dev

Have you compared the SPU Royal N to the Dyna XX2?

I currently have a Kont "B" and really like it but it's wearing out and the upgrade itch is here again.

Also what phono boards are you using with the Royal; would I have to get my "S" boards modded?

Julian

Hey Dev

Have you compared the SPU Royal N to the Dyna XX2?

I currently have a Kont "B" and really like it but it's wearing out and the upgrade itch is here again.

Also what phono boards are you using with the Royal; would I have to get my "S" boards modded?

Julian

ps - sorry to butt in on your post Hing.

Hi Julian,

I have compared and owned both. The XX-2 and Royal N are both excellent cartridges in overall terms. However, the Royal N betters the XX-2 in speed, rhythm and articualtion of bass guitar notes and textures. The XX-2 betters the Royal N in its ability to track heavily modulated grooves and is a little smoother in the treble. It also tracks at a 'normal' weight.

I use a 'S' Prefix with good results.

I follow the discussion and know only new akiva
with ekos and shiraz with artemiz.
both very dynamic but remember akiva a litle bit more refined heights (would not say bright).
curious:i heard today that somebody said that
lyra systems are not that punchy in bass,and also read in hifi+ that lyra systems are on the frontier to bright sound .
o.J.

Gunfight at Naim towers

I've had the pleasure of hearing Dev's system with both the XX-2 and Oftofon in-situ. The Ortofon wins by a mile in his set-up. The Dyna was very detailed but a bit thin, especially in the bass department. It sounded like it was sucking a lemon. The SPU wasn't quite as precise and the treble could get a touch ragged but it was much more involving. Like the Who LP: meaty, beaty, big and bouncy! John Coltrane had us pinned to the sofa and Hip-hop and Reggae sounded thunderous. I've ordered one for myself. The OP might like to know they are available at relatively reasonable prices in his neck of the woods.

The caveats are that Dev has a pretty bright room and SBLs. He also likes a sound that I can imagine some would term aggressive and lets just say his musical preferences do not encompass Norah Jones.

duncan

Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com

Thanks Martin and Duncan

Looks like another Ortofon for me then

Julian

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Originally posted by djc:
http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=48019385&m=2671961096&r=2671961096#2671961096

...lets just say his musical preferences do not encompass Norah Jones.

duncan

Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com

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Here is a picture of Archway-man (aka Duncan) with Sonny taken that day

And another great album, loved at Dev towers, on the CDS2.

ps. Anyone else like DJ Cheb I Sabbah?

James,

Slow - no, anythingh but. Lacking in body - well, that's really a question of system matching, I'd say. The SPU Royal N is definitely more robust and full-bodied (does that word exist?) than the Lyras I've heard. If your electronics and speakers are a bit on the full side, the Lyra may be just what you need. With SBLs, you need all the body you can get from your cartridge, and I'm not the least bit surprised that Dev took to his cartridge like the proverbial duck to orange sauce.

Dev B or Markus

Have either of you tried the SPU royal N on a fixed bearing arm such as the SME V?

Paul

James, I have no idea how a curent Koetsu compares to the Royal N.

Paul, I heard it in a wilson-benesch ACT tonearm. I heard nothing that would make me question the Royal N's suitability for fixed bearing arms. Indeed, I really wouldn't know why a cartridge should prefer unipivot or fixed bearing arms as such, with the possible exception of carts which have wildly different vertical and horizontal compliance (Decca, anyone?).

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Originally posted by James:
If that is the case, wouldn't a Koetsu be a similar animal to the SPU?
James

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James, do you do all your audio by conjecture?

Koestsu's are very different to the SPU. They don't PRAT (neither do certain Dynavectors IMHO) for starters.

If I remember correctly, the recommended traking weight for Ortofon SPU Royal is 3gm. Would it work well with Naim Aro tonearm as well as the Naim ARO K-type phono stage?

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Originally posted by MHYu:
If I remember correctly, the recommended traking weight for Ortofon SPU Royal is 3gm. Would it work well with Naim Aro tonearm as well as the Naim ARO K-type phono stage?

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It works well, don't worry about it, this is what I use. Don't let tech specs scare you, trust your ears only.

regards,

Dev

I would strongly recommend Audio Technica AT33 ML or AT33 PTG. They both offer great value for money and the Pace, Rhythm & Timing that the Naimies are looking for.

Explosive dynamics when used in conjunction with the Naim ARO.

It can sound a bit bright when used in some systems but will shine in a well balanced system.

Happy listening!

The Ortofon Jubilee had also been praised by many reviewers! How does the Ortofon SPU Royal differ from the Jubilee in overall sound?

On the occasion I heard the Royal N in the w-b arm, it was at a dealer friend's shop. He had sold the SPU to a customer who changed from a Jubilee because he felt the Jubilee to be lacking in the balls department.

I later spoke to the buyer again, and he thinks he may have given up a teensy amount of treble detail and refinement, but gained an enormous amount of fun.

Thank you all for your advise! The Ortofon SPU has several models, including the GM Gold, Meister, ... etc. Please advise whether they are signifantly different from your aformentioned Royal N? Thanks.

SPUs do inedded come in a bewildering cornucopia of model, but for Aro users, the choice is simple. The Royal N is a "naked" SPU, sans headshell. I believe it is the only SPU that is suitable for mounting in the Aro or any other tonearm with integral headshell.

The other SPUs are meant to be mounted in an arm with bayonet mounting for the separate headshell; the most popular of these are models from SME (the 3012, for example) and Ortofon (309, 212).

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Originally posted by Dev B:
in comparison.

I love this cartridge, it gets better every day. It smokes any Linn, Koetsu, Clearaudio, or Lyra I have ever heard (I haven't heard the Titan). It takes the Linn to a level that was uncharted. Big thanks to Naim for recommending it to me

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Dev have you heard the Akiva? It blew my socks off ( and a hole in my wallet. )


Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

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Originally posted by mike lacey:

Dev have you heard the Akiva? It blew my socks off ( and a hole in my wallet. )


Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

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Mike,

I have heard the Arkiva on an Ekos, and owned a Arkiv B (which had regular use for 3 years). I don't think the Arkiv or Arkiva is good as the Ortofon. The Arkiva is better than the Arkiv B. The Arkiva sounds much like a Helikon to my ears, but more punchy and more bass, it is a bit sterile sounding in the voices region, but quite nice and perfectly decent. These Linns sound very dynamic, but they seem to have an exaggerated balance to my ears.

Not sure it is the best buy at the £1800 though mark - the Dynavector Te Kaitora (one of the nicest ones they do IMHO) is nicer and smoother sounding at broadly the same price but value is such a subjective thing.

regards

Dev

Has anyone any experience of an Akiva on either an Aro or an RB1000?

Richard