A new cartridge for a 500 series system

jon honeyball posted:

I run aro/keel/lp12 with radikal and urika, with xv1s, and it works fine

perhaps i should buy an xv1s too. seriously though, as i said earlier, i used to think expensive needles are overkill -- the TKR has forced me to revise this view... makes me start entertaining thoughts of the expensive Lyra's... "somebody stop me"!!!

enjoy

ken

The TKR is a stunningly good cartridge Ken. At that level it can often boil down to which flavour you prefer 

Chris Dolan posted:

The TKR is a stunningly good cartridge Ken. At that level it can often boil down to which flavour you prefer 

this was an upgrade from my 2nd XXIIMk2. seems to be there is a definite step change from the level of TKR upwards. I have heard views that TKR is not that much better than XXIIMk2 -- and of course i totally disagree...

enjoy

ken

Chris Dolan posted:

The TKR is a stunningly good cartridge Ken. At that level it can often boil down to which flavour you prefer 

Just so Chris. It really is as simple as what works for the individual. As Jon H says - he gets a great sound from his LP12 'set'. I've heard it and can only agree.

I love my Aro/Keel/Radikal/Urika/Kandid. Cartridges (like loudspeakers) are very much a matter of personal taste.

John.

ken c posted:

tonym posted:

I think there's a great deal of synergy between  Radikal & Kandid Ken.

perhaps Tony -- i was somewhat puzzled at the time but decided to go with what my ears were telling me, i.e. not an obvious 'no brainer' upgrade...

 

Good for you, Ken.

To my dealer's disappointment, the Radikal wasn't a slam dunk with ARO for me, either. ( it is very good when used with all Linn Lp12 however ). I also wasn't thrilled with Keel for ARO. Great for EKOS, not good for ARO.

ARO just sounds right when it is used with a 'Geddon+steel sub-chassis in spite its technical failings.

But by choosing a capable cartridge, and careful tuning, it still is very musical.

I would love to try stone-bodied Koetsu on my ARO. I was told that it works fine without mutilating the ARO headshell. I am pretty sure that even with a wrong overhang, it has a chance to sound better than my current cartridges.

kuma posted:

ken c posted:

tonym posted:

I think there's a great deal of synergy between  Radikal & Kandid Ken.

perhaps Tony -- i was somewhat puzzled at the time but decided to go with what my ears were telling me, i.e. not an obvious 'no brainer' upgrade...

 

Good for you, Ken.

To my dealer's disappointment, the Radikal wasn't a slam dunk with ARO for me, either. ( it is very good when used with all Linn Lp12 however ). I also wasn't thrilled with Keel for ARO. Great for EKOS, not good for ARO.

ARO just sounds right when it is used with a 'Geddon+steel sub-chassis in spite its technical failings.

But by choosing a capable cartridge, and careful tuning, it still is very musical.

I would love to try stone-bodied Koetsu on my ARO. I was told that it works fine without mutilating the ARO headshell. I am pretty sure that even with a wrong overhang, it has a chance to sound better than my current cartridges.

thanks kuma -- funnly old business this. probably reflects the fact that there are always more variables than we can completely account for. you see, i quite liked the Aro/Keel and just thought the Radikal whould be a logical and obvious next step.  i really wanted to like it, if you see what i mean... butwhen i did the dem, it clearly wasnt my cup of tea...

Cartridges? you can say that again... my current experience with TKR has awakened my interest in high end carts -- something i used to dismiss with an arm wave.

if i ever get the chance, and the funds, i will definitely try one of the high end Lyras...

i have heard a lot enthusiastic reports on Koetsus -- when you get a chance to try one, do let one do let us know kuma...

enjoy

ken

Miki185 posted:

do I really have only two options? Linn Kandid vs Dynavector XV-1s?

Kind Regards,

Miki

XV-1t is definitely worth a listen if it fits your budget. 

Happy holidays!

ken c posted:

if i ever get the chance, and the funds, i will definitely try one of the high end Lyras...

i have heard a lot enthusiastic reports on Koetsus -- when you get a chance to try one, do let one do let us know kuma...

 

I very much doubt that I get to home demo any of Koetsu at home.

Then there is a new kid on the block from 47Labs this year, too. This is Miyabi's successor.

kuma posted:

ken c posted:

if i ever get the chance, and the funds, i will definitely try one of the high end Lyras...

i have heard a lot enthusiastic reports on Koetsus -- when you get a chance to try one, do let one do let us know kuma...

 

I very much doubt that I get to home demo any of Koetsu at home.

Then there is a new kid on the block from 47Labs this year, too. This is Miyabi's successor.

Now, THAT looks very beautiful -- hopefully sounds as well as it looks?

enjoy

ken

Kuma, for what it's worth, I tried a Koetsu Jade Platinum in my ARO about ten years ago, and it didn't work for me.  Sure, it was rich sounding, but very slow and turgid, lacking in dynamic energy.  Back then many people were saying that the SME V would be a better match, or perhaps the large Dynavector arm.  I did sense that the cartridge was too heavy for the ARO.

The Fuuga looks very enticing, but it's quite different from the Miyabi 47, right?  No more alnico magnet, and total weight is 15 grams.

Koetsu, in my limited experience, lacks PRAT.

ken c posted:

Now, THAT looks very beautiful -- hopefully sounds as well as it looks?

 

Ken,

I wonder. It is very different specs and different person making it. So I need to try one and see how it differs from my beloved Miyabi/47.

aht posted:

Kuma, for what it's worth, I tried a Koetsu Jade Platinum in my ARO about ten years ago, and it didn't work for me.  Sure, it was rich sounding, but very slow and turgid, lacking in dynamic energy.  Back then many people were saying that the SME V would be a better match, or perhaps the large Dynavector arm.  I did sense that the cartridge was too heavy for the ARO.

The Fuuga looks very enticing, but it's quite different from the Miyabi 47, right?  No more alnico magnet, and total weight is 15 grams.

aht,

Any reason you picked the Jade instead of Onyx Koetsu?

The nicest sounding Koetsu I have heard was Onyx Platinum albeit it was on TW Acoustic table.

re: Fuuga

I need to find out more if Kimura san ( 47 Labs ) is involved with Fuuga. Yes the specs are very different from that of Miyabi/47 which worries me. The weight of cartridge should not be a problem with a heavy counerweight (FWIW, Lyra Olympus is about 14g )  but its compliance could be with the ARO. Another thing I noticed that they are not doing the zero internal impedance thing any more and that the output voltage has crept up to 0.35mv from 0.2mv.

I am sure all these tech info means nothing till one tries on the ARO/LP12 tho. Try one and report back!

Jay Coleman posted:

Koetsu, in my limited experience, lacks PRAT.

Jay,

I don't care for their wooden bodied ones but stone bodies Koetsu can sound stunning.

Have been very impressed with the Transfiguration cartridges i've heard.

kuma posted:

I need to find out more if Kimura san ( 47 Labs ) is involved with Fuuga. Yes the specs are very different from that of Miyabi/47 which worries me.

There is a detailed description and semi-review of the Fuuga written by Fremer in the October 2015 Stereophile.  Evidently Mr. Kimura is not involved this time--there is a new young designer, Tetsuya Sukehiro.

Jay Coleman posted:

Koetsu, in my limited experience, lacks PRAT.

no, not for me 

Miki185 posted:

 

500, 552 DR, NDS + 2x555PS DR,  LP12, Armageddon, Aro, SuperLine, SuperCap DR, NAT-01, SuperLuminas, Fraims, SL-2.

Hi Miki, Does the Linn have a Keel?

Chris

Christopher_M posted:

Miki185 posted:

 

500, 552 DR, NDS + 2x555PS DR,  LP12, Armageddon, Aro, SuperLine, SuperCap DR, NAT-01, SuperLuminas, Fraims, SL-2.

Hi Miki, Does the Linn have a Keel?

Chris

No.

Thanks all. 
I would like to hear more about the differences between top cartridges.
It's a pity you can't demo a perishable product worth 5000$ and more... 

What are the pros and cons of the Dynavector XV-1s?

Miki

Miki185 posted:

Christopher_M posted:

Hi Miki, Does the Linn have a Keel?

Chris

No.

 

Thanks. Why is that?             Chris

Miki185 posted:

Thanks all. 
I would like to hear more about the differences between top cartridges.
It's a pity you can't demo a perishable product worth 5000$ and more... 

What are the pros and cons of the Dynavector XV-1s?

Miki

Ok carts don't travel to home demos, but I think dealer demos will give a much better idea than forum discussion. I've heard all Linn carts several times in various Linn LP12 setups at my local Linn dealer. And Peter Swain was kind enough to demo Dynavectors and Lyras at his Cymbiosis shop when I visited - he was swapping them on his three Aro arm tops, played through my favorite Naim electronics.

i had my koetsu on home demo, mounted on a vpi arm, very simple to exchange with my running cart, but that works only with vpi... for your question: my koetsu for me sounds different than any other cart i know, it produces a kind of voicing some people describe as magic, not analytic in a way that your can hear that the glockenspiel on the right is 3 meters apart from the violins , but it sounds "right", music flows. (Hard to describe in english, sorry). and my koetsu is just the beginning of the koetsu journey...

I like the sound of that Christoph. I'd sooner have a cartridge that unlocks the magic of a performance than a crystal clear analytical and soulless one, under the illusion of being accurate.

gary yeowell posted:

I like the sound of that Christoph. I'd sooner have a cartridge that unlocks the magic of a performance than a crystal clear analytical and soulless one, under the illusion of being accurate.

than: give them a try, i would highly recommend the Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, my "cartridge dream" and for my dealer the cart for the lonely island. i saw a concert last week with a full orchestra and one can't hear the second flute on the right side but one can feel the body of the orchestra and that is what my koetsu can do...

My pockets aren't that deep i'm afraid. I may try a 'Black' one day in my LP12.