I just closed a deal on a used Aesthetix Rhea phono preamp, which has three discrete inputs. This will allow me to connect up to three different tonearms, using any number of cartridges. Each channel on the Rhea has its own gain and load settings.
I went this route because I intend to pursue an audio dream that I have had for a number of years and just never quite got around to it. I plan to put together a second turntable that will feature a 12" tonearm, possibly two tonearms.
I have been kicking my options around for the last few days. I could go with something brand new, based on a current design. I ruled out VPI because I feel that one if their tables with a JMW 12.7 arm is cost prohibitive (not looking to take out a second mortgage to pursue this dream....not in this economy! :D ). So I looked at some less expensive alternatives. Origin Live has the Calypso (available with 12" arm chassis for about $2,400) and the Resolution (also available with 12" arm chassis for about $3,600). Those are the only contemporary designs that I could find that could accommodate a longer arm and were -- *ahem* -- somewhat affordable.
Still, I would need to add a tonearm and cartridge. I just ordered a Benz Ebony L that should be here any day, but now that I have decided to pursue a second turntable I intend to return the Benz. Another audio adventure I have long wanted to embark on was to try a Koetsu cartridge. So that is the other shoe that you hear dropping. The thing that has held me back on the Koetsu is that the SME arms I have used are not good compliance matches for Koetsu cartridges. One really should match a high mass tonearm with a Koetsu.
Obviously with these goals the cost of this project could get extremely high very fast. I want to control costs to the greatest extent possible. Given that desire I think any contemporary design is out of the running. Even $2,400 for the Origin Live Calypso doesn't seem to me to be a good value proposition.
If I am going to spend $2K to $3K on a turntable then going vintage might make the most sense. For considerably less than the cost of a Calypso I can buy a very nice Thorens TD124 or Garrard 301/401. This has a lot of appeal because custom wood plinths are available for these tables that can accommodate two tonearms. So if I wanted I could have, say, a Garrard 401 with a 12" and a 9" arm, with two different cartridges. I'm really warming up to this idea.
For a tonearm I see two reasonably priced options, and only one that will really match up well with a Koetsu. The SME 3012 is a classic arm with a solid pedigree. Used examples are fairly abundant and sensibly priced. I could obtain one for about $1,000 or less. New Old Stock arms are still around too, but those are fetching pretty high prices. The bad news is that the SME is a medium to low mass arm. At an effective mass of 12.7 grams it is not a particularly good fit for a Koetsu.
The Jelco SA-750L is a high mass 12" arm that is a nice compliance match for a Koetsu. These arms are available new, use a Linn mount, and can be had for a little more than $600.
I am hoping to have a deck, plinth, and arm by the end of the year. I'll start looking for a Koetsu cartridge after the holidays. The cartridge I am mostly interested in is the Urushi.
At this point I am just thinking out loud.
--Jerome
I know where you are coming with regards to VPI. If I am not mistaken the only TT currently in production that uses a 12" arm would be the HRX which will set you back better than 10 grand. However keep in mind that they used to produce version of the Aries called the Aries Extended that had a 12 inch arm. I don't see them on the used market all that often, but if you can find one it might fit into your budget range for TT & Tonearm. The additional advantage of VPI is that the JMW series of arms use uni-pivot wands which can be swapped on and off the TT in a number of minutes allowing you to have multiple cartridges without multiple tonearms.
Just a thought........
This sounds like a fun project!
Kuzma has some 12" options with the Stabi S 12 TT and Stogi S 12 arm that might be worth a look and "reasonable" in cost (I know that's relative).
Good luck!
Tom
Just a suggestion, but maybe looking at a TT that uses separate arm pods might be an option, instead of a fixed arm mount. Either that or perhaps building your own extended plinth to mount them. That could open up a world of possibilities.
Quote from: TomS on November 01, 2011, 08:17:10 AM
This sounds like a fun project!
Kuzma has some 12" options with the Stabi S 12 TT and Stogi S 12 arm that might be worth a look and "reasonable" in cost (I know that's relative).
Good luck!
Tom
Ah yes the Stogi S 12" arm with gold/silver wiring and VTA tower lists for $2950. According to the distributor the Stogi S is an over achiever. The 4 pont is better however unless one has a fine system do not bother. Improved bass, dynamics and space which only a excellent system can appreciate.
I will offer a discount for AN members for any Kuzma product.
charles
SMA
stabi 12 inch is only 1600 list!
perhaps you could get a deal on one
ahh a Kuzma in every driveway :rofl:
Thanks guys. I appreciate all the responses. Please keep 'em coming.
This idea is gaining some traction and I am actively trying to buy a Garrard 401. If that falls through then I will look for a Thorens TD124 and lastly a Garrard 301. This was a pecking order that I established based on average cost (remember I am trying to keep costs in check).
I have selected the Jelco SA-750L as my tonearm of choice. It is affordable at a cost of about $650. Secondly, Jelco makes arms for Ortofon and Koetsu. I know it is possible that Jelco saves the real magic for companies who OEM from them, or it could be that there are only minor cosmetic differences and other than that they are simply re-badged. I have no idea. I do know that the Ortofon and Koetsu arms retail for about 4 to 5 times the price of the SA-750L. Since the cost of entry is relatively low I am willing to take a gamble on the Jelco. It seems to be rather well received among audiophiles in need of a high mass tonearm. I couldn't find any pro reviews of one (this is probably too much of a low-rent piece to be worthy of a printed review in an audio rag). Going with the Jelco is also consistent with my belief that high end doesn't necessarily have to mean high priced. We will see.
--Jerome
Quote from: topround on November 01, 2011, 05:52:48 PM
stabi 12 inch is only 1600 list!
perhaps you could get a deal on one
Stabi is the table,
stogi is the arm. 8)
jelco is also making the Ikeda arm
This thread may be of some interest to you ...
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1319650111&read (http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1319650111&read)
Quote from: BobM on November 02, 2011, 08:16:01 AM
This thread may be of some interest to you ...
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1319650111&read (http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1319650111&read)
Hi Bob,
I read through that thread a few days ago and didn't find it particularly relevant to my situation. Was there a specific post you wanted to call my attention to?
--Jerome
nope - just a general discussion of 12" arms, and since you were in the market ...
Thanks! :thumb:
--Jerome
Quote from: topround on November 01, 2011, 05:52:48 PM
stabi 12 inch is only 1600 list!
perhaps you could get a deal on one
ahh a Kuzma in every driveway :rofl:
Yes but not with the VTA tower and Crystal silver/gold arm wire, oh my.
charles
SMA
I think the VTa tower is another 400, but not really really neccesary, the silver cable, maybe....
They are nice options but if they price it out of someones budget??? I would rather have the basic arm if that is all I could afford
Here's an inexpensive 12" that is going, going, gone today. good price on a great arm if you can win it cheap.
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?anlgtnrm&1320372104&1&3&1& (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?anlgtnrm&1320372104&1&3&1&)
Quote from: BobM on November 03, 2011, 12:52:50 PM
Here's an inexpensive 12" that is going, going, gone today. good price on a great arm if you can win it cheap.
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?anlgtnrm&1320372104&1&3&1& (http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?anlgtnrm&1320372104&1&3&1&)
Good call Bob. Auction has ended BTW. Hope someone we know got lucky.
charles
SMA
I didn't bid on it for two reasons: 1) the seller has no feedback, and 2) I could not find any specific data on the effective mass of this arm and I was not encouraged by VPI's claim of universal compatibility. If I'm going to buy a Koetsu then I want to be certain that the arm is good compliance match for it.
I ordered a Jelco SA-750L this morning so the question of which arm to get is academic.
I really appreciate you guys keeping me in mind. I can think of no better group of people I would prefer watching out for me.
--Jerome
Quote from: jsaliga on November 04, 2011, 10:25:14 AM
I didn't bid on it for two reasons: 1) the seller has no feedback, and 2) I could not find any specific data on the effective mass of this arm and I was not encouraged by VPI's claim of universal compatibility. If I'm going to buy a Koetsu then I want to be certain that the arm is good compliance match for it.
I ordered a Jelco SA-750L this morning so the question of which arm to get is academic.
I really appreciate you guys keeping me in mind. I can think of no better group of people I would prefer watching out for me.
--Jerome
EHHHHHHHH ! as the Fonz used to say.
charles
SMA
I bought the Garrard 401 I was after and have worked out a deal with someone who makes custom wood plinths. Mine will be finished in walnut with rosewood stain, and have two removable arm boards. I have also asked for a pair of arm boards drilled for an SME mount.
The second arm is going to be a Jelco SA-750D 9" arm.
I haven't thought much about cartridges. The Koetsu won't be going in until sometime after the holidays. One cart I would like to try again is a Denon 103R, which is a good match for the higher mass Jelco arms. I tried one a few years ago on my SME arm and it sounded pretty flat and lifeless, but I'm guessing that's because it wasn't a good match for my low mass SME tonearm.
--Jerome
A fun project. Really like the two arm option. I have so many wonderful mono recordings and a mono cart really makes a difference for the good.
I just may have to get my old Garrard up and working again. Would be a kick to compare to the Kuzma setup.
charles
SMA
Quote from: rollo on November 06, 2011, 09:03:32 AM
I have so many wonderful mono recordings and a mono cart really makes a difference for the good.
I was thinking the same thing. At least half of my jazz records are in mono.
--Jerome
Hopefully you'll posts some pics. please [-o<
Here's the deal...if this project turns out nicely then I'll post plenty of pictures of my new deck. If it doesn't then I'll post plenty of pictures of someone else's deck. :rofl:
I'm pretty sure it will turn out very nicely. If I felt otherwise I wouldn't be doing it.
--Jerome
Here are a few mono cartridges I am considering. They are all moving coil carts. My budget tops out at about $1,200.
Yamamoto YC-03M ($1,050)
Shelter 501 MKII (the Shelter mono cart lists for $1,995 -- nearly double the price of the stereo cartridge, but I can import one from Japan for a little over $1,000)
Miyajima Premium Ebony ($1,200)
Ortofon SPU Mono GM MKII ($849)
If anyone believes there are other mono carts I should consider that are within my budget please let me know.
--Jerome
I have decided to go with the Miyajima Premium Ebony Mono BE cartridge, although I was very tempted by the Ortofon SPU Mono GM MKII.
Now I will have to be patient and wait. The plinth will take about 4 weeks.
--Jerome
Quote from: jsaliga on November 10, 2011, 04:36:42 AM
I have decided to go with the Miyajima Premium Ebony Mono BE cartridge, although I was very tempted by the Ortofon SPU Mono GM MKII.
Now I will have to be patient and wait. The plinth will take about 4 weeks.
--Jerome
I don't know about being patient but you'll surely have to wait :rofl:
Here's the turntable and tonearm cables...
(http://www.indierockfan.net/pics/Garrard401.jpg)
And here are the tonearms. One is a 12" and the other 9"
(http://www.indierockfan.net/pics/Jelco_Tonearms.jpg)
The plinth will take another two to three weeks.
--Jerome
Quote from: jsaliga on November 23, 2011, 09:54:49 AM
The plinth will take another two to three weeks.
:cry:
Nice choice of cartridge!
My friend has the stereo and mono mounted on his table.
2 to 3 more weeks?!?
Good Grief!
I don't think that's unreasonable. The wood is cut at a CNC shop and that is where most of the wait is. I can really afford to be patient on this one....I already have a great turntable to listen to records on so it isn't like I am suffering with a setup that stinks.
--Jerome
I can see Jerome now in the Lotus position taking deep cleansing breaths as he waits for his plinth
(http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x4736457/Male_sitting_in_lotus_position_25jy0167rf.jpg)
Better the Lotus position than this one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFLPn30dvQ
:rofl:
--Jerome
The plinth for my 401 arrived today. Here are a few pictures that really doesn't do it justice.
(http://www.indierockfan.net/pics/401_Plinth.jpg)
And here it is with a very loose fitting of the table and Jelco SA-750L 12" tonearm. The SA-750D 9" tonearm will be mounted on the armboard at the left rear of the plinth.
(http://www.indierockfan.net/pics/401_Plinth_2.jpg)
The builder deserves some credit. James Campbell did this plinth. It is wrapped in walnut and is truly gorgeous to behold. It's massive and heavy, weighing in at about 40lbs. If you like what you see here and are considering building a vintage deck based on a Garrard 301, 401, or Thorens TD-124D you can find James on Audiogon or eBay. He does fantastic work.
The only thing that I felt was a little lacking was the rubber feet that was supplied with the plinth. They were very small relative to the size of the load they would have to bear. But it really doesn't matter to me that much, since I will be buying a set of Symposium Acoustics precision couplers and rollerblocks.
This is still a long way away from being ready for a road test. I expect to have the table up and running by the end of January.
--Jerome
Looking good there Jerome. Hope it sounds as good as it looks.
charles
Very Pretty. I'm sure it will sound as nice as it looks. Incredible woodwork.
One word Sweeeeeeeeeet !!
My friend has the same table with an OMA slate plinth and a Schick arm, with the Miyajima Shilabe cart. A very nice sounding combo.
good luck
If I am given enough time to think about it chances are good that I will change my mind about something I thought I was previously decided on.
Case in point, I was going to buy a Miyajima Premium Ebony Mono cartridge but then came into an excellent deal for two Ortofon classic SPU cartridges. One is a SPU mono CG-25 DI MKII and the second is a SPU Gold Reference. Both are new and unused and I got both cartridges for a little more than I would have paid just for the Miyajima Premium Ebony Mono. The Ortofon SPU series have received a lot of positive comments from people running them on vintage turntables from the likes of Garrard and Thorens.
I think this sets things up rather well because this Garrard 401 will be used mostly to play vintage mono records pressed in the 1950s and early stereo records pressed in the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. I will continue to use my SOTA Star Sapphire/SME 309/ Ortofon Jubliee combo to mostly play audiophile reissues.
--Jerome
Quote from: jsaliga on January 05, 2012, 06:19:41 AM
If I am given enough time to think about it chances are good that I will change my mind about something I thought I was previously decided on.
Case in point, I was going to buy a Miyajima Premium Ebony Mono cartridge but then came into an excellent deal for two Ortofon classic SPU cartridges. One is a SPU mono CG-25 DI MKII and the second is a SPU Gold Reference. Both are new and unused and I got both cartridges for a little more than I would have paid just for the Miyajima Premium Ebony Mono. The Ortofon SPU series have received a lot of positive comments from people running them on vintage turntables from the likes of Garrard and Thorens.
I think this sets things up rather well because this Garrard 401 will be used mostly to play vintage mono records pressed in the 1950s and early stereo records pressed in the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. I will continue to use my SOTA Star Sapphire/SME 309/ Ortofon Jubliee combo to mostly play audiophile reissues.
--Jerome
I'm not sure I would call that changing your mind as much as jumping on a great opportunity. Sounds like that deal was custom made for what you are trying to accomplish with your system right now.
I thought I had carefully researched my choice of tonearms. I spent a considerable amount of time looking into it. I didn't buy the Jelco arms just to save money, though that was obviously a motivating factor. I would rather spend $1,200 for two tonearms than $4,000. I also wanted tonearms that were well received and reviewed by owners. While the Jelco arms may not have all of the bells and whistles of an expensive arm of modern design there are a lot of very positive reviews by people who are matching them up with Ortofon SPUs. I even found owners who are running cartridges such as the Lyra Helikon, Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua, and the Koetsu Urushi and are very satisfied.
I am now waiting on a pair of Ortofon SPU cartridges to arrive and have spent some time setting up and mounting the Garrard 401. I became a little concerned when I took a look at the mounting collars on the Jelco arms. The tonearms seem to be very well made, but the mounting collar has a very small VTA set screw at the top of the collar. I was worried about how stable it would be in operation. I did a Google search and found the following thread on a UK audio forum:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7359
The bad news is that some people have reported issues. I am a little disappointed that my earlier research did not uncover this information. I also found a few threads on Vinyl Engine where some owners acknowledge the fiddly nature of the mounting collar but indicate they were able to get accurate alignment with the stock collar. However, I think these folks will run into an issue if they change cartridges and need to adjust VTA.
The good news is that an aftermarket mounting collar is available and I am in line to get a pair of them that will resolve the issue. The cost is about $60 per collar and completely worth it in my opinion. However, I will have to wait until February to receive them. While I feel the delay will be worth it I am starting to get a little anxious to get this turntable up and running. It is taking a lot longer than I expected.
--Jerome
Quote from: jsaliga on January 08, 2012, 07:37:21 AM
The good news is that an aftermarket mounting collar is available and I am in line to get a pair of them that will resolve the issue. The cost is about $60 per collar and completely worth it in my opinion. However, I will have to wait until February to receive them. While I feel the delay will be worth it I am starting to get a little anxious to get this turntable up and running. It is taking a lot longer than I expected.
Anything that helps you dial in and lock in the VTA is well worth the wait and the relatively small amount of money that you are spending to do it.
Good choice. :thumb:
My Ortofon SPU CG25 DI Mk II came today. So I set the turntable up. I did a little checking myself on the Jelco tonearm collars that I was concerned about and did a few trials with the set screw and was satisfied that it wasn't as big a problem as I originally thought. I will replace them, however, with the aftermarket collars when they arrive.
(http://www.indierockfan.net/pics/Garrard401_SPU.jpg)
(http://www.indierockfan.net/pics/Garrard401_Dyna.jpg)
The Ortofon SPU Gold Reference cartridge hasn't come yet. So I set up my backup stereo cartridge on the 9" arm, a Dynavector 20X2L low output moving coil cartridge.
While both cartridges will need some break-in time (they are both new) I have to say that this is the best upgrade to my audio system that I have done in years. Let me clarify that. I have hundreds, if not a 1,000 or more mono LPs that were pressed in the 1950s. Until now I have been playing and enjoying those records on a modern stereo moving coil cartridge. The Ortofon SPU CG25DI mono is the first true mono cartridge I have ever used, and the difference is like night and day, especially with records that have minor scratches. Most scratches on mono records will make loud, recurring pops when played with a stereo cartridge. This really drives me nuts. When the same record is played on a mono cartridge most of the time there is no noise at all. This is because scratches cause vertical movement of the stylus. The stylus of a mono cartridge does not have any vertical compliance. The stylus will only move laterally. This also means a lot of surface noise that is picked up by a stereo cartridge is inaudible on a mono cartridge.
I have been going through some of my mono LPs that were problematic on my Ortofon Jubilee stereo cart and have taken them for another spin on the Garrard. What a difference! It's almost as though I have been given a bunch of new minty records.
If you have a sizable collection of mono records that were pressed between 1948 and 1960 (these records would have U shaped grooves rather than the V shaped grooves found on stereo records), there is no better upgrade than a mono cartridge that you could buy for your system.
Here is how the costs lined up for this project:
Garrard 401 -- $800
Custom Made Plinth. -- $650
12" Tonearm -- $650
9" Tonearm -- $450
Tonearm cables -- $225
Ortofon SPU mono cartrdige -- $580
Ortofon SPU Gold Reference stereo cartridge -- $1600
Total cost of project -- $4,955
Some will look at the cost and wonder if it was really worth it. I have thought about that too. I sort of lost sight of the escalating costs in this project as it progressed. It turned out to be more expensive then I originally expected. But if you knock down the $1,600 for the SPU Gold Reference cartridge the cost comes down to a somewhat more reasonable $3,355. Still a lot of dough to be sure. But I have much more than that invested in vintage mono records, and now I feel as though I have a vinyl front end that can do those records real justice.
I'll have more to say about this table over the weekend. I listened to two LPs on the Dynavector DV-20X2L and was very impressed by what I heard.
--Jerome
"Some will look at the cost and wonder if it was really worth it."
Not in this group, you must think you're on a different forum. :roll:
Quote from: etcarroll on January 20, 2012, 07:18:35 PM
Not in this group, you must think you're on a different forum. :roll:
I know where I'm posting Gene, at least I think I do.
But I can accept that I may be the only one here who thinks the project was on the expensive side. And...my sentiment might just be a reflection of recent (and future) investments in my vinyl set up. A few short months ago I bought the Aesthetix Rhea phono preamp, and I still have a Koetsu Rosewood Signature to buy.
--Jerome
Jerome, first off I'm glad to hear that this TT is working out so well. You have put a lot of time and effort into this project and it is good to know that it is paying dividends for you.
I don't think that Gene's point was that it wasn't an expensive purchase, but rather that most people in this forum would understand it as a worthwhile endevor, in spite of the cost, given the number of mono LPs you own, the enjoyment you get from them and the increase in SQ (and therefore enjoyment) that will result from playing them on this new table. High cost and high value do not need to be mutually exclusive.
And I agree with Tom that was my take on what Gene said. We all get it and are so glad your happy with your new TT :thumb: :thumb:
I was reflecting on the cost of the project and to a somewhat lesser extent its value. I had justified it, or rationalized it (take your pick), some months ago and given how it has turned out I don't regret doing it at all.
Since this project came together in parts, that is really how I looked at the costs. So I would think to myself, "$1,100 for two tonearms is a bargain," or "$580 for a Ortofon SPU mono cartridge is a great deal." My thinking on that hasn't changed. However, I never sat down and estimated the total cost of the project in advance. And that is something that I would highly recommend that anyone going a similar route do.
When all is said and done the completed Garrard 401 was $1,800 less expensive than a Origin Live Resolution, which is one of the modern decks I was thinking of buying. So choosing the Garrard 401 did result in a substantial cost savings.
In the end guys I just think I was a little surprised at myself when I added it all up and saw that I put $5K into this deck.
--Jerome
And I agree with Bill's take on Tom's take on.................
Ah, screw it.
But Jerome, Tom got it. If there's a group of folks who would look at what you're doing and think 'wow, that looks neat', versus the masses who would think 'wow, that's money that could have been spent better', then this is the group.
Have fun with it, it looks like a great setup, I'm a little envious.
Gene
Jerome,
I think it's well worth it! If I had the space in my main rig & if I had the large quantity of mono records you have, I'd be there right with you...
Now I really know that there's such a huge difference using "mono equipment" with mono recordings instead of using a stereo pick-up for all recordings.
Would like to hear the difference one day... hint, hint...
Snowing on LI,
Pete
Here is some info on the cartridge set ups...
The overhang, offset, and alignment on the Dynavector was set with the MoFi Geodisc and double checked with a universal alignment protractor. The Ortofon SPU has a fixed overhang and offset but the alignment was also set with the Geodisc and double checked.
The Ortofon SPU CG25 DI MKII mono has a VTF of 3.4g
The Dynavector 20X2L has a VTF 1.8g.
I have spun several records on both cartridges and they both sound and track great.
Here are some initial thoughts on the deck and the sound.
The deck is a solid and hefty piece. It's an idler wheel design but it is dead quiet and I cannot detect any noise coming from the platform up through the stylus. The plinth is massive, and originally I was going to buy some Symposium Acoustics isolation blocks...but Bill came to the rescue and sent me some inexpensive isolation pads that seem to be doing the trick quite nicely (Thanks Bill!! :thumb: ).
The Garrard 401 has very stable speed at 33 and 45 RPM. But does drift a little until the motor has been running for a couple of minutes. So I let the deck warm up for a few minutes and then set the speed with a Keystrobe. I can't use the deck's built in strobe because my platter is for 50Hz. I then turned the deck off and let it sit for a half hour, and put a record on after letting it warm up for a couple of minutes and the speed was stable.
The Jelco tonearms are real winners in my book. If I have one criticism it would be that the queuing levers are not damped as much as I would like. If you queue the stylus and flip the lever down then it will hit the record with a thud. I didn't do that because I could tell that this would happen by the action of the lever. Lowering the queuing lever gently will give the stylus a nice gentle ride down to the record's surface. Obviously this arm doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles -- nor should it at its price point. Setting VTA is crude with this arm. There are no markings on the arm pillar and one must set VTA by eye. I used a plastic protractor to help me with that. Setting VTF is a different story. The counter weight has graduated markings in 1/2 gram increments. Anti-skate is set by a dial at the base of the arm and goes up to 3g. Putting the few minor foibles of the Jelco arms aside for a moment they really deliver where it counts -- sound quality. The performance of these arms compares very favorably to my SME 309 and I consider them the equal of the classic SME 3009 Series II -- and I think that is saying a lot.
How does it sound? In a word...fantastic. I have already discussed how huge a difference it makes when using a true mono cartridge with vintage mono pressings, so I won't say anything further on that.
But I would like to comment on the Dynavector 20X2L. I have owned this cartridge for a while as a backup and until now it has never been out of the box. So far I am extremely impressed by this cartridge. It brings a little better bass extension to the table than my Ortofon Jubilee. Detail retrieval isn't quite as good as my Jubilee but I can say that even with just a few hours on it that the Dynavector produces a very rich, satisfying listening experience and it makes me curious about what the more expensive Dynavector cartridges such as the XX-2 or Kaitora Rua have on offer. If you're on the market for an excellent low output MC cart for under $1,000 then the 20X2L should be on your short list.
--Jerome
But one of the key take aways for those of us watching this experiment is how truely beneficial it is to have a mono cart. For those of us that have a tone arm that allows easy swapping of carts (and the requisite VTA changes), like the VPI JWM series, this can be accomplished with a minimum of fuss and it opens you up to a whole world of new software possibilities since very often mono copies of things like old Blue Note and RCS Living Stereo LPs are tossed in the dollar bins because "who wants monos?" Of course this is not always the case as another Hank Mobley seep groove mono LP sold on ebay last week for $4100 :roll: (God bless the collectors market), but more often than not the monos are just tossed aside. A mono cart will also let you get good sound out of less than pristine mono LPs, even further widening your possibilities. (There are few things more disheartening in this hobby than coming across an LP you have been searching for , only to find it scratched up to the point that you wouldn't be able to enjoy listening to it.
To an LP hunter who is able to easily do it it would seem that adding a mono cart to his stable would be a worthy investment -hint hint Gene (it's so much fun spending other peoples money :D)
Of course in my case this would be a very expensive upgrade. Not only would I have to change out the SME Series IV arm to get something that allowed easy cart swaps, but then I would have a contractor build an addition on my house to store all the mono LPs I have been up until now ignoring and leaving behind on my trips to the Crack House. :roll: :duh
Maybe this wouldn't be such a good idea in my case after all...... :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Your killing me here Tom. But the thought of getting a mono cart has been on my to do list, though far down the list due to $$$. Still, Jerome's results simply make me want to do it all the more.
And I'm pleased he likes the Dyna cart. as it's my main cart. Though the time I was swapping it back and forth with the Shelter 501 Mk II showed the Dyna was good in bass and mids, but lacked a little detail up top in comparison, so I too wonder what the better Dynavector carts. might do for my setup.
Quote from: tmazz on January 21, 2012, 07:22:11 AM
To an LP hunter who is able to easily do it it would seem that adding a mono cart to his stable would be a worthy investment -hint hint Gene (it's so much fun spending other peoples money :D)
Quote from: etcarroll on January 21, 2012, 09:51:52 AM
Your killing me here Tom.
Hey, what are friends for? :lol:
I am liking so much of what I am hearing with this Garrard 401 that I am seriously thinking about retiring my SOTA. Rather than add another deck I think the proceeds of a sale would be better used to help fund the purchase of a QOL Signal Completion Stage, assuming that after I demo one I will want to buy it.
--Jerome
Hey Jerome. Glad to hear that all this hard work and effort and cost is paying off for you in spades. It is really satisfying to know that you are liking it. The deal with the mono cartridge is indeed intriguing. Who would have thought it!
The table itself looks awesome too, and that is only another plus after all. No matter how much people say it is only about the sound, they are lying. The esthetic matters just as much to appease our fragile egos and pride.