What tonearm for DS Audio Grandmaster

[joeling]

Need suggestion for a medium effective mass tonearm less thn USD5k that sounds great & is a known math for the DS Audio Grandmaster thnks. Prefer non unipivot arm.

Designer of DS Audio told me a medium mass arm is more suitable for the Grandmaster. NOT a high mass arm

 

[Sule22]

I owned Master 3, and my GM Ex is arriving this week according to my dealer. Anyway, I found Glanz and Ds audio to be a great match.

 

[struts]

Need suggestion for a medium effective mass tonearm less thn USD5k that sounds great & is a known math for the DS Audio Grandmaster thnks. Prefer non unipivot arm.

Designer of DS Audio told me a medium mass arm is more suitable for the Grandmaster. NOT a high mass arm

What about the Supatrac Blackbird? Mikey posted two needle drops with the same turntable (Oswalds Mill K3) and cartridge (Lyra Atlas SL) with the Blackbird and the SAT CF1-12 ($67k) but didn't say which was which. It was close but the majority preferred the Blackbird.

It is available in different lengths and has an effective mass of only 10g (9" version) which you can load up with adapters if you need higher. Based on the GBP pricing the 10.5" comes in at a whisker over $5K.

You may not like the looks but IMO (and several well known journalists FWIW) it is the biggest step forward in tonearm design since the gimbal bearing. It is a unipivot, but a horizontal one, so it does not suffer the "wobbliness" of a traditional unipivot. The closest thing in the market is probably the Kuzma Four Point. If the journos are to be believed you won't get anywhere close for the money.

 

[joeling]

I owned Master 3, and my GM Ex is arriving this week according to my dealer. Anyway, I found Glanz and Ds audio to be a great match.

I am already on Glanz & felt pretty happy with the setup. Maybe not as good on the vocals compared to the Koetsu or MSL but excels on other aspect like rockability. However, the designer threw me curve ball by indicating that a medium mass will suit better. So, the machinery in my brain starts churning again...

 

[thekong]

I have a new DS W3 which I have not mounted yet. If the Glanz works, then the FR64S/66S probably work too! For medium mass arm, I also have a Kuzma 4Point which I can try matching with the W3.

 

[dennis h]

Also see this thread:

Kuzma tonearm for DS Audio Cartridges

I have just acquired a DS Audio W3, to be matched with a phono developed by my friend. As such, I am interested to know if members have any success stories matching DS Audio cartridges, especially the W3, to the Kuzma line of tonearms, from 4Point to Airline to Safir! I am interested to match...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[gajgmusic]

For what its worth I am running a Schroeder DPS arm with the Grand Master, and have done for at least 3 years. I love it and Frank has said he has a fair number of clients using a Schroeder.

 

[shakti]

I like Kuzma 4point 9" , a kind of a Best Buy in the 5k region.

 

[thomasx]

I don't have the Grandmaster, but my Master3 works flawless in my Viv Labs Rigit Float 9" CB.

 

[struts]

What about the Supatrac Blackbird?

Just received mine today.

 

[TheAudioAssociation]

We've had great luck with our Master3 on both a Durand Tosca LE and a Kuzma Saffir 9.

A client has the Grandmaster EX on a Tosca LE and had this to say "...I have never heard vinyl like this. Unbelievably quiet, balanced, dynamic, just perfect."

 

[Sule22]

We've had great luck with our Master3 on both a Durand Tosca LE and a Kuzma Saffir 9.

A client has the Grandmaster EX on a Tosca LE and had this to say "...I have never heard vinyl like this. Unbelievably quiet, balanced, dynamic, just perfect."

I have a Safir 9 as well, never tried it with ds audio because it is quite heavy. Will give it a try then.

 

[TheAudioAssociation]

We've had great luck with our Master3 on both a Durand Tosca LE and a Kuzma Saffir 9.

A client has the Grandmaster EX on a Tosca LE and had this to say "...I have never heard vinyl like this. Unbelievably quiet, balanced, dynamic, just perfect."

My apologies, I meant to post this in the other Kuzma Tonearm for DS Audio Cartridges thread.

 

[Kingrex]

What about the Supatrac Blackbird? Mikey posted two needle drops with the same turntable (Oswalds Mill K3) and cartridge (Lyra Atlas SL) with the Blackbird and the SAT CF1-12 ($67k) but didn't say which was which. It was close but the majority preferred the Blackbird.

It is available in different lengths and has an effective mass of only 10g (9" version) which you can load up with adapters if you need higher. Based on the GBP pricing the 10.5" comes in at a whisker over $5K.

You may not like the looks but IMO (and several well known journalists FWIW) it is the biggest step forward in tonearm design since the gimbal bearing. It is a unipivot, but a horizontal one, so it does not suffer the "wobbliness" of a traditional unipivot. The closest thing in the market is probably the Kuzma Four Point. If the journos are to be believed you won't get anywhere close for the money.

Dr Vinyl was telling me the Supatrac plays excellent with the DS cartridges. So much so he is a dealer. He does say its a difficult arm to set up properly. But when you get it right, it plays well above others.that are more costly.

 

[Dr Vinyl]

Just received mine today.

View attachment 138830

If you need any help or have any questions on setup feel free to PM me .

 

[Dr Vinyl]

I have a new DS W3 which I have not mounted yet. If the Glanz works, then the FR64S/66S probably work too! For medium mass arm, I also have a Kuzma 4Point which I can try matching with the W3.

Need suggestion for a medium effective mass tonearm less thn USD5k that sounds great & is a known math for the DS Audio Grandmaster thnks. Prefer non unipivot arm.

Designer of DS Audio told me a medium mass arm is more suitable for the Grandmaster. NOT a high mass arm

Any arm that has full adjustability , Schroeder ,Supatrac , True glider is the best and the most successful arm with the DS Audio
We have sold and installed a a lot of DS Audio systems more than anyone in the US. Feel free to ask for our arms that include setup all around the states
They bothe work Fine.

 

[hb22]

Holbo - Airbearing Turntable System

 

[Young Skywalker]

Need suggestion for a medium effective mass tonearm less thn USD5k that sounds great & is a known math for the DS Audio Grandmaster thnks. Prefer non unipivot arm.

Designer of DS Audio told me a medium mass arm is more suitable for the Grandmaster. NOT a high mass arm

Maybe consider spending more on the tonearm and less on the cartridge.

 

[joeling]

Carts already bought, one for each location. So, u think USD5k not enough for a tonearm ? Any good suggestion higher than USD5K ?

 

[Young Skywalker]

Carts already bought, one for each location. So, u think USD5k not enough for a tonearm ? Any good suggestion higher than USD5K ?

I think the question is, what serious tonearm can you buy for under $5k today? Prices in the high end audio industry are beyond ridiculous. For less than $5k, I would consider the Ortofon AS-309R. At more than $5k I would consider the Acoustical Systems Aquilar 10” or Kuzma 4Point9. Maybe also ORIGIN LIVE Enterprise Mk4.