Recent content by Brian Beck

  1. Brian Beck

    Kuzma SAFIR 9

    I think the McIntosh gang would like this arm more if there were blue-green LEDs inside the translucent arm tube.?? At this year’s Munich show I had an opportunity to chat with Franc Kuzma while we stood over his Safir 9 arm. I am fascinated with the extremely high effective mass of this arm (5...
  2. Brian Beck

    Whither Audio Research

    I spoke to long-time ARC exec Dave Gordon yesterday afternoon at the ARC booth at the Munich show. He told me that Valerio Cora of Acora Acoustics Corp. has indeed bought ARC, and plans to run the two businesses as separate entities. Trent Suggs is out. Apparently Cora has a relatively larger IT...
  3. Brian Beck

    Is Audio Research becoming a “lifestyle” brand?

    I hate to say that I told you so…but I did. https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/whither-audio-research.36751/ https://trackingangle.com/features/valerio-cora-of-acora-acoustics-corporation-to-lead-new-corporation-for-audio-research-brand
  4. Brian Beck

    Kuzma SAFIR 9

    “Resonance frequency being ‘too low’ doesn't matter.” Well, it matters IF your turntable is susceptible to floor vibration and has a loose, bouncy suspension. Kuzma writes this in his white paper: “In reality, better turntables now have less bearing and motor noise as well as better support...
  5. Brian Beck

    Alsyvox - Hi end Munich 2022 - your thoughts

    Without mentioning brand names, I would suggest “3D”-style diffraction panels like these pictured - the deeper the better. Expensive generally, but you could DIY. Then augment with absorptive panels, which are much easier to DIY. Make panels from 2”, or preferably 4” thick rock wool wrapped in...
  6. Brian Beck

    Alsyvox - Hi end Munich 2022 - your thoughts

    Absolutely correct. They are very pretty cosmetically, but too shallow to be very absorptive. About 2/3 of the surface area is hard reflective wood too. There will be some diffractive benefit, but not much. The regularly spaced (periodic) wood strips will emphasize some frequencies over others...
  7. Brian Beck

    Alsyvox - Hi end Munich 2022 - your thoughts

    The usual business reasons: lowered costs would stimulate increased sales volume along with more total profit, if managed well. And more people get to enjoy a fine speaker. I’m NOT suggesting becoming another Magneplanar (as great as they are for the price). For a whole lot less than $80K one...
  8. Brian Beck

    Alsyvox - Hi end Munich 2022 - your thoughts

    I recently got a chance to audition at some length the baby AlsyVox model, the Tintoretto, driven by an Aurender A30 and a Pilium integrated at Rhapsody’s West Palm Beach showroom. I am an Apogee Full Range owner, BTW. The Tintoretto speakers were placed way too close to the wall. But the very...
  9. Brian Beck

    Kuzma SAFIR 9

    Somehow the discussion drifted to how this tonearm looks. But I think the very high effective mass is far more interesting and I look forward to some comparison reviews. I mostly use a trusty Triplanar Mk.VII U2 with medium effective mass. The Saffir’s extremely high effective mass has me...
  10. Brian Beck

    Kuzma SAFIR 9

    Sure, that’s been done a lot. Somewhere around here I have heavy knurled thumb screws that are placed on top of the head shell to receive the cartridge mounting screws. This added mass must be countered by moving the arm’s counterweight farther from the pivot, to maintain the same VTA. I’ve also...
  11. Brian Beck

    Kuzma SAFIR 9

    The elephant in the listening room is the extremely heavy effective mass of this Safire 9 arm. Most medium-mass arms suitable for moving coil cartridges have effective mass figures in the 12 to 15 grams range. That mass works with the compliance of the cartridge to produce an arm-cartridge...
  12. Brian Beck

    TAD 3415 Horn System

    I just found your post from 2017 showing your Fulton FMI-100s which are used in your home theater system. I too have a couple of pairs of this model as well as other models, including the big J Modular. It's been decades since I moved on from Fulton speakers in my main audio system, where I...
  13. Brian Beck

    Is Audio Research becoming a “lifestyle” brand?

    “Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.”
  14. Brian Beck

    Is Audio Research becoming a “lifestyle” brand?

    About the CEO of Audio Research, from Barron’s: “Poggi, 50, boasts over two decades in the industry, with previous stints at Harman International and the Bose Corporation. At Bose, Poggi managed the General Motors account and also oversaw car audio at Harman, where he worked with BMW, Toyota...
  15. Brian Beck

    Apogee Diva with Infinite Baffle

    Another vintage amp that MIGHT be worth auditioning is the Marantz MA-9S2 monoblock. A good buddy of mine, a former Pass Labs engineer, uses a pair of these with his huge Sound Labs electrostatic speakers. Granted that electrostatics and ribbons present different challenges to the power amp. But...
See more

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

Home Forums Contact us

User Menu

Login
Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing
Top Bottom