Kuzma 4Point - which tonearm wire?

KPC · Feb 8, 2022

I'm interested in obtaining the 11 inch Kuzma 4Point, but am very confused which tonearm wire to choose. One one hand, I plan to run balanced and I read that cables matter much less, on the other hand I've of the belief that everything matters including tonearm cables. So I'm confused in choosing the Crystal Cable Gold/Silver, Kondo, Crystal Cable Mono Silver, or get something else (prices like the $13k Nordost Odin tonearm cable is way out of my budget)
https://www.artisanfidelity.com/tonearms/kuzma-4point-11-inch.

I'm trying to get the best performance at the lowest cost. I try to purchase used but I insist on the newer ruby/sapphire bearings so pickings is a bit slim - I'm resigning myself that I may have to purchase new.

System - Constellation Inspiration Pre and Stereo, Van Der Hul Grail SB, VPI Avenger, Lyra Etna, Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum

dan31 · Feb 8, 2022

I think the most popular options are the Cardas clear or the Crystal mono. Find a dealer who can advise you based on your system, room and listening preferences. Sometimes buying new from a good dealer has its benefits.

tima · Feb 8, 2022

M.Fremer did an article on tone arm wiring options from Franc Kuzma for the 4Point tonearm. The article covers Cardas Clear, Kondo, Crystal Cable Silver Monocrystal and the stock Crystal Cable Silver/Gold. You don't get his opinion but you do get 4 .aiff files to download for sampling sound through each wire.

Do Tonearm Cables Make a Sonic Difference? You Decide!

I'm not sure that Franc does the Nordost anymore. Imo it is Cardas or Kondo. I chose Kondo, which is a bit pricey. I was going to have a run of each, Cardas to the output box and Kondo to the full run to RCAs, but that was thick.

Either way you will want to burn-in the wire as it probably will never get burned-in with a low output cartridge and it does make a small difference. I talk about this with more detail toward's the end of my 4Point review:

Kuzma 4Point tonearm4Point Bejeweled – A Guided Tour of an Improved Kuzma Tonearm - Positive Feedback

Kuzma 4Point tonearm review

positive-feedback.com

KPC · Feb 10, 2022

@tima thanks. Exactly what I needed.

kleinbje · Feb 10, 2022

I've tried Valhalla 2, Clear, Audience, TYR 1&2, by far a length of Chord Music from my SUT to my Ypsilon VPS100 was the best. My Universal arm has a fixed cable that looks like Cardas, but when my TT3 gets here I'll look for another Music, on secondary. It's the best cable I've ever used. I felt like every cable before was a compromise, Nordost revealing and dynamic, but less body than Clear. Also highlighted surface noise and SSSibilance. Music is in your price range and definitely worth auditioning. It has a proprietary dielectric Taylon. No financial incentives, just years of trying out cables.

jfrech · Feb 10, 2022

Hi, I went with the Cardas, into a RCA block. Then run my own tonearm cable from there (Transparent Magnum Opus). I do think the tonearm cable is very important...I will recommend the Cardas straight to your phono stage. It's likely the best price/performance ratio.

Ultrafast69 · Feb 10, 2022

dan31 said:
I think the most popular options are the Cardas clear or the Crystal mono. Find a dealer who can advise you based on your system, room and listening preferences. Sometimes buying new from a good dealer has its benefits.

Good advice

mtemur · Feb 12, 2022

KPC said:
I plan to run balanced

it’s almost impossible to get it single ended. like almost all high quality tonearms it will normally have balanced wiring but to terminate it either with rca or xlr is up to you. I would go with rca cause there are more phono stages with rca and there are more options on high quality rca connectors.

I completely agree with @tima about using Kondo AN-AI. IMHO tonearm cable makes a big difference.

dan31 · Feb 12, 2022

If you want to use any current based phono stage you should consider balanced. I would go with XLR balanced to phono stage as planned. If you want to use step-up transformers or single ended designs such as Lamm or Kondo then RCA.

John Wyant · Mar 10, 2024

What kind of burn in gizmo was in Tima's photo? I have an old "Duotech cable enhancer". Would that work to burn in a Kondo cable on a Kuzma 4 point 7? I understand that those cables arrive partially burned in.

Bonesy Jonesy · Mar 10, 2024

dan31 said:
If you want to use any current based phono stage you should consider balanced. I would go with XLR balanced to phono stage as planned. If you want to use step-up transformers or single ended designs such as Lamm or Kondo then RCA.

That is not the case for the CH Precision P1 (currently one of the best current input / transimpedance Phono Stages out there) where it doesn't matter due to how the RCA and XLR inputs are connected within the unit !

Vinylfan · Mar 10, 2024

John Wyant said:
What kind of burn in gizmo was in Tima's photo? I have an old "Duotech cable enhancer". Would that work to burn in a Kondo cable on a Kuzma 4 point 7? I understand that those cables arrive partially burned in.

fryBaby. https://hagerman-audio-labs.myshopify.com/products/frybaby3-compact-burn-in-generator

John Wyant · Mar 10, 2024

Thanks, I'll look into it.

KPC · Jun 27, 2024

Closing the loop, I threw in the towel and purchased the Kuzma 4point with Kondo wire - didn't want to be plagued with the nagging "what if..."

Wutang-401` · Feb 15, 2025

what rca plugs did people get? i had the stock ones replaced today with furutech's ncf ones. holy heck! i guess i am wondering if people have used a variety of rca plugs or we were all using the Eichmann type thing (KLEI Absolute Harmony maybe?).

Wutang-401` · Feb 16, 2025

i might as well try and describe what has changed. the ETI plug was doing alot of work! it took in the music and gave it some extra depth and brought everything very forward. not terrible things but one of the transaction costs appears to have been resolution. having now removed those plugs what i hear is alot more difference between more forward portions of music and less forward portions. Listening to the HMS Pinafore live recording one notes that there is alot less distortion when the entire ensemble joins in. i think the ETI somehow superimpose signal on signal which strengthens the big stuff and diminishes the lesser. it is an adjustment being without the ETI as they do tend to supercharge the sound (at cost of dynamic shading/resolution). it feels like a substantial layer between me and performance has been removed and the music sounds more raw and less "produced".

Maril555 · Feb 16, 2025

Wutang-401` said:
i might as well try and describe what has changed. the ETI plug was doing alot of work! it took in the music and gave it some extra depth and brought everything very forward. not terrible things but one of the transaction costs appears to have been resolution. having now removed those plugs what i hear is alot more difference between more forward portions of music and less forward portions. Listening to the HMS Pinafore live recording one notes that there is alot less distortion when the entire ensemble joins in. i think the ETI somehow superimpose signal on signal which strengthens the big stuff and diminishes the lesser. it is an adjustment being without the ETI as they do tend to supercharge the sound (at cost of dynamic shading/resolution). it feels like a substantial layer between me and performance has been removed and the music sounds more raw and less "produced".

What did you replace ETI with?

Wutang-401` · Feb 16, 2025

furutech cf-102 ncf have replaced KLEI harmony plugs.

Maril555 · Feb 17, 2025

Wutang-401` said:
furutech cf-102 ncf have replaced KLEI harmony plugs.

Those are Rhodium plated. I’ve never had any luck with Rhodium in my system.
I like ETI though.

Wutang-401` · Feb 17, 2025

yes i have heard that before about rhodium. but in this case it is quite clear that the new furutech plugs are letting thru info that the ETI editorialise. i wonder if the rhodium issue wasn't something else as i don't get a sense of brightness or affectation with the furutech at all. i have previously removed the furutech ncf line conditioner because i thought it granulated sound somewhat.

arguably the ETI is an odd plug to combine with a high end tonearm. cost wise it doesn't make much sense i think and regarding performance what i am hearing is that the ETI packaged something for your ears whereas furutech is closer to source. it could just be a matter of taste, however for some music the furutech exhibits much less distortion. massed voices was an example i discussed above. arguably the ETI highlights the thrills of the Safir quite well, but i think on some systems some may prefer more detail, more shading of tone. comparatively i found the ETI very forward, very huge.

Kuzma 4Point - which tonearm wire?

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