Air Tight Opus 1 arrived
- Thread starter gian60
- Start date
Ahh, wives/GFs and their audiophile husbands/BFs...
I’m certainly walking a fine line.
The way I see it, the hobby gets me out of her hair all day, that alone makes it invaluable to her LOL.
I’m certainly walking a fine line.
The way I see it, the hobby gets me out of her hair all day, that alone makes it invaluable to her LOL.
Did it, have an Opus 1 on order. Expected sometime between middle of January and middle of February. Can’t wait to dabble into this range of cartridges. It will be mated to a new Transrotor TRA9 tonearm, also on order and same delivery window. All mounted on a Transrotor Apollon TMD.
Since this original post is nearly three years old, does anyone have anything more to update?
Since this original post is nearly three years old, does anyone have anything more to update?
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The only update I have to add is that, three years later, I have yet to hear one person who does not at least like, more or less, the Opus 1 cartridge.
I had a wonderful long catch-up call with audioquattr week. He owns two turntables, four or five tonearms and about eight top cartridges. Audioquattr agrees with Tang that the Opus 1 achieves the highest score in the most categories of any cartridge in audioquattr's experience. (Meaning that a different cartridge may achieve a 10 on some parameter, but that cartridge scores only a seven or eight in other areas. The Opus 1 scores "9"s across the board.)
If I did not already have a ZYX UNIverse Premium I definitely would get an Opus 1.
I had a wonderful long catch-up call with audioquattr week. He owns two turntables, four or five tonearms and about eight top cartridges. Audioquattr agrees with Tang that the Opus 1 achieves the highest score in the most categories of any cartridge in audioquattr's experience. (Meaning that a different cartridge may achieve a 10 on some parameter, but that cartridge scores only a seven or eight in other areas. The Opus 1 scores "9"s across the board.)
If I did not already have a ZYX UNIverse Premium I definitely would get an Opus 1.
While I was considering what would be my next uber cartridge, like a good audio geek, I did research in this forum and others, and read a few reviews. The Opus 1 listening impressions from Tang that you mentioned are one of the main reasons why I selected this cartridge. I have been kicking around MSL's and Koetsu stone bodies and after re-reading Tang's thoughts, decided it was time to follow the Opus 1 path. Although, I am completely satisfied with the Hyperion, it is having choices of what cartridge to play, that more or less pushed me that direction. I am still highly considering a Jade to add to the collection so that I can satisfy my stone body itch, LOL.
dear nick ,
happy you recieve the opus 1 eallier , ... perfect christmas timing.... i studied also several reviews of opus 1 and like to follow the air tight path,... after using koetsu cartrige before .
.better is the enemy of good....
i will carry out the A/ B comparison test in 2 approx. months ...to detect..the differnecene with the pc 1 supreme in my chain..
i hope your expectations will be fulfilled.
all the best
thomas
Well I am one. It has too much energy in the lower midrange which makes is sound thick and sluggish to my ears. I also could not get very good dynamics from it.
Hi Thomas,
Thank you. I remember your RSP, man, that was a great sound from your system. I am sure any cartridges will sound excellent on your system, especially since you have upgraded your phono stage…again. If I get before Christmas that would be a great present to myself, LOL.
nick
congratulations OPUS 1 is a great cartridge. I would keep those SME V tonearms and get rid of vdh inner and tonearm cables immediately.
agree! i changed inner tonearm cablesat my SME V against kondo silver cable , sigificant impove!
Where did you have the tonearm cables swapped? Did you do it yourself or send it off? I am using Analysis Plus Silver Apex XLR phono cable from tonearm to phono Amp. I only used the VDH tonearm cables once. I tested and changed phono cables to other brands over the years, but never the inside of the SME V arm. I need to find a U.S. dealer who can do the tonearm cable swap. Thanks for the information.
I would agree with this characterization of the Opus 1 based on my own experience. I suspect @audioquattr has experience with more cartridges than I, however I have heard quite a few having a friend/dealer near by willing to provider loaners. The Opus 1 ticks all boxes for me, achieving 8-10s in the categories I evaluate. What hits home with your description is the notion that in a given category, yes, it might be possible to find another cartridge which exceeds the Opus 1, but in those instances, it has always been the case that the other cartridge is then notably worse (lower scoring) in another or multiple other categories. The only other cartridge that I've encountered which is similar to the Opus 1 in regards to all-around greatness has been the Red Sparrow. I think it is a bit better than Opus 1 in a few areas, not as good in a few others, but overall very very good in most areas.
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Nick, i did it with ronny .i like tiefenbrun statement..what is lost in the beginning you can not catch at the end ! The details make the difference!
It’s here. My Opus 1 was delivered today, yeah. Still waiting on my gold Transrotor TRA9 tonearm, so will install on one of my spare SME V arms. Looking forward to initial listening impressions. 
