My friend is getting very serious about his analog set-up. He bought a CH P1, and is ordering opus 1 and AF3. Which tonearm would you recommend to him based on your experiences? For second arm and cartridge he already has SME m2-12r and Thomas Schick 12" with ZYX and spu cartridges.
My friend is getting very serious about his analog set-up. He bought a CH P1, and is ordering opus 1 and AF3. Which tonearm would you recommend to him based on your experiences? For second arm and cartridge he already has SME m2-12r and Thomas Schick 12" with ZYX and spu cartridges.
Thanks Shakti, I also like my standart length Kuzma 4 point and recommended it as its effective mass is a good match for opus 1 hitting 10hz dead on. The 9" for point with its 13gr effective mass still matches but does not match as well with the opus as it corresponds to 11hz.
The SME 3012r works very well with Opus in Tang's system, I don't know about heavier arms like FR. I have heard the Opus on the Bergmann Sindre and Vyger in CH phono at Gian's but those arms are attached to the TTs. I have not heard on his other arms that he on AF3 premium like Basis Superarm 9. That is where his feedback will be useful
But since your friend has SME m2 12r, he should be fine till he finds something else that he likes, as long as it sounds something like on the 3012r.
Phono is a personal choice, whether he prefers CH or a valve phono, as long as he has done his research listening, it is tough to say. The Opus sounds very good at Gian's through the CH phono with change happening mainly due to the table and arm (Bergmann as compared to Vyger).
The 3012R is excellent with Opus1 and also other carts that is light like Zyx, MSL, etc. It is raw and lively. Also only around $4,000 NOS and you don't even need to buy an expensive phono cable. You want a more sophisticated control sound go for broke go for SAT which also works excellent with Opus1.
The 3012R is excellent with Opus1 and also other carts that is light like Zyx, MSL, etc. It is raw and lively. Also only around $4,000 NOS and you don't even need to buy an expensive phono cable. You want a more sophisticated control sound go for broke go for SAT which also works excellent with Opus1.
Here i am,
come back now from a tour on the lake with my wife.
I suggest your friend first, that already has sme and Thomas S. to buy X1 for P1,difference is very big adding X1 to P1 in every parameter.
For tonearm,after the good suggestion from Shakti,i see well also Graham Panthom III,or better Elite and Thales because AF3P has very deep bass and full mid bass and very good mid so i think Thales and Graham add some more air in high frequencies.
Opus i like a lot and is a perfect match with P1,both in current because impedance is very low and also in voltage around 100 ohm,only need to try what he prefer
Here i am,
come back now from a tour on the lake with my wife.
I suggest your friend first, that already has sme and Thomas S. to buy X1 for P1,difference is very big adding X1 to P1 in every parameter.
For tonearm,after the good suggestion from Shakti,i see well also Graham Panthom III,or better Elite and Thales because AF3P has very deep bass and full mid bass and very good mid so i think Thales and Graham add some more air in high frequencies.
Opus i like a lot and is a perfect match with P1,both in current because impedance is very low and also in voltage around 100 ohm,only need to try what he prefer
Yoh T,
Kedar is a tad more correct-I just sold a NOS one boxed for $2800-and am negotiating a similar ilk (unused ) at the moment for $2200.
They do pop up for K's reckoning-you just have to put your feelers out-ha
Good luck.
Here i am,
come back now from a tour on the lake with my wife.
I suggest your friend first, that already has sme and Thomas S. to buy X1 for P1,difference is very big adding X1 to P1 in every parameter.
For tonearm,after the good suggestion from Shakti,i see well also Graham Panthom III,or better Elite and Thales because AF3P has very deep bass and full mid bass and very good mid so i think Thales and Graham add some more air in high frequencies.
Opus i like a lot and is a perfect match with P1,both in current because impedance is very low and also in voltage around 100 ohm,only need to try what he prefer
I find that the Opus 1 lacks dynamics, resolution and deep bass (although it has a lot of mid bass). It's a very laid back presentation. At least that's what I experience with my P1 (either in current or voltage inputs). I've been wondering if the Colibri Master Sig would be better.
I find that the Opus 1 lacks dynamics, resolution and deep bass (although it has a lot of mid bass). It's a very laid back presentation. At least that's what I experience with my P1 (either in current or voltage inputs). I've been wondering if the Colibri Master Sig would be better.
It definitely is laid back compared to the master signature. Fremer did not like the master signature with the CH, he thought it didn't suit from what I gathered from the review, he preferred it with the Ypsilon
It definitely is laid back compared to the master signature. Fremer did not like the master signature with the CH, he thought it didn't suit from what I gathered from the review, he preferred it with the Ypsilon
I have the Master Sig on the VPS 100 phono stage with an Emia silver SUT and it is anything but laid back ;-)
This cart has so much energy across the board - I would describe the bass in my setup as cavernous in its depth along with very good articulation.
In fact I was surprised at how resoundingly this cart trumps my Koetsu Blue Lace Platinum - the Koetsu is great but the Master Sig is in a different ball park in terms of dynamics, bass extension, and transparency. It is perhaps in this latter aspect that I think the Master Sig really shines - it makes my Koetsu sound veiled in comparison.
Thanks for that link, Mike. It seems that gimbal arms are getting some attention from designers again, with VPI, Durand, and SAT making new gimbal designs. The Tosca seems to have a very clever and convenient VTA adjustment mechanism. Do you know if Joel thinks that VTA should be adjusted for different LPs?