AS Aquilar + Koetsu

advanced101

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May 3, 2017
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Looking at moving up in the tonearm world from my Ikeda 407. I use Stonebody Koetsus. Anyone have any thoughts on the Acoustical Systems Aquilar in conjunction with the Koetsus?
 

RaceDoc

Well-Known Member
Sep 11, 2017
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Hi "advanced101",

a really upgrade to the Ikeda would be choosing the ViV Rigid Float.
So far I have compared not one cartridge in different tonearms which
was not bettered by this "crazy constructed" tonarm.
 

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
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In an interview with hi-fi in 2014 Dietrich Brakemeierth, founder of Acoustical Systems, said:

In terms of tone arm design there’s only one person whom I really admire because his work was not influenced by any audio perspective but by pure mechanical engineering and its consequence. And that is Isamu Ikeda a Japanese engineer and founder of Fidelity Research and later Ikeda Sound Labs who in my perspective invented 40 years ago a tone arm design that has stood the test of time. It has proved, in my opinion, that until late last year it has been on par with any design that followed it. [meaning his Axiom is the only tonearm which has improved upon Isamu's work]

http://www.avhub.com.au/features/hi-...systems-395228

I do not know if the Aquilar was designed with the Fidelity Research in the forefront of Dietrich's mind as apparently the Axiom was, but, purely based on Dietrich's views, I would think the Aquilar would be a good match for any heavy-ish and low compliance cartridge.
 

audioquest4life

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Sep 23, 2020
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Reviving this thread. Anyone have any updates concerning the Aguilar being used with a Koetsu? I am going to listen to the Aguilar in a few months at a dealer in Pennsylvania. Before I get cabin fever and just throw money around, want to make sure it’s a worthwhile investment. Not ruling out the Axiom either.

My visit is coinciding with the annual Ford Nationals where Shelbys and Ford GTs get to show off. So, two fun events on one trip.
 

shakti

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May 9, 2015
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You can get the Aquilar in 10" and 12" version,
Personally I do prefer Koetsu on a more heavy arm, so the 12"Aquilar is the only way to go.
10" is more like SME V in terms of effective mass.
 
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audioquest4life

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Sep 23, 2020
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You can get the Aquilar in 10" and 12" version,
Personally I do prefer Koetsu on a more heavy arm, so the 12"Aquilar is the only way to go.
10" is more like SME V in terms of effective mass.
Thank you for the reply. Reading through the literature for the Aquilar, it seems that it offers a great range of cartridge variability. This is a key point of interest to me. From 5.2 to 30 grams balanced range regardless of tonearm length, but the compliance of the Jade, for example, is 5, which is not good with the 10”, and barely good with the 18.8 effective mass of the 12” arm, . So your sentiment is sadly on point.

Effective moving mass net:
10” = 11.4 grams 12” = 18,8 grams
• Inner wiring: soft aged pure silver litz wire
• Resistance inner wiring: 0.9 Ohms/m
• Capacitance inner wiring: 25 pF/m
• Cartridge weight balanced:
5.2 to 30 grams
 

advanced101

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May 3, 2017
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Koetsu reports compliance at 100 Hz. If we translate that to 10 Hz we are looking at around 7.5 conservatively. With 18.8g for the arm, 12.5g for the cartridge, and 1.3g for some brass screws you are looking at a reasonant frequency of 10.17 Hz, not bad. I was considering the Aquilar 12" at one point, still might eventually go that route.
 

audioquest4life

Well-Known Member
Sep 23, 2020
327
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Koetsu reports compliance at 100 Hz. If we translate that to 10 Hz we are looking at around 7.5 conservatively. With 18.8g for the arm, 12.5g for the cartridge, and 1.3g for some brass screws you are looking at a reasonant frequency of 10.17 Hz, not bad. I was considering the Aquilar 12" at one point, still might eventually go that route.
It is high on my list for sure. According to the distributor, the 12" will mount on a 9" SME mount, which makes it even more appealing to me.
 

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