Ikeda Cartridges esp 9Gss

[howiebrou]

I saw a nice Ikeda 9Gss today which seems to be their top of line cartridge.

Can anyone shed some light on their cartridges and what sort of tone arm would be suitable (apart from their own of course).

Cheers

Howie

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

I tried my Cantileverless Rowland Complement(IKEDA) in The Groovemaster Titanium which should work fine
this arm also handles Lumiere perfectly

 

[howiebrou]

I tried my Cantileverless Rowland Complement(IKEDA) in The Groovemaster Titanium which should work fine
this arm also handles Lumiere perfectly

Thank you. I'm thinking an Ikeda 407 would go nicely with it?

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

of course , but don´t underestimate The Groovemaster, it´s extremely well made, at half the cost...
even the finish and you don´t need RayBans just to look at it

 

[bonzo75]

Thank you. I'm thinking an Ikeda 407 would go nicely with it?

There is a nice Ikeda 407 for sale in the UK if you are interested?

 

[howiebrou]

There is a nice Ikeda 407 for sale in the UK if you are interested?

Thanks very much. Got a link pls?

 

[bonzo75]

Thanks very much. Got a link pls?

It's the same friend of mine I mentioned who auditioned the thoress and the Allnic and bought the Allnic. I have heard it at his place and is really good. Compared to Groovemaster, much better. It is also the older version which I have heard is better than the newer version. I am listening to it on Sunday again.

https://theartofsound.net/forum/sho...tridge-Ikeda-headshells&p=1114850#post1114850

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

have you actually listened to/compared Groovemaster Ti

 

[bonzo75]

have you actually listened to/compared Groovemaster Ti

Yes he had both

 

[bonzo75]

He is now planning to get the Glanz. He hasn't heard it yet, just itchy

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

Yes he had both

any impressions with what cart and on what tt pls?

 

[bonzo75]

any impressions with what cart and on what tt pls?

He had a TD 124, modded. Carts were the Miyajima madake and the SPU. Phono then was the EAR integrated

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

listening differences between Ikeda and Groovemaster
I know some of theese older arms like 407 and 64 ans 66S are considered more dynamic, but at the cost of refinement...
matches well my previous impressions as owner of both 64 and 66S, but it was along time ago

 

[bonzo75]

listening differences between Ikeda and Groovemaster
I know some of theese older arms like 407 and 64 ans 66S are considered more dynamic, but at the cost of refinement...
matches well my previous impressions as owner of both 64 and 66S, but it was along time ago

66s on a brinkmann balance is one of the top analog set ups i have heard. I like the fr64s very much though that can be improved upon. I prefer Ikeda 407 to the Thales simplicity with zyx universe on a feickert firebird once, and this was my other experience. The one shortcoming might be on inner grooves on orchestral for the Ikeda.

Yes the arm does have a nice midrange and a smoothness, weight, and authority some might consider a color. I am ok with it though

I wouldn't say dynamic, I would day the fr64 has a high energy. It doesn't just slam. The FR 66s seems calmer and more majestic.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

thxs for sharing
I´ll see where I finally end up on my shot at the Garrardzilla...waiting for custom Peak slate plinth, Hanze psu and motor check on my CTC301...bronze platter and bearing from Italy are home wating...

 

[montesquieu]

Howie, I'm the chap Kedar referred to, I just sent you a long rambling email on all things Ikeda and Groovemaster.

Short version the Ikedas are great cartridges, I've owned several both the old cantileverless ones and the current (9TT which is mid-range), very modern sounding, detailed, holographic,, and pretty musical. Kedar loves my 9TT but I tend to listen instead to my Myajima Madake which has fewer fireworks but suits my temperament rather better.

The Groovemaster is a great sounding arm, actually up with the best I think, but falls short of the best removable headshell arms like the Ikeda or M2-12R in fit and finish, and in niceness of handling. Totally personal how much that matters to people. Its also VERY heavy and I would say restricts cartridge choice firmly to low compliance cartridges a bit more than an early Ikeda IT407 like mine. Again depends on your cartridge preferences whether that's significant, no issues with SPUs and the like of course.

I'm switching to the Glanz purely out of curiosity. Been lusting after one since I saw it at at a show a couple of years back. You know how it is.

 

[howiebrou]

Howie, I'm the chap Kedar referred to, I just sent you a long rambling email on all things Ikeda and Groovemaster.

Short version the Ikedas are great cartridges, I've owned several both the old cantileverless ones and the current (9TT which is mid-range), very modern sounding, detailed, holographic,, and pretty musical. Kedar loves my 9TT but I tend to listen instead to my Myajima Madake which has fewer fireworks but suits my temperament rather better.

The Groovemaster is a great sounding arm, actually up with the best I think, but falls short of the best removable headshell arms like the Ikeda or M2-12R in fit and finish, and in niceness of handling. Totally personal how much that matters to people. Its also VERY heavy and I would say restricts cartridge choice firmly to low compliance cartridges a bit more than an early Ikeda IT407 like mine. Again depends on your cartridge preferences whether that's significant, no issues with SPUs and the like of course.

I'm switching to the Glanz purely out of curiosity. Been lusting after one since I saw it at at a show a couple of years back. You know how it is.

Thank you for the message and congrats on the Glanz. That was another one i was looking at. May be some day...

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

hi thxs for very informative contribution
can see from your gear where your preferences are...harmonics......or King Tone like the late Harvey Gizmo Rosenberg always referred to from Singleendedville
reg the Groovemaster: I chose it specifically to match the Lumiere and also the Rowland Complement, and possibly other very low c cartridges
the other arm on my Garardzilla will (as a starter) be the Alfred Bokrand Ortofon based 309 banana with EMT diamond mount for my EMT TSD 15 and TMD 25.
My main tt from 91 is still Basis Ovation (upgraded just before AJ Conti left us) with Airtangent Reference
Until recently I had a Lyra Titan i in it, but the left channel gave up and I´m waiting to see what shows up from Lyra, whenever they´re ready
best
Leif

 

[Solypsa]

...The Groovemaster is a great sounding arm, actually up with the best I think, but falls short of the best removable headshell arms like the Ikeda or M2-12R in fit and finish, and in niceness of handling. Totally personal how much that matters to people. Its also VERY heavy...

Were you using the titanium arm wand (now the only one they offer) or the aluminum arm wand version? Just curious...

 

[montesquieu]

Were you using the titanium arm wand (now the only one they offer) or the aluminum arm wand version? Just curious...

Titanium. I had the Timestep 612 version, sold in the UK by a prominent vinyl-focused distributor, made to their specs by Groovemaster in NL.

http://www.soundhifi.com/Timestep Tonearm T-609 T-610 T-612 dealer.html

Some useful tweaks actually.