uh oh. Déjà vu ...
Dre
Uh oh what? I don't know if there is an accepted "right way" or "wrong way" to install a cartridge. I just know "my way" which doesn't involve hanging my cartridge over the balcony by the skinny tonearm wires.
Kuzma 4 point
- Thread starter rockitman
- Start date
Uh oh what? I don't know if there is an accepted "right way" or "wrong way" to install a cartridge. I just know "my way" which doesn't involve hanging my cartridge over the balcony by the skinny tonearm wires.
Agreed.
When Jazdoc posted about JV's blog of my setup procedure (as he observed it) the one thing I was surprised by was the comment by some that the order of the attachment of the wires. I claimed "Switzerland" on the thing but noted that I prefer attaching the cartridge first based on long experience (including many years outside the hobby) with small gauge wires even pointing out some arms with extremely delicate wires.
The old thread is located here: http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?8580-TAS-Article-on-Cartridge-Set-Up
Dre
Oops! You are right. I forgot about that thread and the fact that I had already commented on the exact same thing. I just don't understand how you are more likely to drop the cartridge when you are installing it to the tonearm than you are likely to drop it while you are attaching the four wires. Clumsy is as clumsy does I guess.
I usually loosely attach the cartridge to the headshell first. But OTOH, if you had an attached arm say like an SME, you might want to do it in reverse to be slightly kinder to the bearings. Since the VPI arm wand is detachable, it doesn't make any difference.
Also, and I don't recommend this for anyone else, I have good manual dexterity and prefer sliding the wires onto the pins with my fingers than using tweezers. I don't find a good feel with most tweezers save for the ones that Bob Graham supplies with his arms. Those tweezers are special. Wish I knew what happened to mine
Same here. Watching the cart hang by the wires is pretty scary, and may put more strain on the wires than is wise. I just tighten the cart down enough to make sure it's not going anywhere. Then twist the cart so the pins point to the right and attach the tonearm wires. I have no problem getting the wires on with my fingers. It may be safer to use tweezers to remove the wires from the cartridge, but as long as you can grasp them by the pins and not the wires you will be ok. That is what I usually do.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
I usually loosely attach the cartridge to the headshell first. But OTOH, if you had an attached arm say like an SME, you might want to do it in reverse to be slightly kinder to the bearings. Since the VPI arm wand is detachable, it doesn't make any difference.
Also, and I don't recommend this for anyone else, I have good manual dexterity and prefer sliding the wires onto the pins with my fingers than using tweezers. I don't find a good feel with most tweezers save for the ones that Bob Graham supplies with his arms. Those tweezers are special. Wish I knew what happened to mine
Forget the tweezers... I just got some needle holders from the hospital! I also saw something that looked like hemostats or a short 5" needle holder type of instrument in the local bait/tackle shop that you use to make lures.
I think it's a bit odd that the tonearm cable is attached to the armwand and moves with it. Wouldn't that cause friction/impede movement in the horizontal plane?
I mount the cartridge first, then attach the clips. No way the thin VDH wire on my tonearm would be able to hold up a cartridge.
I mount the cartridge first, then attach the clips. No way the thin VDH wire on my tonearm would be able to hold up a cartridge.
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Good catch. Most tonearms have to move a small loop of the tonearm wire, but the 4point has to move the whole cable. That can't be ideal.
Ok, good to know someone else saw that
Though the photo on Kuzma's site shows it coming out of the base. It seems Peter has a different version of the tonearm.
Ok, good to know someone else saw that
Though the photo on Kuzma's site shows it coming out of the base. It seems Peter has a different version of the tonearm.
View attachment 13885
Maybe they fixed that in the newer version?
I don't think it is moving the tonearm cable. The arm pivots on the upper movable tonearm base. The only thing I see moving with the tonearm are the thin wand wires that go into the tonearm cable.
In the first video when he moves the arm wand the whole cable moves. In the second video it does not move the the whole cable. So he must have edited out the part when he attached the tonearm cable to the base.
I cannot quantify the differences between the Ref 313 VTA and the 4Point, but going from the Stogi Reference to the 4Point yielded huge improvements. I think a more interesting comparison would be between the Ref 313 VTA and the Stogi S 12 VTA.
Hi,
being a designer of Kuzma 4Point tonearm I would like to clarify confusion regarding how is done wire loop on this tonearm.
Photo on post #52 is correct: All 4Point tonearms always had big wire loop in this position when tonearm is set up for use.
Tonearm 4Point does not have detachable cable so during transport cable is secured on small pin on armwand with tube to avoid any forces on thin wire loop.
Thus makes it easy and safe to handle during transport and mounting. But after you insert armwand with tube onto bearing, you release screw which holds black metal cable holder on pin and reposition it on second pin which is on VTA tower support.
being a designer of Kuzma 4Point tonearm I would like to clarify confusion regarding how is done wire loop on this tonearm.
Photo on post #52 is correct: All 4Point tonearms always had big wire loop in this position when tonearm is set up for use.
Tonearm 4Point does not have detachable cable so during transport cable is secured on small pin on armwand with tube to avoid any forces on thin wire loop.
Thus makes it easy and safe to handle during transport and mounting. But after you insert armwand with tube onto bearing, you release screw which holds black metal cable holder on pin and reposition it on second pin which is on VTA tower support.
Hi Frank,
Thanks for posting. The way I understand it, the tonearm swings independent from the exiting tonearm cable, correct ?
Thanks for posting. The way I understand it, the tonearm swings independent from the exiting tonearm cable, correct ?
No, it's not. I had the 313VTA on my Kuzma Ref., and the 4Point is considerably better. Bass is better, fuller, and the naturalness is just incredible.
The 313 isn't bad, but the 4Point is something else.
alexandre
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