Kuzma SAFIR 9

[thekong]

Birdwatcher, Andy,

For two reasons I have defeated the Verdier’s suspension with simple metal columns. First, I belong to the school of thought that favours tight coupling between motor and platter, with no relative movement between the two. Second, I am putting the Verdier on a pneumatic laboratory table, so I don’t want double suspensions, which may create interference.

I am also experimenting with using super heavy platter mat on the Verdier, the one in my photo is the 2.5kg stainless steel mat from the Kenwood L-07D turntable. My initial impression is quite positive.

 

[thekong]

@thekong nice setup. What cartridge have you used on the Safir? Your thoughts of the Safir vs your other tonearms?

SOS,

So far, my favourite cartridge with the Safir is the EMT VM. That was also the combo our dealer used to allure us into buying four Safir

 

[jazzdude99]

Birdwatcher, Andy,

For two reasons I have defeated the Verdier’s suspension with simple metal columns. First, I belong to the school of thought that favours tight coupling between motor and platter, with no relative movement between the two. Second, I am putting the Verdier on a pneumatic laboratory table, so I don’t want double suspensions, which may create interference.

I am also experimenting with using super heavy platter mat on the Verdier, the one in my photo is the 2.5kg stainless steel mat from the Kenwood L-07D turntable. My initial impression is quite positive.

Super - thanks for the info

Andy

 

[mtemur]

Birdwatcher, Andy,

For two reasons I have defeated the Verdier’s suspension with simple metal columns. First, I belong to the school of thought that favours tight coupling between motor and platter, with no relative movement between the two. Second, I am putting the Verdier on a pneumatic laboratory table, so I don’t want double suspensions, which may create interference.

I am also experimenting with using super heavy platter mat on the Verdier, the one in my photo is the 2.5kg stainless steel mat from the Kenwood L-07D turntable. My initial impression is quite positive.

IME one of the major improvements on Verdier is centering magnets in relation to bearing shaft. Centering bearing shaft base in relation to lower magnet case is also important.

 

[Petrat]

Gotta love the Verdier & it's...lets call it "industrial chic". I've been delighted with mine for 20 years, but even I have to concede it looks like it was assembled on a farm out of ploughing equipment!

Exactly! I've been describing mine as 'French Agricultural' for years. Ugly but lovely.
Strange there doesn't seem to be a PV thread here ...

 

[Petrat]

Thanks a lot, thekong! Looks really good!
This is the original French version of the Platine Verdier, in contrast to the version of Auditorium 23 in Germany from phono and mine.
Did you have any issues with the springs in the feets, as you already use the not original light, but heavy metal towers and tonearm baseplate, that are much more heavy than the original wooden ones.
And what do you use as add on for the platter?

I, too, use heavier aluminium arm-pods and have disabled the suspension, as footfall on my wooden floors was causing mis-tracking with some cartridges.

 

[Chop]

Exactly! I've been describing mine as 'French Agricultural' for years. Ugly but lovely.
Strange there doesn't seem to be a PV thread here ...

The fact we don't have a PV thread mystifies me as well.... Perhaps it's that it's such an old design & looks so darn ugly that it's just not sexy enough for WBF...

 

[jazzdude99]

Mine isn’t ugly!

The arm boards and columns are African hardwood. Durand Kairos with VdH Crimson and an SM312s and London Reference

cheers

Andy

 

[shakti]

The fact we don't have a PV thread mystifies me as well.... Perhaps it's that it's such an old design & looks so darn ugly that it's just not sexy enough for WBF...

you might open such a thread, as I am opening this thread frequently to read news about the Kuzma Safir 9 theme….

 

[Chop]

Ah. Apologies for the inadvertent hijack!

 

[shakti]

Ah. Apologies for the inadvertent hijack!

I like the Verdier, so for me, still fun reading

 

[SOS]

Anyone know how best to get a Palmer 2.5i turntable and the Audio Origami PU7 tonearm modified to accept the Kuzma Safir tonearm? I'm told that Kuzma doesn't modify other turntables to accept any Kuzma tonearms which is understabdable. The issue is that Palmer turntables are no longer in business. Here's a review of the combo. (whcih sounds very good BTW). https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2020...rntable-and-audio-origami-pu7-tonearm-review/

 

[shakti]

the kuzma stabi R standard base looks very similar, it even might fit the palmer

 

[SOS]

Nope I brought over one of the Kuzma's base plates with the 3 holes that would bolt onto the table and they are a bit larger so that will not work.

 

[thekong]

By looking at the photos in the review, looks like the arrangement is similar to that of the JC Verdier, with the armboard attached to the pillar using a bolt. If so, an easy way maybe to machine a new armboard to fit the Safir.

 

[phoni]

By looking at the photos in the review, looks like the arrangement is similar to that of the JC Verdier, with the armboard attached to the pillar using a bolt. If so, an easy way maybe to machine a new armboard to fit the Safir.

Yes, this should work alike. You must design a two-piece-base as shown for my 4Point 14"

 

[SOS]

Thanks phoni but who would be able to manufacture such a piece? Palmer is no longer in existence.

 

[matakana]

Thanks phoni but who would be able to manufacture such a piece? Palmer is no longer in existence.

Tonearm Stand For All Applications. Bespoke sizes, colours and diameters.

PLEASE READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND OUR PURCHASE INFO PAGE BEFORE PURCHASING, Thank You.Adding a Tonearm Stand to a turntable enables the user to add a secondary Tonearm without disrupting the existing setup.Choose finish, which can be any colour pow...

www.acoustand.co.uk

 

[SOS]

Thanks matakana for the link!

 

[phoni]

Thanks phoni but who would be able to manufacture such a piece? Palmer is no longer in existence.

You need a machine shop that makes the parts according to your specifications. Measure the distance between the platter spindle and the mounting point of the tonearm base on your turntable as well as the diameter in the chassis frame and the height from the chassis to the top edge of the platter. Franc Kuzma has all assembly details online. Try to find out if the Safir can be mounted on your palmer.