About 6yrs ago, I started in-depth research into high-end audio. I had no clue how much it was going to cost or what was out there. My first foray was into Century Stereo (closed now). I was very intimated in going in to check out the stereos likely afraid of a pushy salesman. After a few times looking at the door, one day I finally went in. It was there that I heard the GoldenEar Triton speakers and discovered 3D soundstage. They were proud of their Parasound gear saying it competes with the best. My second store I went into was Audio Vision in Berkeley where underling salesperson pushed me to give a budget, so when I choose a number $20k, he then tried to push a meh boxstore sounding system down my throat and said many wrong things (I’ve already started my online research so I know he was lying) to get the sale. I sent them a seething email which included all the deceptive things he was saying. Although upper management reached out and apologized, it was then that I started researching on my own not trusting commission bias salesmen.
I spoke at length to Chris at Artisan Fidelity who earned my trust, putting customer before commission. I'm planning to purchase the 4point from him hopefully along with a Schroeder CB, Miyajima mono cart, and maybe his upgraded Groovemaster II for my SPU sidetrip. Per Chris, the CB mates well with the VDH GC.
My used VPI Avenger came with VPI's arms 12" Ref 3D Arm and 10.5" Signature Arm. VPI had an upgrade to their Fatboy, but JB said that the FB had significant manufacturing inconsistencies so I'll sell them.
JB generously agreed to install my carts on Kuzma headshells using shims to make cartridge change easy. He also said that he checked after changes the usual cartridge install measurements and was satisfied that the need to recheck was minimal.
On a side note, Kuzma's new SAFIR 9 tonearm's arm tube is fabricated from sapphire! Excited to hear reviews of this unusual material.
