Thank you for giving us your feedback on different tonearms + Koetsu. The Glanz sounds like a great combination and reminds me of the Fidelity Research FR-66s.
What tonearm(s) are people using with their Koetsu cartridges?
- Thread starter lem321
- Start date
Reviving this old thread as the OP, the wide assortment of tonearms people use with their Koetsu cartridges tells me there are no clear winners in this cartridge-tonearm match-up although the FR 64s/66s, Ikeda 407 and Glanz were mentioned most often.
I've narrowed my personal choices down to a Fidelity Research 66s and a Glanz MH-1200s. I find them both attractive, well-made and both have received excellent reports in the field. I wanted to ask if anyone has had the opportunity to compare an original Fidelity Research FR-66s to the Glanz MH-1200s tonearm specifically when used with a Koetsu? The FR-66s is of course the older arm and would possibly require some maintenance (bearings and wiring). For almost the same money, a new Glanz would be ready to go. A secondary question is how does the FR-66s compare with its little brother, the FR-64s which is about 1/3 the price?
Thanks in advance for your input.
I've narrowed my personal choices down to a Fidelity Research 66s and a Glanz MH-1200s. I find them both attractive, well-made and both have received excellent reports in the field. I wanted to ask if anyone has had the opportunity to compare an original Fidelity Research FR-66s to the Glanz MH-1200s tonearm specifically when used with a Koetsu? The FR-66s is of course the older arm and would possibly require some maintenance (bearings and wiring). For almost the same money, a new Glanz would be ready to go. A secondary question is how does the FR-66s compare with its little brother, the FR-64s which is about 1/3 the price?
Thanks in advance for your input.
I am not a Koetsu user, but would like to share an experience on comparing two FR64S (one has been upgraded by Richard Mak of Analog Magik) and a FR66S with a Koetsu Blue Lace Diamond on a Denon DP100 turntable.
The Analog Magik (AM) upgraded FR64S outperformed the original one by a considerable margin in terms of transparency and detail retrieval. The FR66S, while still lost out to the AM FR64S in transparency, had better bass weight. I am seriously considering having the AM upgrade done on the FR66S.
As for the original FR64S vs 66S, the 66S surely has more bass weight, but whether it is worth 3 times, or more, the cost really depends on the user. For me, if I am using a Koetsu diamond cantilever cartridges, I would go for the 66S, probably with the AM upgrade.
The Analog Magik (AM) upgraded FR64S outperformed the original one by a considerable margin in terms of transparency and detail retrieval. The FR66S, while still lost out to the AM FR64S in transparency, had better bass weight. I am seriously considering having the AM upgrade done on the FR66S.
As for the original FR64S vs 66S, the 66S surely has more bass weight, but whether it is worth 3 times, or more, the cost really depends on the user. For me, if I am using a Koetsu diamond cantilever cartridges, I would go for the 66S, probably with the AM upgrade.
Hi Ron, I don't have the Reed 5T but I do have the Reed 5A with a Koetsu Onyx Platinum. I have a hot rodded Clearaudio Master Reference on a Minus K platform. I can honestly say that I have never heard better.
That is very interesting for me since I am about to send my FR-64S to Richard for restoration. Can you say what changes Richard made to your 64S? Did you go with silver or copper internal wiring? Did you keep the DIN jack or go with the complete wiring option?
Lastly, does your upgraded 64S have as much bass weight as the stock 64S? You said the original 66S has more bass weight but I am curious how the upgraded 64S compares to the original 64S.
As far as I understand, my AM upgraded FR64S has the horizontal / radial bearing changed and with AM’s silver internal wiring. As far as connections go, it was not changed from the original; ie. still have the headshell connections and DIN output jack.
I don’t hear any loss in bass weight with the AM upgrade, just more transparency and detail retrieval!
I am pretty sure part of the improvement is due to the cleaning and relubing of the vertical bearing! After all, the arm is something like 40 years old, so the lubricant is probably not in a good shape!
Richard is a founding member of our GTAA audio group. He now resides in Singapore. All I can say is that he is meticulous in FR arm restorations as I have had my FR64s and FR66s re done by him while he was still in Toronto. New bearings and complete single loom to the RCAs as well as cleaning and lubrication.
If anyone is getting work done by Richard you will be very pleased. On the FR64s vs FR66s comparison... I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze if you are setting out to find one or the other the FR64s gets you most of the way there. The bass is definitely more extended on the 66 though.
As far as the Glanz goes- this may be as good or better than the FR arms. Richard has conveyed this to me. I have not heard one. I use my Koetsu on the FR arms and I have not yet attempted the Koetsu on the Kuzma Safir which I believe will be killer.
If anyone is getting work done by Richard you will be very pleased. On the FR64s vs FR66s comparison... I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze if you are setting out to find one or the other the FR64s gets you most of the way there. The bass is definitely more extended on the 66 though.
As far as the Glanz goes- this may be as good or better than the FR arms. Richard has conveyed this to me. I have not heard one. I use my Koetsu on the FR arms and I have not yet attempted the Koetsu on the Kuzma Safir which I believe will be killer.
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Hi Kcin, may I ask whether you can still change the headshell in this configuration? Thanks
Yes , I can still alter head shells. I elected to have that option.. no DIN and straight through from the female headshell socket internally to RCAs with silver wire.
thekong,
Thank you for sharing your experiences with the Fidelity Research arms. No surprise that the stock FR-66s is better than the stock FR-64s. What is an eye-opener is that the Analog Magik-modified FR-64s can improve on the transparency of the stock FR-66s. Imagine what an AM-upgrade might do for the FR-66s.
Kcin,
Thanks for your thoughts on the FR arms and the quality of Richard Mak's restorations. It is particularly helpful to hear your take on how the two restored arms compare (haha, the juice/squeeze proposition!). BTW, what changes did you hear with the AM-modified FR-66S over stock.
Regarding the Glanz, Richard Mak does say in his review of the new MH-124S Premium that the original MH-124S was the best Japanese arm he had used bettering the FR-66s. Quite a compliment.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
@lem321 , the difference I heard was a level of distortion was removed. That arm was mis-tracking because the bearings were sticky and not allowing free movement .Further level of detail and clarity was experienced without harshness which I attribute to the wiring. If you see the condition of the lubricant and bearings in the arm prior to cleaning and replacement you would immediately understand the need. That grease is the consistency of wax and it does not do its job. After all, these arms are well over 40 years old now.
Kcin,
That all makes sense. Folks who buy these 40+ year old Fidelity Research arms must also factor in the cost of refurbishment such as through Analog Magik. @thekong's experience bears this out as the Analog Magik FR-64s outperformed another FR-64s that hadn't been upgraded as well as the FR-66s except in bass performance. What a new silver wire or uninterrupted run of cable from cartridge to RCA phono input adds is another thing to consider.
SME V12 on my SME 20/12 with a Koetsu Onyx Agate Platinum, recently retipped by Steve@VAS. Sounds great still.
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