RossB
Former Member
Very nice photos - and equally nice kit Mr B
Is the arm a Kuzma?
Thanks, yes the arm is a Stogi Ref.
System pics 2017
- Thread starter Tony L
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Thanks, yes the arm is a Stogi Ref.
torstoi
pfm Member
Gromit's photos have inspired me to post some recent cartridge shots.
Amazing pictures,,, what's the last one...a Colibri ?
May I ask an opinion about how the Linn arm (Ittok or Ekos, don't see it properly) is doing against the cardanic Kuzma ?
Is it they suit different carts better due compliance, or do you see one of them as clearly superior in total..?
Very nice hifi playground & tasteful pick in the furniture, too btw..
Shane2468
pfm Member
RossB
Former Member
The last one is a VDH Black Beauty. I debated whether to get the Colibri or the Black Beauty, but chose the latter based on comments that it was a little richer in the midrange and fuller-bodied, and also less temperamental about set up and unflattering recordings. I have never heard the Colibri, but so far - and I only received it yesterday - I am extremely impressed with the Black Beauty.
You must have very good eyesight (or telepathy), since the second arm which is barely visible in the third photo is not a Linn arm, but used to be. Or perhaps you were looking at this photo ...
It is an Ittok LVIII which I bought some time ago, intending to build up another LP12, but I abandoned that project, after getting the Stabi S, which I have been very happy with. I prefer it to both the LP12/Radikal/Keel/Ekos SE and AMG Viella which preceded it, although it is significantly less expensive than either. The Ittok went onto the Stabi S only briefly, with the Cadenza Black, just so I could give it a listen before I sold it. As I used it only briefly and with a different phono stage, I don't think I can provide a meaningful comparison with the Kuzma arm, although I can say that both sounded very good. The Kuzma arm I have been very impressed with. I have previously owned an SME IV, Moerch DP-6, Ekos 2, Ekos SE and a few others and this has to be my favourite so far. It is built like a tank, is easy to set up, excellent adjustability of every parameter (including a brilliant azimuth adjust mechanism) and has a big, solid sound, just a touch warmer than neutral.
The original plan for the second arm was to have a mono cartridge or a different flavour of MC in the second position. I currently have a Jelco 750D (with a Shelter 501 Mono) as a stop-gap while I wait for an Audio Origami PU7 which will replace it in that position. (I thought about getting the Stogi 313 Ref VTA or even the 4 Point, but decided to try something different.) I will try my Benz LP-S on the PU7 and compare it with the BB on the Stogi Ref, but in the longer term the Shelter 501 Mono will be on the PU7. I have also ordered a Tron Convergence mono phono stage to match the mono cartridge.
yuckyamson
pfm Member
Look Ross, not all of us can afford to swap gear and try everything like the rest of us. You seem to be in the "Champagne tastes/Beer Budget" category, and so, I think it's my duty to suggest we take up a collection for you to get into more serious gear. I don't say this to make you feel bad, it's just that clearly you're still playing around in the "Entry level".
Just a thought.
torstoi
pfm Member
That's a difficult topic..
First of all Ross took the time to answer my questions in detail & friendly manner, which I find rather nice.
2nd..it is true not all of us can afford such, incl. me, but even then I'm quite happy if I can have an experience from comparison of various expensive items,
IF I can afford to get merely ONE of those.
So, in short, without the XP I'm dependend on educated guess, and here I have to say I do prefer an experience and am happy if somone is willing to share.
A hobby where a certain amount of money is involved always is at risk of getting some emotional echo, that's human nature.
The counterside is, if someone just has the means, no matter why, as a fact,
why should he not be able to share with the same passion like the rest of us ?
Generally I try to keep the level and the passion apart from another & even if I can 'only' use a Logic DM 101 table and a Mission 774 arm,
I find certain experiences about higher class MCs simply interesting, or, for that matter how a Kuzma cardanic compares to an Ekos...how should I compare all this myself ?
The inverted role would be: 'I don't talk to poor guys like you' , bzw..
And as long as such attitude is not the case I don't think it is adequate to put fences up from a certain level on.
Where should those fences be ? A Benz LP ? Simon has one, too...
A PU7..? I'm happy someone is buying handcrafted things from a nice one-man manufacturer like J7.
Great to have his XP around, but I'm not sure he could make it from guys like me alone who need an Ekos rewired once in a decade..?
A little tolerance is necessary I think..
We share a passion, let's simply keep it like that.
First of all Ross took the time to answer my questions in detail & friendly manner, which I find rather nice.
2nd..it is true not all of us can afford such, incl. me, but even then I'm quite happy if I can have an experience from comparison of various expensive items,
IF I can afford to get merely ONE of those.
So, in short, without the XP I'm dependend on educated guess, and here I have to say I do prefer an experience and am happy if somone is willing to share.
A hobby where a certain amount of money is involved always is at risk of getting some emotional echo, that's human nature.
The counterside is, if someone just has the means, no matter why, as a fact,
why should he not be able to share with the same passion like the rest of us ?
Generally I try to keep the level and the passion apart from another & even if I can 'only' use a Logic DM 101 table and a Mission 774 arm,
I find certain experiences about higher class MCs simply interesting, or, for that matter how a Kuzma cardanic compares to an Ekos...how should I compare all this myself ?
The inverted role would be: 'I don't talk to poor guys like you' , bzw..
And as long as such attitude is not the case I don't think it is adequate to put fences up from a certain level on.
Where should those fences be ? A Benz LP ? Simon has one, too...
A PU7..? I'm happy someone is buying handcrafted things from a nice one-man manufacturer like J7.
Great to have his XP around, but I'm not sure he could make it from guys like me alone who need an Ekos rewired once in a decade..?
A little tolerance is necessary I think..
We share a passion, let's simply keep it like that.
david ellwood
Kirabosi Kognoscente
I can remember with equal enthusiasm my early systems
With cheap Japanese amplifier and home made speakers.
Most of us have progressed through all manner of routes to get where we are now.
Wherever anyone is, it's the journey and the music that matter more than whatever you are currently thinking of upgrading.
With cheap Japanese amplifier and home made speakers.
Most of us have progressed through all manner of routes to get where we are now.
Wherever anyone is, it's the journey and the music that matter more than whatever you are currently thinking of upgrading.
sunbeamgls
pfm Member
That's a difficult topic..
First of all Ross took the time to answer my questions in detail & friendly manner, which I find rather nice.
2nd..it is true not all of us can afford such, incl. me, but even then I'm quite happy if I can have an experience from comparison of various expensive items,
IF I can afford to get merely ONE of those.
So, in short, without the XP I'm dependend on educated guess, and here I have to say I do prefer an experience and am happy if somone is willing to share.
A hobby where a certain amount of money is involved always is at risk of getting some emotional echo, that's human nature.
The counterside is, if someone just has the means, no matter why, as a fact,
why should he not be able to share with the same passion like the rest of us ?
Generally I try to keep the level and the passion apart from another & even if I can 'only' use a Logic DM 101 table and a Mission 774 arm,
I find certain experiences about higher class MCs simply interesting, or, for that matter how a Kuzma cardanic compares to an Ekos...how should I compare all this myself ?
The inverted role would be: 'I don't talk to poor guys like you' , bzw..
And as long as such attitude is not the case I don't think it is adequate to put fences up from a certain level on.
Where should those fences be ? A Benz LP ? Simon has one, too...
A PU7..? I'm happy someone is buying handcrafted things from a nice one-man manufacturer like J7.
Great to have his XP around, but I'm not sure he could make it from guys like me alone who need an Ekos rewired once in a decade..?
A little tolerance is necessary I think..
We share a passion, let's simply keep it like that.
It was a fun comment wasn't it? Didn't the suggestion of a collection to help out the needy mean it was a bit of fun?
torstoi
pfm Member
Sorry if I got it wrong,,,anyways, it was late..
...but this is a picture thread,,,so here is a picture:
http://prntscr.com/ebkfdb
http://prntscr.com/ebkho7
My new project.
I screwed a Logic DM101 on a Mission arm to the back of my Zyx Yatra.
Wild guess is that the Logic as well as the 774 has a few tricks up it's sleeves.
The Millenium Falcon shaped part under the platter and TA for examle is a massive 18mm alloy piece.
Practically that's kind of a Kore from a time when Linn wasn't even dreaming of such.
Plan is to set it up perfectly and then have internal shootouts against LP12 & DPS and see what happens..
Cosmetically this is going to remain in the authentic state speaking of it's age incl. all nicks and dents.
...but this is a picture thread,,,so here is a picture:
http://prntscr.com/ebkfdb
http://prntscr.com/ebkho7
My new project.
I screwed a Logic DM101 on a Mission arm to the back of my Zyx Yatra.
Wild guess is that the Logic as well as the 774 has a few tricks up it's sleeves.
The Millenium Falcon shaped part under the platter and TA for examle is a massive 18mm alloy piece.
Practically that's kind of a Kore from a time when Linn wasn't even dreaming of such.
Plan is to set it up perfectly and then have internal shootouts against LP12 & DPS and see what happens..
Cosmetically this is going to remain in the authentic state speaking of it's age incl. all nicks and dents.
Tony L
Administrator
Assuming it goes round at the right speed, which is far from a given with a DM101, it is a very good deck indeed aside from the paint falling off. Yours looks like a late one with the electronic speed control (I think Les may have designed that), my experience is with the earlier model with the red switch. Does yours have the big centre mass spring?
torstoi
pfm Member
Yes, mine has the centre mass spring & it being the 'electronic' model, it seems quite rare from what I've been told and seen.
You put your finger spot on at it's weak spot Tony, which I think will be the speed stability.
If that is 1 big weak spot in 1 place, that's on the other hand an advantage compared to having to deal with 4 issues in different places,
so if it turns out good enough apart from the speed, there might be some solution for that..
For now I expect no bigger issues though as the seller from PFM gave the deck to J7@ Audio Origami and Johnny replaced capacitors in the PS...repairing it and also did replace some lighty worn part in the centre bearing, so, apart from the admittedly not representative state, the deck should be pretty fine mechanically and electrically now.
Les possibly did the electronics you say..?
Amazing...the hifi world seems a very small playground at times..
Apart from Les, there's a second background story to this deck I like a lot.
The arm that was available with the deck by then was called Logic Datum.
The top model of that arm was the Datum S...roughly about 3 times as expensive, and produced at Syrinx (hence S)
Syrinx being the manufacturer where J7 once started his career.
When Syrinx went bust, the guy behind Maticore took the DNA of the Datum and develloped it further up the TA evolution ladder,
that was the Maticore Magician.
The up to now probably most advanced and best design from these roots being J7's PU7.
It's correct the deck is not very representable & may look to some as if I just pulled it from the garbage somewere,,,
but at a second, closer look it's quite impressive from the construction and the sheer physical presence.
Mark had it spot on right...I'm far from the photographic skills some around here have,,maybe I'll get a few more pleasing shots arranged at a later point.
torstoi
pfm Member
yuckyamson
pfm Member
That was precisely the spirit in which it was intended. I thought it was obvious, but perhaps not.
That being said, I am really curious about why Ross ditched the viella.
RossB
Former Member
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