naimnut
Deep in the Mines of Soul
I continue to be sorta fascinated by the idea of an SPU. Not sure why. I suppose it's the same reason I do anything in my system. My buddy said it well. He asked, "What's your favorite food?"
Regardless of the answer he says the same thing - "Would you be willing to eat that for every meal for the next fifteen years?" So, no. Tweaks, different flavors, different approaches, tube-rolling. Seems to be what's its all about.
First off, regarding tone-arm recommendations. There are some obvious choices. Seems like most of them tend to be expensive. Does that just go with the territory? Are the design characteristics of SPUs so unique that only a high mass arm like an Ortofon RS309, Groovemaster or Schick or FR-64 can reveal whatever sonic flavor the SPU can contribute?
I have a Jelco 750L. Seems like the max cartridge weight it can take (with the heavy counterweight, which I have) is 22g. I see on one of the websites the Expressimo after market heavy counterweight. Brass, I think. They have multiple options for the "half moon" counterweight and will do custom weights on request. Would one of those be sufficient to adapt the Jelco for use with an SPU?
Second question - A local shop has a used Ortofon RS309 (list ~$3,000 USD/used ~$1,500USD). How easy/hard is it to balance that arm? One of the things I love about the Jelco is the simplicity of the counterweight arrangement. It works great. I've also installed a custom VTAF so I can raise and lower the arm pillar very easily.
'Nother question - I picked up a Shelter 901, which seems to be more beautiful in presentation than my Dynavector 17D3. In the generic black semi-teardrop headshell it gives me some a that vintage appearance that's so appealing on the G-style SPUs. I'm wondering if an SPU is sort of a side-step and a distraction. Unless maybe I step up to one of the more expensive models.
Geez SPUs are expensive. Having NEVER heard one I can't help but wonder whether they're worth the hype. I mean, there are so many excellent cartridges out there at the relative price points. For instance, the Dynavector 10x5 in whatever the latest revision is. The Hana cartridges. The various other Ortofon options. The Ikeda cartridges. Many others. The EMTs, for instance.
Yes, a better tonearm would make a big difference. I'm keeping my eye open for a Jelco 850, but I need a 12 inch version. There are other excellent options out there which would be both better, as a tonearm and allow for use of any of the other excellent cartridges out there, not just an SPU.
So. SPU-users/lovers. Tell me what you think? I'm I wasting my time thinking about this? From what directions did you come to arrive at an SPU? Please feel free to share your advice and opinions. That's what I'm here for.
Markus no longer really the Naimnut. More of a tube-guy nowadays.
Regardless of the answer he says the same thing - "Would you be willing to eat that for every meal for the next fifteen years?" So, no. Tweaks, different flavors, different approaches, tube-rolling. Seems to be what's its all about.
First off, regarding tone-arm recommendations. There are some obvious choices. Seems like most of them tend to be expensive. Does that just go with the territory? Are the design characteristics of SPUs so unique that only a high mass arm like an Ortofon RS309, Groovemaster or Schick or FR-64 can reveal whatever sonic flavor the SPU can contribute?
I have a Jelco 750L. Seems like the max cartridge weight it can take (with the heavy counterweight, which I have) is 22g. I see on one of the websites the Expressimo after market heavy counterweight. Brass, I think. They have multiple options for the "half moon" counterweight and will do custom weights on request. Would one of those be sufficient to adapt the Jelco for use with an SPU?
Second question - A local shop has a used Ortofon RS309 (list ~$3,000 USD/used ~$1,500USD). How easy/hard is it to balance that arm? One of the things I love about the Jelco is the simplicity of the counterweight arrangement. It works great. I've also installed a custom VTAF so I can raise and lower the arm pillar very easily.
'Nother question - I picked up a Shelter 901, which seems to be more beautiful in presentation than my Dynavector 17D3. In the generic black semi-teardrop headshell it gives me some a that vintage appearance that's so appealing on the G-style SPUs. I'm wondering if an SPU is sort of a side-step and a distraction. Unless maybe I step up to one of the more expensive models.
Geez SPUs are expensive. Having NEVER heard one I can't help but wonder whether they're worth the hype. I mean, there are so many excellent cartridges out there at the relative price points. For instance, the Dynavector 10x5 in whatever the latest revision is. The Hana cartridges. The various other Ortofon options. The Ikeda cartridges. Many others. The EMTs, for instance.
Yes, a better tonearm would make a big difference. I'm keeping my eye open for a Jelco 850, but I need a 12 inch version. There are other excellent options out there which would be both better, as a tonearm and allow for use of any of the other excellent cartridges out there, not just an SPU.
So. SPU-users/lovers. Tell me what you think? I'm I wasting my time thinking about this? From what directions did you come to arrive at an SPU? Please feel free to share your advice and opinions. That's what I'm here for.
Markus no longer really the Naimnut. More of a tube-guy nowadays.