The centre piece of this system is my (J&R Audio) Essential 3160 phonolinestage preamplifier. All present and future equipment and modifications are selected to meet its ultimate fidelity without colouration. In this light, I am currently working on a potential replacement or second turntable (my Technics SP10 MK2 with a highly engineered bespoke plinth).
Apart from hoping for a change of home and larger listening room, my experimentation will continue with isolation, acoustics and cabling. Any other changes will need extensive in-system A/B testing: I am that happy with where things are at.
Mambo with Jeweltone Crystal Stabilizer on Symposium Ultra platform sat on birch wall shelf. Simply superb
Analysis Plus Silver cables
Scientifically accurate cables at unbelievably low prices. These replaced my Siltech and Kubala Sosna Emotion speaker and interconnect cables
Arm Tower AS
This is the stand alone arm tower arrangement that I currently use. It is the basic Acoustic Signature Mambo arm tower plus weights and spikes at three points. Although a case of expedience and therefore not the prettiest arrangement, its performance has been a revelation
Arm Tower AS 2
A close up to indicate the spikes arrangement on my arm towers.
Audiocraft AC 3300
Dual point oil damped tonearm with s-shaped arm wand
Audio Technica AT-20 SLa
A world beating cartridge. Although these are early days, every aspect of its performance seems perfect.
Audio Technica Pneumatic Footers
Range of three distinct sets of Audio Technica pneumatic footers. Each one is an excellent means of isolating turntables and are highly recommended.
Dynavector XV1-s
A phenomenal MC cartridge that perfectly complements the excellence of performance offered by the Nagaoka MP-50 MM. Audio doesn't get any better than this (unless, of course, the new XV1-t proves to be better and not just different)
Essential 3160 (J&R Audio)
3160 phonolinestage. Offers two MC phonestages, two MM phonostages and a comprehensive line stage in one package. Simply SOTA
Essential 3160 power supply
The dual mono power supply is part of the Essential set up
Glanz cartridges G7 & G5
The two Glanz statement cartridges were produced by Mitachi Onkyo Seisakusho factory in Japan. They need further investigation ut clearly deserve it. More as soon as...
Grace G-660P
12" gimbal pivot tonearm. This is a very rare tonearm but claimed to be an ideal match for the Dynavector XV-1s cartridge.
Ikeda IT-407 silver wired
The top of the Ikeda food-chain
Keith Monks Record Cleaning Machine
Rated as the best RCM, a joy to keep your vinyl in mint condition
Marantz CD-7
The best CDP I have heard: resolving and beautiful, similar to a good turntable. See review at http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?rdgtl&1112565957&read&3&4&
Marantz ST-17
A beautiful and greatly underestimated performer. It is a perfect match for my Marantz CDP and outperforms my other more expensive tuners by some distance
Mark Levinson No 23.5
This is a heavily modified model with Eichmann cable pods, top grade resistors and internal cross set to cut off at 70Hz (everything below 70Hz handled by my Velodyne DD12 subs)
Morch DP6 red point
Beautiful. The Moerch DP6 is a dual bearing radial arm with interchangeable arm tubes with either 9 or 12" effective length and various mass options. Moerch's top model, the DP6 tonearm has conventional bearings, a silicone damped high precision ball bearing for the horizontal plane, and two precision sapphire bearings for the vertical plane.
Nagaoka MP-50
An amazing MM cartridge that outperforms top end MC cartridges costing up to ten times its price. Realism
Symposium Isis Svelte stands
Apart from wall shelves, these set a bench mark in my experience of isolation and damping
Symposium Ultra
I use the Ultra, Super and Svelte platforms beneath most of my system. On a sprung wooden floor, these have proved indespensible - along with wall shelving
Talon Audio Hawk
40Hz-40Khz ceramic driver monitors on Escalante Hoodhoo stands. Operating down to 70Hz only - remainder (70Hz - 15Hz) handled by pair of Velodyne DD12 subs
Technics SP-10 mkII
Technics with new bespoke plinth. Works marvelously.
Technics SP-10 mkII
Technics with bespoke plinth sat on AT363 pneumatic footers.
Technics SP-10 mkII
I am trying the Technics with a stand-alone (AS Mambo) armboard. Will report more when certain.
Technics SP-10 mkII
Technics SP10 Mk2 turntable (naked on Audio Technica AT616 pneumatic footers). Early days but trying it out without the still-in-progress plinth following enthusiastic feedback from fellow Agoner
Various cartridges
Selection of Astatic MF100, B&O MMC2, Glanz G5, Andante P-76, Spectral MCR and Nagaoka MP50 cartridges
Velodyne DD12 (1st)
Pair of Velodyne DD12 subs used in perfect stereo with Talon Hawk monitors. Handling everything from 70Hz to 15Hz. Microprocessor controlled with Texas Instruments computer chip; Digital Drive room equalization system; Digital High Gain Servo system; Four listening presets for action adventure, movies, rock pop, jazz classical; Transformer-less Class-D digital energy recovery amplifier; Dual tandem voice coil and Kevlar-reinforced cones
Velodyne DD12 (2nd)
A pair of these used in perfect stereo with my two Talon Hawk monitors. Hearing is believing
I finally got around to mounting up, and checking set up on the Acutex M320 LPM cartridge last night, and found overhang was a bit short. I adjusted that, and alignment (MintLP BestTractor). I think the cantilever is mounted a bit off-center, so I had to adjust for that.
It, as you would expect, sounded much better (by the way, by using the Fosgometer), I was able to get Azimuth nearly perfect.
I'll try swapping the LPM 415 in after listening to the M320, and try to quantify the differences. I'm fairly certain, however, the M320 will continue to have the upper hand.
Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours setting up the Acutex LPM 415 III STR cart to the inth degree, and was rewarded with the best sound I've heard from it yet.
I certainly don't remember it sounding this good in the past, it was sounding remarkably balanced and detailed, but was heretofore bass predominant.
This is a pleasing development, and it tells me I need to do the same with the M320.
It's rainy and cold today, perfect time to do just that.
I'm not surprised that it turned out to be Axel, I've heard nothing but good things of him, but I've yet to use his services.
The ESCC mods on the Denon 103R consist of white sapphire cantilever, and Paratrace stylus. This mod comes highly recommended by a fellow forum member, he was happy enough with the results, he sent his spare 103R in, to have it done. I'm hoping for the results he experienced, which he claims has obviated the need for purchasing mega-buck carts, as he had planned.
This would be a very welcome result for me, as my pockets are quite shallow, the opposite of my interest in such things.
I was just reading your last post, and it caused me to wonder who you trust to work on your Acutex carts. I have my Zu Denon 103R lined up for a stylus/cantilever upgrade at ESCC in London, set for May.
Could you reveal who and what re Acutex modifications? That would be good to know, and there are other Acutex admirers on the site that might also benefit from such knowledge.
With the 415, I'm not sure I've even gotten to the point where it's broken in yet. It seemed to have an over abundance of bass, at least to my taste. So did the M320 at first, but with time, and learning where VTA and SRA are optimal, has made for the kind of response that I enjoy so much.
The M320 just seems to have everything there, in equal proportions, nothing out of place, or overly prominent. Bass response might be considered too prominent, if everything else wasn't in proportion to it.
Transient response is staggering, at times, (when called for), it really gets my attention. I've nearly jumped out of my chair a few times, it's so startling.
I will have to have a bit more patience with the 415, it yet may surprise me with performance I haven't found yet.
My Acutex carts are not a perfect match for your question, but I feel they are close enough to comment.
I wanted an LPM 420 STR, but had to settle for the LPM 415 STR, as the 420s availability had dried up. I opted for the 415 STR, which I thought was good, especially at the price.
I was told that if I came across an LPM M320 III STR, that it would be considerably better than the 415. I happened across an M320 (LPM) III STR on Ebay, and purchased it on the spot.
It has been in my system for about a month and a half, and now I can't get the thing out of the rotation. In comparison, my Zu Denon 103R sounds a bit bare-boned.
It also bests my Dynavector XX2MKII. That surprises me, since I'm using a Dynavector 501 arm. The fact that such a lightweight, flimsy-looking plastic cartridge outdoes such cartridges floors me.
There has been considerable discussion on the subject of Acutex cartridges, just do a search here Audiogon.
I too, am taken aback at these little wonders, and marvel that one could sound so good in such a massive arm (though only in the horizontal plane), is so very surprising.
So, carry on with Acutex, and keep sharing your experiences.
