Fidelity Research FR64s Tonearm damper weight

[Magna Audio]

This one is for Hugo's FR64s.

Pictured atop my FR64s ;)

I will give it a listen this evening, before posting off to Hugo tomorrow.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/32529626313_3a066dbf18_z_d.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/703/33303045716_01bb4c9878_z_d.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/746/33303045396_1f02536bcc_z_d.jpg

[anubisgrau]

is there such a thing on 64 regularly?

[Magna Audio]

is there such a thing on 64 regularly?



Do you mean, is it a standard Fidelity Research item?

If so, no it's something Hugo asked me to make for his Jelco, he tried it on his FR64s, liked it, and asked for one for his FR64s.

I'm trying out :)

[anubisgrau]

Yep I was wondering if someone invented it as an after market item (not FR)

Wouldn't this add a substantial weight on the bearings?

[Ammonite Audio]

Yep I was wondering if someone invented it as an after market item (not FR)

Wouldn't this add a substantial weight on the bearings?

Yes, it will increase load on the horizontal bearings, but for the moment I'm prepared to take the risk. The FR64S is built like a stainless steel battleship, so I reckon 200g extra won't hurt. I may be wrong, but we'll see! The unmistakable improvement in all aspects of musical replay makes the risk worth taking, IMO.

(I should add that the Jelco SA-750 weight which Steve made for me, and which does the same thing for SQ, does not impart any load to the SA-750's bearings, so is without risk)

[Magna Audio]

I agree with Hugo on the robustness.


Also whilst I don't know the exact specs, I'm pretty sure that the bearings for the 64s and the 66s are the same, same bearing housing size etc.


The additional inches of arm for the 66s and with the extra massive counterweight to balance, it will load the 66s' bearings more than the 64s in standard form.


The additional mass Hugo has added would be in that region, so not a problem in my mind.

[blackstar]

How much do these things cost?

[anubisgrau]

This looks pretty mad!

http://yahoo.aleado.com/lot?auctionID=d221988371

http://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0303/users/2/4/1/8/chiichanyukichan-img600x338-1488714380zptilr7360.jpg

[Magna Audio]

I've not seen that many counterweights for one arm before!
Is there a decimal point wrong there? Google says 138000 Chinese Yuan equals
16357.30 British Pound?! I'm suddenly better off than I thought if I turn up a few extra weights :)
Doesn't seem to have the FR heavy headshell which I found is a must for my SPU Royal N.

http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mlkDpCShCAboz2aQTjuBX_g.jpg

The massive VTA adjuster armbase is nice too (not included in that picture).

http://rsc2.saatscommerce.com/img589db5d672f2f_l.jpg

[anubisgrau]

that's japanese yen, the winning bid equals $1229. it's a shame that the page is translated with google so i actually don't get what you get, for example they mention some some special bearings. sure no one needs so many weights but there were other things in the lot, like stabilizer.

do you think a VTA adjuster was a part of the lot? than this is cheap, really.

[Magna Audio]

that's japanese yen, the winning bid equals $1229. it's a shame that the page is translated with google so i actually don't get what you get, for example they mention some some special bearings. sure no one needs so many weights but there were other things in the lot, like stabilizer.

do you think a VTA adjuster was a part of the lot? than this is cheap, really.

VTA adjuster included - I very, very much doubt it for that price.
They are a work of art!

Yes the Google translation is Googlobledigook

[petrat]

Do you mean, is it a standard Fidelity Research item?

If so, no it's something Hugo asked me to make for his Jelco, he tried it on his FR64s, liked it, and asked for one for his FR64s.

I'm trying out :)


Yes, it will increase load on the horizontal bearings, but for the moment I'm prepared to take the risk. The FR64S is built like a stainless steel battleship, so I reckon 200g extra won't hurt. I may be wrong, but we'll see! The unmistakable improvement in all aspects of musical replay makes the risk worth taking, IMO.


So, what's the verdict??

[Ammonite Audio]

So, what's the verdict??

As I stated before, I like the effect of adding the weight - it's subtle but amounts to better 'music', in a sort of fundamental way.

[Magna Audio]

After plenty of listening my verdict is that it does indeed change the sound, subtly yes but it's very detectable.

The first thing I notice is an extended bass, could be a fraction of a dB or more greater amplitude in that freq range?

This also impacts the overall music as Hugo finds, perhaps it's a harmonics thing?

I can't detect any negatives offsetting this in other areas of the sound or overall coherence.

This is of course for the Fidelity Research FR64s arm.

Hugo and Dubster68 have covered the Jelco SA-750D.