Originally Posted by
oldius
I am not one for big reviews so I will keep it brief.
My PMAC arm replaced an SME IV on my TTS8000. I like it visually and sonically and Angus and others were extremely helpful, from order to installation and since. Angus also made a panzerholz armboard, to Jamie's measurements, that is beautifully finished and allows for perfect alignment.
The arm sounds great, from top to bottom, offering greater separation than the SME and more clearly defined tonal colours. It offers less bass than the SME but still is solid and detailed. I make the comparison with two cartridges, an Art-1 and an Oc9ii.
I do want to compare the Stevenson alignment (the standard for the arm) with Baerwald before I make definitive statements but I have owned a number of quality tonearms, including the SME iV, Nottingham Ace Anna and Origin Live Conqueror. In my opinion, the PMAC 1010 is at least in that league and possibly beyond. A longer period of consistent listening and settled alignment is the only way to avoid the hyperbolic whitterings of an exciteable new owner; give me a few months.
Having now tried Stevenson and Baerwald alignments, I have a preference for the latter. It gives me a little more top end detail without losing the bass definition. I am a little surprised given the arm was designed to use Stevenson but that's the way it is, for me.
Main system: Sony TTS8000; AT1010; Audio Technica Art1; The Lentek; Cambridge 851n, Yamaha NS1000.
System 2 - SBT; Technics SH-X1000 DAC; Denon PMA-850