Wanted: A tonearm and cartridge to pair with a Rock MK III

[Clevelandy]

Cleveland Ohio is a black hole of audio. Have been looking for the better part of three months for an arm and cartridge to mount to my Rock TT.

Any recommendations or ideas are greatly appreciated. Had my eyes set on an Audiomod arm or a Alphason Xenon, but was told the Xenon head was not compatible due to a ridge at the top of the head.

I am working with a budget of less than $1000.

[Non-Smoking Man]

Cleveland Ohio is a black hole of audio. Have been looking for the better part of three months for an arm and cartridge to mount to my Rock TT.

Any recommendations or ideas are greatly appreciated. Had my eyes set on an Audiomod arm or a Alphason Xenon, but was told the Xenon head was not compatible due to a ridge at the top of the head.

I am working with a budget of less than $1000.
I have 2 Alphasons, each mounted on a Cranfield Rock. One is a Xenon and one a H100 MCS. In the latter I use a Cadenza Blue and in the Xenon I use a DV Karat 17D2. In each case the outrigger is mounted underneath the headshell where its flat. The Cadenza is deep enough to provide clearance so that the outrigger doesnt foul the trough before the cartridge alights on the record but with the Xenon I use a thin spacer.
The arm not to use is a Rega 300/250, even though they are commonly found together. I had terrific results with a Morch UP4 on your model and they are a good visual match IMO.
The Alphasons are also good and well within your budget. They early H100 has no damping material in the armtube so benefits from the frontend damping provided by the Rock (and enables the original silver wiring, which is shockingly bad, to be easily upgraded).
The H100 is a more substantial arm than the Xenon but then again they go for more.
Jack

[Clevelandy]

Thanks Jack. That was good to hear. What is a fair price for the Xenon vs the H100? Any chance you have a picture?

Very much appreciate the input.

[Non-Smoking Man]

The going rate for a professionally rewired Xenon (silver Audio Origami, say) is around £350 best; for an HR100 S (silver Audio Origami) you will pay £550 - 650. A Xenon w/o the rewire would be £200 - 250 and the HR100 £400 - 450. The way people are getting hold of them is to watch out for say a Logic DM101 to come up with an Alphason on it ( as they were often paired together in the old Linn heyday) and buy the pair and then sell the TT on. My HR100 was originally on a Roksan Xerxes but the seller split them. The Xenon came from the Wam classifieds. Speedysteve did the rewire on the HR100 and the Xenon was already done (A Origami invoiced).
On reflection a Xenon would go well on your Rock (visually as well). But there must be quite a few others that would suit eg A Roksan Tabriz which would be about £250, a unipivot if you like them or, say, a Helius.
The Rega doesnt suit because apparently the combo is a bit sat on soundwise and logistically it would be difficult to set up because the lack of arm height adjustment.
Im not great at pics but my post is crying out for them so I'll do my best.

[Rick E]

Here you go Jack, well, the arm at least.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc318/rickandrea/IMG_02011_zpseqsp2cua.jpg (http://s217.photobucket.com/user/rickandrea/media/IMG_02011_zpseqsp2cua.jpg.html)

[Clevelandy]

thanks for the heads up. Much harder to find good budget options in the US. I appreciate the advice and experiences. That is a nice looking deck.

[wiicrackpot]

Hi Andy,

I wonder if you'd be interested in a Kuzma Stogi tonearm?, i got it a few years ago thinking i'd try it on my Garrard 401 + SME4,
but i've never got round to it as i am not one to mess about with kit when it's working beautifully,
i don't know how well it matches the Rock,others could maybe enlighten us,
price wise i was thinking £450.00 delivered to the U.S.

wii.

[Clevelandy]

Hi Andy,

I wonder if you'd be interested in a Kuzma Stogi tonearm?, i got it a few years ago thinking i'd try it on my Garrard 401 + SME4,
but i've never got round to it as i am not one to mess about with kit when it's working beautifully,
i don't know how well it matches the Rock,others could maybe enlighten us,
price wise i was thinking £450.00 delivered to the U.S.

wii.I might be, I am not familiar with them, but will do a bit of reading and get back with you. Any chance for a picture?

[walpurgis]

It's a nice arm Andy. Well worth checking out.

[struth]

Any (wiicrackpot) is good guy. I bought an arm off him and am very pleased with it. Pretty sure that are would fit

[wiicrackpot]

I might be, I am not familiar with them, but will do a bit of reading and get back with you. Any chance for a picture?
O.k Andy, will do some in the morning, PM me your email address.

Ditto Grant, you and Geoff are the 'best in the west'.

[Clevelandy]

PM sent, thanks for the input all.

[Non-Smoking Man]

We are attempting to post some pics - here goes..

[Non-Smoking Man]

On the subject of comparing the 2 Alphasons sound quality I cant really comment as i havent tried them both on the same deck with the same cartridge. So, although the H100 is better built I cant really comment. I suspect SQ is roughly in line with price.
Jack