Shovel_Knight
29-04-2019, 14:22
I would like to ask for some advice regarding my analogue front end.
At the moment I have two fully functional turntables (Dual 1019 and Technics SL-110), the remnants of my Lenco (which I'm going to get rid of very soon) and an upcoming Technics SP10 mk2 project.
I also have the following tonearms:
- Audio-Technica AT1503 mk2 which was fully fettled a couple of years ago and had a Jelco arm lifter installed.
- Fidelity Research FR-54 in very good condition. I got it only with the stock 125g counterweight but later had a heavier 187g counterweight made to enable me to use it with heavier cartridges.
- Audio-Technica AT1100 which I bought specifically to experiment with high compliance stuff, only to discover that the vast majority of modern cartridges don't play well with a 6g tonearm :lol: The arm itself is a masterpiece though and ridiculously well made.
The SL-110 is my main turntable at the moment, currently I'm using it with AT1503 tonearm and Shure SC35C cart. The Dual is mostly used when we have guests because its automatic functions are quite handy.
Ideally I would like to consolidate my possessions and get down to just one turntable and one tonearm. Okay, maybe one turntable and two tonearms.
My current thinking is that SP10mk2 -- when it's ready -- will be my one and only turntable. What about the tonearms though?
The AT1503 is probably too heavy (22g effective mass as far as I remember) and AT1100 is way too light (6g effective mass). FR54 is 16g with its stock headshell and can be made both lighter and heavier using different headshells and counterweights. I tested FR54 against my AT1503 and when FR54 is equipped with a heavy headshell and counterweight there is very little between them in terms of sound, both seem to be very similar with the AT1503 having maybe a very slight edge. So I'm inclined to keep the FR54 and ditch the other two arms, ideally I would want to get a Chinese sliding base for it in case I ever want to use it with an SPU.
Now AT1100 is heads and shoulders ahead of both AT1503 and FR54 in terms of perceived build quality, it's the loveliest piece of equipment I have ever held in my hands... If I could find the S-shaped wand for it (which brings the effective mass up to 13g), it would be the last tonearm I ever need. But they're as rare as hen's teeth: I've been watching eBay for over a year and never saw one pop up, even in Japan. But maybe I will keep it as well just to see if I can find the S-shaped wand and its matching counterweight in the future. And by the way, somebody suggested to me that even with the straight wand this arm should be great with older, hither compliance MC cartridges, such as AT-OC9ML/ii or Denon DL301-ii which is still available from Japan new.
Cartridges: currently I have a sizeable collection of MM cartridges from ultra low compliance (Shure SC35C) to ultra high compliance (Ortofon VMS20), but willing to upgrade to a reasonably priced MC (up to 500 euros). I think sticking with the FR54 would allow me to enjoy the widest range of cartridges both now or in the future.
The rest of my system at the moment:
Main system:
Speakers: Usher S-520 (bloody brilliant, incredible sound for something that small)
Amp: Meridian 551 (a very polite amp that can flex its muscles when needed; I'm mostly sticking with it for level matching across various inputs)
Phono stage: DIY CNC phono stage (MM) / ANT Audio Kora 3T SE with upgraded PSU (MC)
Cables: Black Rhodium Twist speaker cables, various interconnects (mostly VdH)
Headphone section:
Phones: upgraded Hifiman HE-400s (open-back) / modded Fostex T50RP mk3 (semi-open)
Amp: DIY high-current headphone amplifier with ultra low-noise PSU
Basically I'm looking either for confirmation that my current thinking is correct or for some new ideas (e.g.: "Sell everything and get a new 10-inch Jelco!") :D
At the moment I have two fully functional turntables (Dual 1019 and Technics SL-110), the remnants of my Lenco (which I'm going to get rid of very soon) and an upcoming Technics SP10 mk2 project.
I also have the following tonearms:
- Audio-Technica AT1503 mk2 which was fully fettled a couple of years ago and had a Jelco arm lifter installed.
- Fidelity Research FR-54 in very good condition. I got it only with the stock 125g counterweight but later had a heavier 187g counterweight made to enable me to use it with heavier cartridges.
- Audio-Technica AT1100 which I bought specifically to experiment with high compliance stuff, only to discover that the vast majority of modern cartridges don't play well with a 6g tonearm :lol: The arm itself is a masterpiece though and ridiculously well made.
The SL-110 is my main turntable at the moment, currently I'm using it with AT1503 tonearm and Shure SC35C cart. The Dual is mostly used when we have guests because its automatic functions are quite handy.
Ideally I would like to consolidate my possessions and get down to just one turntable and one tonearm. Okay, maybe one turntable and two tonearms.
My current thinking is that SP10mk2 -- when it's ready -- will be my one and only turntable. What about the tonearms though?
The AT1503 is probably too heavy (22g effective mass as far as I remember) and AT1100 is way too light (6g effective mass). FR54 is 16g with its stock headshell and can be made both lighter and heavier using different headshells and counterweights. I tested FR54 against my AT1503 and when FR54 is equipped with a heavy headshell and counterweight there is very little between them in terms of sound, both seem to be very similar with the AT1503 having maybe a very slight edge. So I'm inclined to keep the FR54 and ditch the other two arms, ideally I would want to get a Chinese sliding base for it in case I ever want to use it with an SPU.
Now AT1100 is heads and shoulders ahead of both AT1503 and FR54 in terms of perceived build quality, it's the loveliest piece of equipment I have ever held in my hands... If I could find the S-shaped wand for it (which brings the effective mass up to 13g), it would be the last tonearm I ever need. But they're as rare as hen's teeth: I've been watching eBay for over a year and never saw one pop up, even in Japan. But maybe I will keep it as well just to see if I can find the S-shaped wand and its matching counterweight in the future. And by the way, somebody suggested to me that even with the straight wand this arm should be great with older, hither compliance MC cartridges, such as AT-OC9ML/ii or Denon DL301-ii which is still available from Japan new.
Cartridges: currently I have a sizeable collection of MM cartridges from ultra low compliance (Shure SC35C) to ultra high compliance (Ortofon VMS20), but willing to upgrade to a reasonably priced MC (up to 500 euros). I think sticking with the FR54 would allow me to enjoy the widest range of cartridges both now or in the future.
The rest of my system at the moment:
Main system:
Speakers: Usher S-520 (bloody brilliant, incredible sound for something that small)
Amp: Meridian 551 (a very polite amp that can flex its muscles when needed; I'm mostly sticking with it for level matching across various inputs)
Phono stage: DIY CNC phono stage (MM) / ANT Audio Kora 3T SE with upgraded PSU (MC)
Cables: Black Rhodium Twist speaker cables, various interconnects (mostly VdH)
Headphone section:
Phones: upgraded Hifiman HE-400s (open-back) / modded Fostex T50RP mk3 (semi-open)
Amp: DIY high-current headphone amplifier with ultra low-noise PSU
Basically I'm looking either for confirmation that my current thinking is correct or for some new ideas (e.g.: "Sell everything and get a new 10-inch Jelco!") :D