Phono cartridges for NAIM ARO

[Boussven]

For lots of hifi friends, the ultimate Linn Sondek LP12 is fitted with the Naim ARO unipivot pick up arm on a special made ARO Keel sub-chassis.
The ARO was originally designed to fit the Linn LP12 turntable using a Linn cartridge, namely the Linn Troika. Linn cartridges have typically a stylus to bolt distance (the offset distance between the stylus and the cartridge mounting screws) of 7mm. In the absence of a sliding base, or sliding options in the fixed headshell of the ARO, the overhang is not adjustable. When used with a non-Linn cartrdige, the overhang might be off the curve, causing distortion.
I will not start to discuss here the importance of a correct overhang, although this is an interesting question. I start this new thread to exchange some experiences using non-Linn cartridges in the Naim ARO.
Generally, cartridges with a stylus to bolt distance (SBD) of 7-10mm are acceptable for an ARO. Most of the cartridge manufacturers does not state the SBD in the specifications of a cartridge.
Most of the ARO users use Dynavector cartridges, with a SBD of 8mm. I personally use a Fidelity Research MC201, with a SBD of 10mm.
Does anyone have other experiences? Maybe even medium output cartridges around 1mV with a 7-10 SBD?
I know there are probably other threads about this same subject, but it might be interesting to update this question.
What about Soundsmith cartridges on ARO?

[WESTLOWER]

For lots of hifi friends, the ultimate Linn Sondek LP12 is fitted with the Naim ARO unipivot pick up arm on a special made ARO Keel sub-chassis.
The ARO was originally designed to fit the Linn LP12 turntable using a Linn cartridge, namely the Linn Troika. Linn cartridges have typically a stylus to bolt distance (the offset distance between the stylus and the cartridge mounting screws) of 7mm. In the absence of a sliding base, or sliding options in the fixed headshell of the ARO, the overhang is not adjustable. When used with a non-Linn cartrdige, the overhang might be off the curve, causing distortion.
I will not start to discuss here the importance of a correct overhang, although this is an interesting question. I start this new thread to exchange some experiences using non-Linn cartridges in the Naim ARO.
Generally, cartridges with a stylus to bolt distance (SBD) of 7-10mm are acceptable for an ARO. Most of the cartridge manufacturers does not state the SBD in the specifications of a cartridge.
Most of the ARO users use Dynavector cartridges, with a SBD of 8mm. I personally use a Fidelity Research MC201, with a SBD of 10mm.
Does anyone have other experiences? Maybe even medium output cartridges around 1mV with a 7-10 SBD?
I know there are probably other threads about this same subject, but it might be interesting to update this question.
What about Soundsmith cartridges on ARO?


I previously used a Cartridge Man Music Master LE (moving Iron) to great effect on the Aro/LP12, also the less expensive Cartridge Man Music Maker was excellent.
Didn't give way to anything the moving Coils offer..

The Dynavector XX2 Mk2 was a great match on the MC front. Also used a Benz Micro Glider SL, which was pretty good but not on par with the Dynavector or the Cartridgeman options..

Miss my Aro sometimes, great arm.

[Boussven]

The discontinued Ortofon Rondo range seems to be a good match for the ARO. Anyone some old stock for sale of the Rondo’s?

[Bigman80]

The discontinued Ortofon Rondo range seems to be a good match for the ARO. Anyone some old stock for sale of the Rondo’s?Think there was a rondo for sale on here but needed a new stylus.

[Vrajbasi]

I have used the top grado,s with great effect personally finding them more engaging over the dynavectors, the Vdh Grasshopper iv and black beauty used to work well back in the day. I have a good friend using the Vdh Strad to great effect on the Aro for some reason there is some real synergy. I have heard a rondo on the aro sounding rather flat and boring.

[Floyddroid]

Think there was a rondo for sale on here but needed a new stylus.

I have a Bronze in need of a stylus. Any offers?

[martinjohn308]

I’ve owned an Aro since 2007 now on a Tangerine Audio Stiletto in that time i’ve used 3 cartridges a DV20L moved onto a Micro Benz Wood SL. Three years ago had a Kiseki Blue NS fitted by Derek Jenkins ( R.I.P ) a gifted engineer on an LP 12 known him for some 35 years.

The Kiseki is a wonderful cartridge very smooth and delicate price in the region of £1700. I thought the SL was very good but this Kiseki is on another level.

Regards,

Martin

[Boussven]

I have used the top grado,s with great effect personally finding them more engaging over the dynavectors.

Well, the Grado's have a mounting-hole-to-stylus distance of 10mm, so that's 3mm off the curve. Maybe I am a maniac, but I have difficulties accepting that because of the distortion.

[Boussven]

Are there any Naim ARO users left, or is this pick-up arm out of date, boxed in closed cabinets?

[ovlov854]

I have had the LP12 fitted with the Aro arm for many years with 3 Troikas. One used, one from new and that one rebuilt.
I also had the Tangerine Audio Karmen top plate and the Plateau sub chassis.
I sought advice from those nice people in Salisbury who said that many had gone for the Benz Micro Glider, but opted for the Benz Wood SL, which I like enormously and found it not unlike the Troika.
I do think that the solid Karmen top plate gives the LP12 much better focus than the original.
And for those of us lucky enough to still have an ARO the SKALE counterweight is mandatory (IMHO)

[ovlov854]

[QUOTE=Boussven;1123763]Are there any Naim ARO users left, or is this pick-up arm out of date, boxed in closed cabinets?[/QUO[/B]

AABSOLUTELY

[Barry]

Well, the Grado's have a mounting-hole-to-stylus distance of 10mm, so that's 3mm off the curve. Maybe I am a maniac, but I have difficulties accepting that because of the distortion.

The IEC spec for the mounting hole to stylus distance is 9.5 +/- 0.5mm, when the cartridge is tracking at the manufacturer's recommended VTF. Originally only Shure and Audio Technica cartridges adhered to this figure, but now other manufacturers are starting to follow them.

[Boussven]

I did send some questions to different cartridge manufacturers, here are the replies:

distance from stylus tip to the centre of mounting holes, in mm

HANA 9.5mm
KISEKI 9.75mm
GRADO 10mm
Soundsmith new ES-series 7.5mm
Ortofon RONDO 7mm

Based on this information, I go for a Soundsmith cartridge.

[Boussven]

By accident, I noticed that my old Shure M91 cartridge with the original N91ED stylus has exact 7mm of stylus to bolts distance, which makes it perfect for pairing with the ARO. I bought a Jico N92 SAS on Boron stylus, and the result is quiet excellent. The compliance of the Jico is a bit lower then the original Shure. And the swopping 5mV output is quiet nice ;-) I read from other SAS/B users that the treble might be too bright, but this is certainly not the case on my valve OTO Phono input.

[SiT4]

This is an old thread, but as it popped up: How about the range of AT carts, I am thinking of the VM95 / 540/740 range for MM and OC9 / 33PTG11 / ART 9 for MC. Any people used these popular carts with their Aro ?

[EJR]

I had a Naim Aro on a Pink Triangle Anniversary for years. The Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood was a great match.

[fordy]

I used a Lyra Helikon when I had an Aro which was a favoured combination with Aro users at the time. I can't remember the stylus to bolt distance though. It was about 10 years ago now. I'd love to get hold of another Aro though and have been on the lookout for a while now.

[Boussven]

I ordered a Dynavector DV20X2H cartridge which I will mount on my ARO,
the output of 2.8mV matches excellent with the 3mV sensitivity of my AN-OTO phono stage
the stylus to center bolts distance is 8.5mm which is not too far off,
the resonance frequency is 8Hz which is quiet good
So let's try this cartridge on my ARO

[Boussven]

This is an old thread, but as it popped up: How about the range of AT carts, I am thinking of the VM95 / 540/740 range for MM and OC9 / 33PTG11 / ART 9 for MC. Any people used these popular carts with their Aro ?

If I'm not mistaking, the AT's have a stylus-to-centre-of-mounting-bolts distance of 10-11mm, far from ideal for the ARO.
I made some measurements, the pivot to spindle distance of my ARO mounted on a Keel subchassis is exactly 210mm.
To get to the specified effective length of 229mm, you need an overhang of 19mm.
With the Dynavector cartridge, with a stylus-to-centre-of-mounting-bolts distance of 8.5mm, I am on my Dr. Feickert protractor, 0.25mm off the Baerwald geometry, which is almost spot-on.

So I can conclude that a cartridge with a stylus-to-centre-of-mounting-bolts distance of 8.25mm would be perfect, and 8.5mm is very satifying.
I would not recommend the AT cartridges on an ARO.

This said, I now play with a DV20x2H cartridge, properly aligned with VTF of 2.0gr. The result is OK, but the sound is a bit flat, not enough dynamics, punch, resolution, depth.

I will try my Denon DL-160 HOMC, with a stylus-to-centre-of-mounting-bolts distance of 8.3mm, and will report later.

You might have noticed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have a bit of spare time ;-)

[Old Grey Grump]

This said, I now play with a DV20x2H cartridge, properly aligned with VTF of 2.0gr. The result is OK, but the sound is a bit flat, not enough dynamics, punch, resolution, depth.



Interesting, I'm using a DV20x2L, aligned to Lofgren B and a VTF of 2.0gr and I'm finding the sound really good - definitely plenty of punch and dynamics, if anything sometimes a bit too much punch! (at a gain of 60db on my Sutherland Ph3D). Soundstage is also very good, excellent separation of instruments left to right and front to back. How many hours have you run yours?

[Boussven]

It was a demo cartridge of Anthony Prutton of Central Audio UK. Following his information, it has less than 20 hours, so I continue breaking it in. I changed the VTF to 2.15gr, and result is slightly better. Off course, we are very severe here, this is an excellent cartridge, but if I compare to my Ortofon SPU, S15, MC20MkII, DL103, Linn/Supex Troika, the sound of the Dynavector is a bit flat, thin, no depth, imaging could be better. Off course, this is a combo LP12/ARO/DV20x2 on an AN OTO SE Phono signature tubed phono stage. This combo can not reach the soundstage, imaging and involvement of my 301/3012/Troika combo.

[Barry]

You will have Linn fanatics tearing their hair out if they learn you use a Linn Troika in an SME 3012 arm! :D

[Boussven]

With quiet excellent results, I have to say. In the meantime, the DV20x2 on my ARO is starting to shine, especially on jazz records, beautiful soundstage.