Alphason HR100 S- cartridge help please

[soundfanz]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.
I will leave the Denon DL103R for another day on another arm.
I have had Johnnie7 at Audio Origami modify a tonearm for me in the past, and he does superb work.
But..... I have just purchased an Accuphase AC-2 MC cart from a seller on the Audio Asylum site, and it has minimal hours on it. I did a lot of googling about this cart and it seems to be an excellent cartridge.
I also was considering a Denon Dl 304 and an AT OC9 ML II, but went for the Accuphase.
I have done some checking and it is a good match for the Alphason arm, and I really look forward to hearing the combo when I get home in November.
Depending on how it sounds I will then consider sending the arm off for mods from AO, or just leave it standard.

I will also post pics at that time.

Chris

[Marco]

Hi Chris,

Sounds like a good outcome. The Accuphase is highly rated, by all accounts

Much as I'm a fan of the DL-103, I'd be reluctant to sell an HR100S because it wasn't compatible. Yes you could modify it quite successfully to suit the 103, but there's nothing to say that the Accuphase/HR100S combo won't be as good as, say, a Jelco SA-750D/103Pro - just different!

Anyway, enjoy and keep us posted of the final outcome, of course with pictures

Marco.

[DSJR]

Next time I visit HiFi Dave I'll take the camera - he has some fantastic vintage stuff and should have the Harbeth 40.1's by then - a modern *big* speaker I really want to spend some time with - fed by valves and a decent source of whatever persuasion the music is presented on.. I want a play with his SL110 in any case for old time's sake

"Used" Accuphase looks to be a great idea, but I think that both they and Luxman deliberately priced their gear out of the running to maintain that aloof cachet so beloved of audiophools - a great shame IMO..

Good luck with the combo once you get it working and don't give up on the 103, just take Marco's advice on getting one of the better ones.

[Haselsh1]

Hello there... I use an Alphason Xenon tonearm which was almost identical to the HR100 S MCS but without quite as much stainless on the gimbal mount. At the moment I have a Denon DL160 in it but I'm looking forward to next year when I shall be fitting a much better cartridge. Can't wait...

[The Grand Wazoo]

But..... I have just purchased an Accuphase AC-2 MC cart from a seller on the Audio Asylum site, and it has minimal hours on it. I did a lot of googling about this cart and it seems to be an excellent cartridge.

Chris,
I'd be very interested as to how you get on with the Accuphase - please keep your promise to let us know, mate.

Cheers

[Beobloke]

As said above though, so sad that Alphason turned their collective back so totally on their audio gear. I suspect the Linnie/Naimie thang had a lot to do with it (Richard Dunn isn't the only one with an old axe to grind I'm afraid..)

It's actually more complicated than that. It's a long story, but if I may quote a summary from Haden Boardman, who used to work for Alphason, -

Basically it started with a few issues relating to Alphason's then new range of electronics but, to rub salt into Mike's wounds, at the time of the electronics problems, a representative was going around telling everyone that Alphason were in dire straights when this was simply not true.

On top of this, an enthusiastic customer, thinking he was doing Alphason a favour, would badger local dealers into getting the Sonata in stock by ringing up and posing as a potential customer. Unhappily, the gentleman had a pretty distinctive accent and would also accompany Mike on dealer demonstrations! Dealers aren't stupid and spotted the 'plant' even though Alphason were completely in ignorance of his activities!

Thanks to this mis-directed enthusiasm, Alphason began to lose what dealers it had and was forced to sell 'factory seconds' direct to customers. This way, you soon end up with no dealers at all.

Between 1980 and 1990, Alphason had its (unfortunately unpatented) ideas copied by other manufacturers, was ripped off for dodgy amplifiers, bad-mouthed by an ex-employee and suffered an enthusiast muddying the water with the dealers.

As Haden said, the odds seemed to be stacked against Mike which is a great shame as he is a talented chap. I have heard rumours that he may be designing a new arm for a UK manufacturer but this was in the very early stages when I was talking to the manufacturer in question last year and I don't know if anything more has happened. Personally speaking, however, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[goodattitude88]

And a bit more Stan. Uses a Linn arm mount if I remember right, fantastic arm. If I had access to an arm board for my Oracle for sensible money, I'd ask to buy it off you, but I don't have access to the board or the money so I won't ask to buy it off you assuming you were selling it.


Regards D S D L

Hi D S D L,

Any taught of selling your Alphason HR100S tone arm for I'm in the market for one.

Cheers,

James T

[The Grand Wazoo]

Hi James,
Welcome to the Art of Sound!
I think we'd all appreciate it if you could veer over to the Welcome area & introduce yourself to us.
Some of the things we'd all like to know about are your taste in music, whereabouts ou come from & your system & what it is made up from - I'm guessing that if you know about Alphason arms, you've probably got a system we'd like to hear about!
Then if you feel like it, you can stop by at the Gallery & show us some piccies.
Cheers

[pure sound]

Using my J7 rebuilt, AN rewired Xenon with an AN Io on a Voyd at the moment & really enjoying it. This cartridge is 22g so the arm has a heavier stainless steel c/weight made by John (Thrunobulax) to allow it to balance.



I'd describe the Alphason as perhaps more explicit but less rooted than my SMEV. A very pleasant alternative though.

[Spectral Morn]

Hi D S D L,

Any taught of selling your Alphason HR100S tone arm for I'm in the market for one.

Cheers,

James T

Sorry re-read my post...I was saying that if one was up for sale I would (assuming I had the money..and I don't) buy one. I don't have one for sale.

Please pop into the Welcome section of the forum and say hello please.


Regards D S D L