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Thread: New Arrival - ORTOFON SPU A95 ANNIVERSARY

  1. #11
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: Derbyshire

    Posts: 9,228
    I'm Josie.

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    Very choice.

    I wonder how this would compare to my SPU GT?

    Not really tried any of the MC SPUs.

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  2. #12
    Join Date: Jul 2011

    Location: Northamptonshire

    Posts: 1,914
    I'm Peter.

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    Hi Josie.

    Ah, that's where I left that SPU GT ... I was looking for it the other afternoon! Can I have it back now, please?

    Crikey, is there anyone on this forum that hasn't bought an SPU from me??

    To answer your question. Your SPU GT is very special, and is one of only a couple of bits of hifi that I immediately regretted selling. In fact, it is only recently that I managed to get a similar one, this time a GTE .... a 1990's elliptical job, with the little transformers, made for the Japanese market, I believe (thanks, Clive!). It's very nice, but still doesn't quite have the magic of your's. The A95 is a brilliant all-rounder, adding some 'hifi' detail to the traditional SPU sound, although imo it loses some of the richness and 'density' of the old spherical, Alnico ones, like your's.

    So, keep it ... or sell it back to me ... please ...

  3. #13
    Join Date: Jul 2011

    Location: Northamptonshire

    Posts: 1,914
    I'm Peter.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Vrajbasi View Post
    Congratulations, you will certainly have many hours of pleasure with the SPU A95 I own four of them 2 that are used and two unused, I have been collecting spu cartridges for over 30 years now, and have a host of vintage models some with piggy back transformers and modern models including various golds and the stunning anniversary box set that was available in 2011. The box which has the SPU Classic, SPU Gold Reference, SPU 85th Anniversary and SPU 90th Anniversary is lovely. I like the gold from that set the most, the A95 is superb in its detail and the way deals with the bass and midrange integration one of the less fussy spu cartridges in my opinion. I have the Centuary which is also a very very fine cartridge, the spu cartridge that touches my heart the most is the Shindo spu, it has a almost ghostly quality that is truly seductive the midrange while sweet powerful has great transparency but not in the modern way of sounding thin and bleached. I think the A95 ranks very highly in the spu line up, setting up and using a spu can be challenging to say the least, the A95 glides along playing music proving great detail with a slight modern twist, spu ownership is very addictive as each and every model has there own charm and virtues.
    Very interesting post. Thanks!

    Regarding the SPU Century, I've had all sorts of problems trying to optimise Shibata stylii on other cartridges, so I'm curious if this one is any easier? Not sure it's a great idea to track that stylus at 4 grams, either. Any thoughts?

  4. #14
    Join Date: Aug 2018

    Location: London Knightsbridge

    Posts: 414
    I'm Nari.

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    Quote Originally Posted by petrat View Post
    Very interesting post. Thanks!

    Regarding the SPU Century, I've had all sorts of problems trying to optimise Shibata stylii on other cartridges, so I'm curious if this one is any easier? Not sure it's a great idea to track that stylus at 4 grams, either. Any thoughts?
    I have personally found how I align the century and the a95 makes a big different, having used many many protractors and procedures I have found the Acoustical systems on the Uni din setting being optimum in terms of performance. I find a slight grain an hardness if used on any of the other settings.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  5. #15
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Norwich

    Posts: 2,814
    I'm Hugo.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Vrajbasi View Post
    I have personally found how I align the century and the a95 makes a big different, having used many many protractors and procedures I have found the Acoustical systems on the Uni din setting being optimum in terms of performance. I find a slight grain an hardness if used on any of the other settings.
    I agree regarding UNI-DIN alignment - whenever I have tried aligning a cartridge to Baerwald/LoefgrenB etc, I always find myself reverting to UNI-DIN since it seems to result in a much more engaging and musical sound. You do need to buy the SMARTractor to align to UNI-DIN, though!

    Although it's another expensive tool (and really a dealer tool) the Analog Magik computer based cartridge setup system does take the guesswork out of accurate alignment, which is quite difficult to achieve with SPUs since there is nowhere to put a convenient bubble level to give a visual and repeatable indication of VTA and azimuth, which become increasingly important with fancier stylus profiles like Shibata and Replicant.

  6. #16
    Join Date: Mar 2016

    Location: Barnet, london UK

    Posts: 2,146
    I'm Adam.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ammonite Acoustics View Post
    I agree regarding UNI-DIN alignment - whenever I have tried aligning a cartridge to Baerwald/LoefgrenB etc, I always find myself reverting to UNI-DIN since it seems to result in a much more engaging and musical sound. You do need to buy the SMARTractor to align to UNI-DIN, though!

    Although it's another expensive tool (and really a dealer tool) the Analog Magik computer based cartridge setup system does take the guesswork out of accurate alignment, which is quite difficult to achieve with SPUs since there is nowhere to put a convenient bubble level to give a visual and repeatable indication of VTA and azimuth, which become increasingly important with fancier stylus profiles like Shibata and Replicant.
    Blimey!
    Anyone got a SMARTractor tool they want to rent to me!?!
    "lack of passion is fatal"


    Vinyl: Thorens TD-124mk2 / SME-312 Aluminium 'special' / SME M2-9R / STEREO: Etsuro Urushi Cobalt / Shure M3D / Ortofon SPU A95 / Cartridge Man Music Master / Shure - SC35C (US) / SAEC C3 MC MONO: Miyajima Zero B 0.7mil mono / Miyajima Premium 1.0 / Amps & SUTs: Radford STA25 mk3 / AD Audio 'Satchmo2' pre & LCR phono / Hashimoto HM-7 SUT / ETR-MONO SUT Digital: Audio Note 4.1 (with DAC5 upgrades) DAC / Roon / Tidal Speakers: Tannoy 12" MGs' in RFC custom 'Rutland' Cabinets with RFC crossovers / Tannoy ST-100 Super Tweeters Cables: LFD Grainless phono / RFC Mercury / Duelund DCA16GA tinned copper / Kimber 12TC / SW1X Audio Design USB-SPdif / Duelund DCA20GA interconnects / SW1X Audio SPDIF Aero 6 / Mains Power Conditioner / Box Furniture rack / Audiodesk Systeme Vinyl Cleaner / a very beautiful & understanding Wife!

  7. #17
    Join Date: Aug 2018

    Location: London Knightsbridge

    Posts: 414
    I'm Nari.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ammonite Acoustics View Post
    I agree regarding UNI-DIN alignment - whenever I have tried aligning a cartridge to Baerwald/LoefgrenB etc, I always find myself reverting to UNI-DIN since it seems to result in a much more engaging and musical sound. You do need to buy the SMARTractor to align to UNI-DIN, though!

    Although it's another expensive tool (and really a dealer tool) the Analog Magik computer based cartridge setup system does take the guesswork out of accurate alignment, which is quite difficult to achieve with SPUs since there is nowhere to put a convenient bubble level to give a visual and repeatable indication of VTA and azimuth, which become increasingly important with fancier stylus profiles like Shibata and Replicant.
    I fully agree with the Analog Magik, its a bit more specialist though hence why not mentioned, I would certainly recommend the smart tractor because of the Uni Din setting and ease of use. The Shibata does take a lot of care but can be highly musical if treated with care.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  8. #18
    Join Date: Mar 2016

    Location: Barnet, london UK

    Posts: 2,146
    I'm Adam.

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    Quote Originally Posted by WESTLOWER View Post
    Blimey!
    Anyone got a SMARTractor tool they want to rent to me!?!
    Sorted... thank you Mike!
    "lack of passion is fatal"


    Vinyl: Thorens TD-124mk2 / SME-312 Aluminium 'special' / SME M2-9R / STEREO: Etsuro Urushi Cobalt / Shure M3D / Ortofon SPU A95 / Cartridge Man Music Master / Shure - SC35C (US) / SAEC C3 MC MONO: Miyajima Zero B 0.7mil mono / Miyajima Premium 1.0 / Amps & SUTs: Radford STA25 mk3 / AD Audio 'Satchmo2' pre & LCR phono / Hashimoto HM-7 SUT / ETR-MONO SUT Digital: Audio Note 4.1 (with DAC5 upgrades) DAC / Roon / Tidal Speakers: Tannoy 12" MGs' in RFC custom 'Rutland' Cabinets with RFC crossovers / Tannoy ST-100 Super Tweeters Cables: LFD Grainless phono / RFC Mercury / Duelund DCA16GA tinned copper / Kimber 12TC / SW1X Audio Design USB-SPdif / Duelund DCA20GA interconnects / SW1X Audio SPDIF Aero 6 / Mains Power Conditioner / Box Furniture rack / Audiodesk Systeme Vinyl Cleaner / a very beautiful & understanding Wife!

  9. #19
    Join Date: Apr 2015

    Location: Vancouver

    Posts: 285
    I'm Don.

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    Quote Originally Posted by WESTLOWER View Post
    Blimey!
    Anyone got a SMARTractor tool they want to rent to me!?!
    I have the full Acoustical Systems alignment setup tool that came with my tonearm, but unfortunately I live 5000 miles away : ( If I was a tad closer I would be happy to loan it to you!
    Vertere SG-1 Turntable / Audio Note IO Gold MC
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  10. #20
    Join Date: Mar 2014

    Location: KY - Scotland

    Posts: 5,465
    I'm Mike.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Parkie37 View Post
    I have the full Acoustical Systems alignment setup tool that came with my tonearm, but unfortunately I live 5000 miles away : ( If I was a tad closer I would be happy to loan it to you!
    He's sorted, I loaned him my one

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