Bargains on ebay?

[Barry]

Another cartridge that I think Barry would like - the legendary Pierre Clement:






When you look at the quirky designs of classics like the Lumière and Pierre Clement, aren't many modern cartridges so bloody boring looking in comparison?

Unfortunately, the same can often be said of their sound.....


Anyway, another 'looker' in the T/T stakes for me, I give you the 'eye-wateringly gorgeous' () Thorens TD 550 (unfortunately though it's not 'vintage'):






Marco.

Whilst I am aware of the Pierre Clement cartridge, I know virtually nothing about it, apart from it being a French design for broadcast use, and most likely used with the French Bordereau broadcast turntables (a rim drive, quick start design, built like a tank, and rumbled like one! Even more industrial looking than the EMT 930). Nice to see, from the photo, the owner uses his on a Thorens 124/II.

I have no idea if facsimilies are still made or how much they cost. Do you know any more about them Marco?

Regards

[Marco]

Hi Barry,

When did you hear the Lumière cartridge?

Years ago in an antiques shop in France (on a Platine Verdier) where the owner was a music and hi-fi buff... It was a fascinating place in more ways than one!

The sound (and the discussion I had with the shop owner about hi-fi and music) left an indelible impression on me, which is why I've loved the Verdier and Lumière ever since. The experience also probably taught me how 'wrong', to my ears, some cartridges are voiced by manufacturers today in relation to how real voices and musical instruments actually sound.

My speculation that the Lumière cartridge (a facsimile of the Neumann NV55 (?) moving coil cartridge is based on the Ortofon SPU, has no basis other than the fact that Ortofon patented the moving coil principle and that the Neuman design was close contemporary, and so would have had to pay Ortofon royalty. As far as I know, unlike the original SPU, the Neumann used an off-board SUT. There is a lot of hype talked about Neumann's know-how when it came to designing transformers. Again as far as I know, many of the Neumann transformers were made by other German companies, though they may have been to Neumann's design. Perhaps Stefano can clarify matters here.

I know Stefano, so might well quiz him further on that.

Sorry to hear you have been down with the flu, but pleased you're recovering. Hope you enjoy the Decca. I suspect that like me you will find it presents a different picture to any other cartridge you have heard: astonishing attack, speed and dynamics and sheer, almost palpable, sense of presence, but tonally neutral it ain't.

I'm looking forward to it. Deccas may not have the 'big-boned', organic, sound I generally like in cartridges, but in my limited experience of them so far they get it right, musically, in most areas of their presentation - and that's ultimately what matters most!

Yes, we did polish off the Amarone with venison steak. Will post my thoughts shortly. In fact I enjoyed it so much I will probably buy another bottle. All I have to do is find an excuse to celebrate: how about on reading your report of the Decca? That would be a good enough excuse!

Lol - I'll do my best (time is a factor), but I'll certainly let you know what I think. Glad the Amarone hit the spot - I thought it would!

I know as much as you do about the Pierre Clement. However, it's pedigree strongly suggests that it would be right up my street (and perhaps yours).

Marco.

[Barry]

You've got me going Marco over your mention of the Pierre Clément cartridge (half of the references seem spell his name with an é). Here's what I found so far:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/pierre-clement.shtml
Clément worked for ORTF and designed the cartridge for broadcast use.
Clement: Main supplier for the french RTF (Radio Télévision Française). Joined SCHLUMBERGER SA. after Pierre Clément's death in 1971. (Are there two Clements, one spelt with an é, the other without?


Photo: Kuri Saxo
Look at that arm! This is what the corner of my listening room will look like if I do too many reviews for AoS!


Photo: Christian Grados

http://www.analog-collector.com/bonu...es/default.htm
1,200 Euro (~£1K), that's competitive with many modern MCs.


Photo: Johannes LeBong
Many Pierre Clément cartridges seem to be mono only, with a unique coaxial connection to the arm. According to LeBong, the PC cartridge was a variable reluctance design; that would account for the high 20mV output. This is confirmed here:
http://www.archeophone.org/Clement/indexwith.php
which also shows an elaborate adapter for use with arms using the SME/EIA bayonet coupling.

Here's a photo of the Bordereau deck that continued to be made under licence by Schlumberger (their model 212 deck) and supplied to Bordereau.


Photo: Christian Grados

(Apologies for the size of some of these photos; I hate having to scroll horizontally, even when you set the page to be full screen width.)

[Marco]

Wonderful stuff, Barry!!

Now that's a proper hi-fi system... And like you say, look at that bloody tank-like tonearm on the (nearest) TD-124 - I think I'm in love!!!

I wonder what the cartridge is on the Bordereau - I like the look of that, too!

Marco.

[Barry]

Wonderful stuff, Barry!!

Now that's a proper hi-fi system... And like you say, look at that bloody tank-like tonearm on the (nearest) TD-124 - I think I'm in love!!!

I wonder what the cartridge is on the Bordereau - I like the look of that, too!

Marco.

Haha! Size isn't everything you know, though I will admit I attracted to 'chunky' pickup arms: The Sryinx PU2; The Breuer; the early Kuzmas; most Ortofons (including the Jelco ones); all SMEs and EMTs, and even the Linn 'Tick-tock' (pretend you didn't read that last bit!).

Regards

[Marco]

Indeed! In my experience, the high-mass arm/cartridge route has a distinctive way of reproducing music compared to its low or medium-mass equivalent......

It's a subject I've always found fascinating - and I absolutely adore any kind of high-quality broadcast equipment from the era when sound quality mattered more in broadcasting stations than anything else!

Marco.

[Alex_UK]

Anyway, another 'looker' in the T/T stakes for me, I give you the 'eye-wateringly gorgeous' () Thorens TD 550 (unfortunately though it's not 'vintage'):

Eye-watering refers to the price too, I suspect... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_500wt_1154

[Marco]

Interesting in the darker finish.....

Indeed, Alex. Sometimes you get what you pay for, though, and I'm a big fan of Swiss engineering. If I were into the belt-drive approach, I'd have one in a flash!

Marco.

[Beobloke]

Good choice Marco - I'm a big fan of the TD550.

I would even go as far as to sat that, all things taken into consideration and considering its performance in every area, it's probably the best all-round turntable I have heard to date. Definitely near the top of my "I really didn't want to give it back" review items list as well!

[Marco]

Hi Adam,

Top notch, aren't they? I just love the engineering quality. Yes, they're expensive, but I feel in this instance one could almost justify the outlay, as the material value and overall quality of the 'fit and finish' is almost second to none.

I've always liked Thorens T/Ts. I've owned a few, and like the TD-124 best. My biggest regret was trading in a TD-125 with an SME 3009 (fixed headshell type) for an LP12/Valhalla/Akito. The Linn was utter pants in comparison!

Will you be going to Whittlebury Hall? If so, we must meet up for a few

Marco.