If you are open to other choices for tonearms, I would strongly suggest the Origin Live tonearms. I use the OL Silver on my Teres, and it is a stunning performer. Personally, I feel pretty strongly about using a gimbal-bearing type tonearm with low compliance cartridges, which you seem to prefer, judging from your list. At the prices you are looking at for WB tonearms, you could get the top line Origin Live Illustrious. Make no mistake, these OL arms are at the top of the heap. They may not get the press that the other top arms get, but it is likely that they will outperform most of the more well known top arms. My OL Silver works beautifully with the Teres, and I have no desire to change to SME, Graham, or anything else. It's a perfect match for a Shelter(which I am using now), or Koetsu, or any other low to mid compliance cartridge. Don't let the lower price scare you away. These are some of the best arms you can buy.
Cartridge / Tonearm opinions requested...
After 23 years of living with an Ariston RD11s I’ve decided it’s finally time to upgrade. I recently pre-ordered one of the upcoming Teres Audio 265 tables (with the cocobolo platter). I’ve been making myself fairly insane over arm and cartridge selection and I’d appreciate any feedback anyone would care to offer (Twl?).
Unless someone can relate a horror story I’ve pretty much narrowed down my arm choice to the Wilson Benesch Act 2. It was a coin toss with the Moerch DP-6 but I’m a freak for carbon fiber.
My short list of cartridges are:
Shelter 901
Wilson Benesch Analog
Koestsu Rosewood Signature
Allaerts MB-1 Boron
I haven’t heard much about the W-B cartridge. I know it is of unknown Japanese make. I would think the synergy with the Act 2 arm would be great but I don’t know much about it's sound characteristics. I’ve read lots of raves about the Shelter 901 (In fact I just ordered a 501 for my office system). The Allaerts is supposed to be imbued with magical properties that will forever elevate the life of the owner but I haven’t really read too much about it beyond a bit of hype. The Koetsu seems like the safe old favorite – it simply can’t be a bad choice…but is it the best choice?
The related analog gear is a Krell KPA phono stage, Sonic Frontiers Line 3 preamp, a Jadis Defy 7 Mk III amp, a White Audio Labs A250 amp. Speakers are custom Unity Audio Super-PARMs (four piece system).
Would anyone care to offer an opinion/comparison about these 4 cartridges and how they might work with the W-B arm?
(Sorry for the long post)
Unless someone can relate a horror story I’ve pretty much narrowed down my arm choice to the Wilson Benesch Act 2. It was a coin toss with the Moerch DP-6 but I’m a freak for carbon fiber.
My short list of cartridges are:
Shelter 901
Wilson Benesch Analog
Koestsu Rosewood Signature
Allaerts MB-1 Boron
I haven’t heard much about the W-B cartridge. I know it is of unknown Japanese make. I would think the synergy with the Act 2 arm would be great but I don’t know much about it's sound characteristics. I’ve read lots of raves about the Shelter 901 (In fact I just ordered a 501 for my office system). The Allaerts is supposed to be imbued with magical properties that will forever elevate the life of the owner but I haven’t really read too much about it beyond a bit of hype. The Koetsu seems like the safe old favorite – it simply can’t be a bad choice…but is it the best choice?
The related analog gear is a Krell KPA phono stage, Sonic Frontiers Line 3 preamp, a Jadis Defy 7 Mk III amp, a White Audio Labs A250 amp. Speakers are custom Unity Audio Super-PARMs (four piece system).
Would anyone care to offer an opinion/comparison about these 4 cartridges and how they might work with the W-B arm?
(Sorry for the long post)
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- 20 posts total
- 20 posts total