$800 Cartridge Shootout and Upgrade Path

Chris,

I understand your situation with the Galibier. Their top-of-the-line model really catches my fancy, only eclipsed by the Redpoint tables and the most expensive ones coming from Transrotor and La Luce. As you know, however, I can’t play in those leagues. I will never have the money to buy something like that.

If you go with a Teres, you will need to go with the finished cocobolo 255; otherwise, you will be required to do some finishing work. Now the Teres web site claims only a couple of hours are required; I am skeptical of that assertion. From the Teres 160 pictures, it looks like the acrylic parts also need to be polished. If that’s true, I think a polishing wheel will be needed.

The Schroeder is a well-respected arm. If you have your heart set on it, you might as well get it. But it does look a little temperamental and perhaps somewhat difficult to install. For me the price is a major barrier.

I agree that a good rack is essential. I have a reasonably decent one from Bell’Ogetti, but it is not audiophile quality. I wanted to build one myself, but my wife talked me out of it. I believe that one can build a very sturdy and reasonably good sounding rack from scratch for a fraction of what some of the more exotic ones cost. But then you will need the tools and the time to complete the project.

On several occasions you mentioned going back to school. What program will you be enrolling in?

Artarl,

Finishing a Teres hardwood base really does take only a few hours. Of course the whole process takes a few days because you need to let the finish dry between coats of tung oil. But each coat only takes 10-15 minutes and the initial sanding is trivial and usually is not needed at all. The 200 series turntables have hardwood armboards that just need the same finish as the base.

For the 150 and 160 it takes a little more effort because the acrylic armboard needs to be sanded and polished. The armboard polishing is still less than an hour even if you don't have a buffer.

All of the other parts are ready to go and don't need any work.

Chris

Twl,

Perhaps you might consider doing a column for one of the audio magazines. I learn so much more from your posts here than from my subscriptions to TAS and Stereophile. Once I finish setting up my system, I plan to cancel my subscription to both.

“Nobody can tell you what is "right for you," except you. We can only make suggestions based on what our past experiences have been, and we don't have your system and listening environment here at our homes.”

This statement is perhaps the most enlightened audio observation I have ever seen. Nearly all the audio dealers I have met over the past 30 years and most of the people who write for the audio press are so opinionated, arrogant, argumentative, and hackneyed in their stance on what sounds good and on what equipment others should buy and own it goes way beyond disheartening. It’s nice to know that I have the freedom to choose what’s right for me and my tastes in music without having to worry about what others might think or how the self-appointed audio critics might react to my audio selections. It’s really refreshing to read your posts, Twl; it makes being an audiophile really fun and exciting.

Artar,

I agree with yr assessment of Twl's posts. I have learned a lot on this thread alone! The quote of his you posted above is exactly it, I have been made to feel that information has been offered and that I am on the right track to try it myself and see how it works in my own situation, no dogmatism, no ego. As we have mentioned before this is the basis of a true dialectic. So rare these days......

I am going back to college to work towards my Doctorate in Philosophy. I have a BA in Liberal Arts(Philosophy and Mathematics) and have decided to leave software alone and get back to things I really love, reading books and discussing them with others. I have written on art and music in the past and would like to do so in a more academic setting. So I nail down what I can with my system and then starve for a few years. I have thousands of records and CD's to keep me busy when things are lean. I'm sure I will continue to collect what I can here and there but the financial emphasis will be on getting through the program, knock out the dissertation and teach and write. Hopefully to contribute something lasting along the way.
We'll see, now if I can just decide on a tonearm......oh the travails of tonearm philosophy!, which way to go???.....

Chris

Dear Artar1,
"The Schroeder is a well-respected arm. If you have your heart set on it, you might as well get it. But it does look a little temperamental and perhaps somewhat difficult to install. For me the price is a major barrier."
Just to give me some insight as to how people perceive my products: What gives you the feeling that my arms(or where you referring to the Reference only)are difficult to install?
It takes just two holes(M4-tapped, if you´re using a metal or acrylic board, 3,5-4mm woodscrew, if your tt has a wooden mounting board). The other model are no challenge either(21-25mm hole, one or three mounting screws required). No elongated holes or any need to get underneath the turntable.
As for the set up, Chris Brady can attest to the ease of set up once you´ve under stood how the arms work(no rocket science, hehe). BTW, one of the reasons I discontinued the No.1 arm is that it did require more time to get the set up spot on.
Pricing, yes, this gives me a headache too, but the weak $ is something that is beyond my influence(scary if I had any ;-)). I promise that as soon as the $ goes up again the prices will be adjusted...
None of the above is to say that one shouldn´t go for what one feels most comfortable with(sound, operation, looks).
Whichever arm you´re choosing, if you put it on a Teres or a Galibier, you´ve come alot closer to the "final" recordplayer.

Best,

Frank Schröder