Best Cartridge for VPI Aries orig + JMW 10.5 ?

Rauliruegas, thank you for your comments. My contention is that many unipivot tonearms show evidence of instability in the azimuth plane, when cartridges which feed large amounts of energy into the tonearm are used. This is less problematic when medium compliance cartridges(which feed lower amounts of energy into the arm) are used. This is why I recommend what I do. I agree that this is a tonearm design related issue, and many unipivot tonearm makers are showing a trend towards stabilizing features on their arms. I'd say that this is directly related to this issue. All tonearm types have their deficiencies, and this is one that happens to many unipivots, with certain cartridge types.

However, I do accept that many people find these matchups to be listenable in their systems. When making recommendations, I try to show people things to consider when they make their choices. I am in no way trying to tell them what they must do. They can do as they please. But it would be remiss to ignore the things that commonly happen with these combinations. So, I make my recommendations from my experience, and the experience of others that I know, and hope to help them in their quest for better sound. In my experience, tonearm stability considerations(in all planes) are as important for the cartridge matching as the mass/resonance is, when high-energy low compliance cartridges enter the equation.

Not everyone would agree with me, but that is my opinion.

Hi Twl: I agree with you in that all tonearm types have their deficiencies ( all in this life have a trade-off ) and I agree, too, that the tonearm stability is an important parameter for the cartridge matching.
My experiencies tell me that if you have a good design and a good execution of that design you can have a good tonearm it does not matter if is unipivot or gimbal/knife/ball type bearing, and that that tonearm can handle low compliance cartridges.
I give you an example: Mr. Sugano ( Koetsu ) designed a tonearm for his low compliance MC cartridges and guess what?, the Koetsu tonearm is an unipivot type.
Best regards and always enjoy the music.
Raul.
Ra

Thanks to TWL for his insight and help in my own set up regarding compliance and compatability in my Aries/JMW 10!

Banjofan,

If you are serious enough to spend $1,500 on a cartridge I would suggest that you listen to the item before buying, or at least have the option of sending it back if you don't like it. See www.musicalsurroundings.com

Given the music that you like I would seriously consider the Koetsu Black. I am using one in a system with a modified EAR 834P. It has an output of 0.5 mv, a wonderfully lush and detailed mid-range, very precise bass and a silky smooth high end. It more than hints at its $7,500 sibling, the Onyx
Platinum. You should however change the impedance in the EAR
to 10 ohms for the best performance. It's not difficult to do.

Happy listening,

Mark

Dear Banjofan: I agree with Ljgj, the Celebration is a great cartridge. It is in the same league that cartridges that cost 2-3 times more. It is much better than the Helikon for less money.
Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.