yet another KAB mod question


Is the threaded clamp worth the 100 dollar price increase over the non-threaded model?--Cheers
jmoog08
Also don't forget the cardas tone arm re-wire, that is def. worthwhile.

the Cardas head shell leads are available from the needledoctor or musicdirect.com.
I was thinking I'd skip the tonearm rewire because you end up having to use an addiitonal phono cable. Can the benefits outweigh that disadvantage?

(as if I need to ask...)
10-30-07: Drubin
I was thinking I'd skip the tonearm rewire because you end up having to use an addiitonal phono cable.
You need an additional pair of ICs, but not a phono cable. KAB provides a ground wire, and they sell really excellent, inexpensive Mogami interconnects (as low as $25/2 meters). Don't disregard the Mogami because of the low price. They're excellent. You can always upgrade later if you feel the need.

Also, with the re-wire/RCA jacks, you have the flexibility to run balanced in the future using a RCA>XLR phono cable (it integrates the ground wire). Atma-Sphere sells them for $300.

Frankly, I don't think anything beyond the fluid damper and a moderately good cartridge is required to enjoy vinyl on the SL12XX tables.
Here is what I did.
I just asked Kevin which upgrades HE THOUGHT were worthwhile. I was prepared to do all the mods, he has to offer.
Kevin is a very honest and straightforward
kind of person. I have found him to be a real gentleman, who is as objective, as it is possible to be, with respect to audio.
His answer was:
1. Cardas arm rewire
2. Fluid damper
3. External power supply.
I brought it back home last night, and from the first minute playing music, I should say, I was extremely impressed.
I didn't expect to hear that good of a playback- excellent, explosive dynamics, very tonally accurate, great timbre.
My wife, who is a professional pianist, listened to Berlioz
for a couple minutes, and immediately made a comment, that "it sounds very natural", she immediately noticed very precise soundstaging with exact placement of orchestral instruments (I think she knows, what she's talking about). And she is the farthest thing from an audiophile.
My point is, the price for ANY of the KAB mods is so modest, compared to other companies offerings, that making a decision about what particular options to choose, is an absolute no- brainer to me. I highly doubt, that one can get anywhere close to this level of performance for that little money.
Again, that is just my perspective.