Triplanar VII tonearm & Koetsu Jade Platinum cart.

Interesting that JerryS just posted a review saying this wasn't all that great a combo.

10audio review

I wouldn't intentionally pair a TriPlanar and a Koetsu myself. I've heard both components sound better with other partners. The TriPlanar is better suited to more compliant cartridges, Koetsus do better with higher mass arms.

Therefore, some of the tips on that thread will apply and some won't. As Lewm discovered, a Koetsu does not track well enough on this arm to implement the low antiskating force that works so well with ZYX, Lyra and other medium compliance cartridges. The fact that he needs the damping fluid to control HF's is another indicator of a less than optimal match. No one using more compatible cartridges like the ones just mentioned needs or even likes the damping fluid, AFAIK. Most of us have removed our damping fluid troughs altogether, to good effect.

For those who already have a TriPlanar and Koetsu, I would suggest trying to increase the arm's effective mass. Headshell weights and/or lighter counterweights located farther from the pivot might help the combination work better.

Doug

I wouldn't pay too much attention to 10audio.

I had the Jade in 3 different arms. Suffice it to say it is a very low compliance cartridge. You have not heard a Jade until you hear it in a high mass (over 28 gm) arm. This brings the bass and treble into focus and gets the Resonant frequency outside of the audio band and actually to an ideal 11 Hz (using the HF test lp). In my system it performed wonderfully in an Ikeda 407. A high mass 12 inch arm. I would suggest any of the variants is ideal. You can also add mass to the arm as suggested.

Hi Doug, girl and boys,

I am breaking in my new Jade mounted on my Vector 3.
I am pleased, but feeling that there is more to extract
from the Jade. I am considering the Phantom. Could you
tell me which tonearm or tonearms you would consider
for the Jade. It is 13.1 grams according to AS website.
So far in my research, the only ones that have come up
as good matches are the Davinci swiss arms and the
Graham Phantom. The Davinci's are a little beyond my budget anyway. I feel like a hijacker, but I would think any comments may closely apply to Peter's initial thread.

Don