I ought to have mentioned, for several reasons, that I've had considerable listening time with Both SME V-spec arms, the 9" and the 12. The difference is Very Pronounced. This is direct experience with at least 200 hours' listening.
From another pretty reliable source I've heard comparison of the 312-S and V-12; if their report is as trustworthy as I suspect, there is no comparison between the arms, just as there is very little shared between the V-9 and V-12. The SME V-12 arm, properly set up --which takes some time, patience and developing expertise-- gives some of the finest playback I've heard, ever.
I don't consider myself a well-seasoned audiophile, but I'm not new on the block either, just not as familiar with analog as I would like to be.
It's largely MFremer's review placing the Kuzma 4PT above the Cobra on his Caliburn TT that has me wondering.
To place things in perspective, I listened last night to a range of familiar source material with the SME V-12 and found myself referring to Fremer's review and the viewpoint of one of the above-mentioned listeners. Essentially they say the Kuzma 4PT is more 'lively' than the SME V-12. When I listened last night I asked whether anything more 'lively' sounding could possibly be other than exaggeration, as the SME V-12 was so solid, so credible, so well balanced, feeling accurate both timbrally and in wealth of textural detail. It tamed the sibilance on 'April in Paris', gave better depth and color to the skins, more air to the cymbals on the Sheffield Drum Track while still representing the flaw of the recording, namely that the drum kit sounds almost twice life size (ie: gives more of the good stuff without lying about the liabilities). How could something be more real?
Is this one of those occasions when I just have to spend $6K to find out?
That's why I'm asking.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
From another pretty reliable source I've heard comparison of the 312-S and V-12; if their report is as trustworthy as I suspect, there is no comparison between the arms, just as there is very little shared between the V-9 and V-12. The SME V-12 arm, properly set up --which takes some time, patience and developing expertise-- gives some of the finest playback I've heard, ever.
I don't consider myself a well-seasoned audiophile, but I'm not new on the block either, just not as familiar with analog as I would like to be.
It's largely MFremer's review placing the Kuzma 4PT above the Cobra on his Caliburn TT that has me wondering.
To place things in perspective, I listened last night to a range of familiar source material with the SME V-12 and found myself referring to Fremer's review and the viewpoint of one of the above-mentioned listeners. Essentially they say the Kuzma 4PT is more 'lively' than the SME V-12. When I listened last night I asked whether anything more 'lively' sounding could possibly be other than exaggeration, as the SME V-12 was so solid, so credible, so well balanced, feeling accurate both timbrally and in wealth of textural detail. It tamed the sibilance on 'April in Paris', gave better depth and color to the skins, more air to the cymbals on the Sheffield Drum Track while still representing the flaw of the recording, namely that the drum kit sounds almost twice life size (ie: gives more of the good stuff without lying about the liabilities). How could something be more real?
Is this one of those occasions when I just have to spend $6K to find out?
That's why I'm asking.
Thanks again for your thoughts.