Opinions on Lafon gm70's

[briguy]

This is NEWS to me. My understanding is the attenuators were fine anywhere. Simply a matter of preference, or to allow one to open up their PREAMP VC more....

I just spoke with Matt. He says going max won't damage the amps, but that they recommend setting 12-3 o'clock and that most people are happy in the 2-3 o'clock range. He said it is very system and room dependent though.

 

[Logey]

Mine are set at 3 o'clock

 

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum Logey, thank you for joining.

 

[kev313]

Nice system (which is identical to mine)! Listening at low volumes will take, as you may guess by now, some experimentation with amp attenuators, pre volume and definitely speaker settings. As t the distortion, that might be due to amp damage. I've never experienced that with my gm70. We're the repairs done by the recommended tech in the U.S.?

As for the directions from Shindo on the attenuator use, every Shindo manual that I've had has come with different documentation / recommendations.

 

[vortrex]

Maybe unrelated, but you have such a killer system paired with an oddly matched cart, arm, and SUT. Have you ever thought about changing that? I bet you're missing out on quite a lot. Koetsu is very low compliance, yet you have it attached to such a light arm. Then I think you have the A23 Hommage step up, which is another bad match by all accounts with Koetsu.

 

[briguy]

Nice system (which is identical to mine)! Listening at low volumes will take, as you may guess by now, some experimentation with amp attenuators, pre volume and definitely speaker settings. As t the distortion, that might be due to amp damage. I've never experienced that with my gm70. We're the repairs done by the recommended tech in the U.S.?

As for the directions from Shindo on the attenuator use, every Shindo manual that I've had has come with different documentation / recommendations.

I have a new table coming this week (Artisan Fidelity Garrard 301) with an Ikeda arm for the Koetsu and a Schroeder CB-1 for a Miyajima Zero mono cart. Matt thought I should wait to see if the table and new setup fixes the issue before sending to the repair tech in Arizona.

I also just picked up the new EMT JSD Platinum (P 6.0 I guess it's called) that I'll have on my second headshell.

 

[briguy]

Maybe unrelated, but you have such a killer system paired with an oddly matched cart, arm, and SUT. Have you ever thought about changing that? I bet you're missing out on quite a lot. Koetsu is very low compliance, yet you have it attached to such a light arm. Then I think you have the A23 Hommage step up, which is another bad match by all accounts with Koetsu.

See above. First I've hear that the Homage isn't a good match for the Koetsu. Why do you think that?

 

[vortrex]

See above. First I've hear that the Homage isn't a good match for the Koetsu. Why do you think that?

Because it's not made for Koetsu? The A23 SUTs are purpose built for EMT, Shindo, and certain Ortofon SPUs. You should read this thread, especially the posts by Ekki.

http://www.audioaficionado.org/shindo-labs/33899-new-member.html

 

[briguy]

Because it's not made for Koetsu? The A23 SUTs are purpose built for EMT, Shindo, and certain Ortofon SPUs. You should read this thread, especially the posts by Ekki.

http://www.audioaficionado.org/shindo-labs/33899-new-member.html

Actually, you should probably give it a read first since you seem mis/under-informed.

A23 makes two versions of their SUTs. One for SPU style carts like the Shindo, EMT, etc. and another for non-SPU style carts.

My SUT mates perfectly well with my Koetsu. Is it possible that there is a better impedance match with another SUT by a different manufacturer? Maybe. But I'm getting pretty good sound from what I have.

 

[vortrex]

You might want to research that some more. The T1 is for the Shindo and certain Ortofon SPU. The T2 is for 22ohm EMT carts. Any SUT will "work" with any cart, but if you want the best match and sound a Koetsu with a Hommage won't be it.

Also, keep in mind the EMT carts are 1mv so the T2 is designed accordingly.

 

[kev313]

I have a new table coming this week (Artisan Fidelity Garrard 301) with an Ikeda arm for the Koetsu and a Schroeder CB-1 for a Miyajima Zero mono cart. Matt thought I should wait to see if the table and new setup fixes the issue before sending to the repair tech in Arizona.

I also just picked up the new EMT JSD Platinum (P 6.0 I guess it's called) that I'll have on my second headshell.

Beautiful table. Over the course of my audio travels, I've used Schroder and Ikeda arms and loved them both (to be fair, though, I bought Ikeda back in the good days where you had to buy through 2juki on eBay and the cost was 1/3 of the cost with US distribution).

I've still got a few Garrads in the house: a nice 301 refurbished by Audio Grail that I'm about to put in a nice, but quite cheap, plinth and a 401 in a plinth from a known plinth builder that looks a bit similar to your design and cost 15x what I just paid for the plinth for the 301. I've had many Garrads and am not quite sold on some of the implementations. The cost, anyway. I've got plinths, bearings and platters coming out my ears and IMO the worst audio money I spent was the plinth for my 401. Looks good. Beyond that, not worth it.

The Shindo approach, the A23 plinth, these I think have merit in the context of a well designed cohesive system. Like anything else.


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[briguy]

You might want to research that some more. The T1 is for the Shindo and certain Ortofon SPU. The T2 is for 22ohm EMT carts. Any SUT will "work" with any cart, but if you want the best match and sound a Koetsu with a Hommage won't be it.

Also, keep in mind the EMT carts are 1mv so the T2 is designed accordingly.

Like I said, there may be better matches, but I'm getting pretty phenomenal sound. Your post referenced the SUT meant for the SPU style carts, which I don't have. I haven't had the luxury of owning multiple SUT's and the T2 is pretty versatile.

In fact, I think it was Art Dudley who did a review of a bunch of SUT's and found that the A23 Hommage mated better with his Koetsu cart than the Koetsu SUT "made" for it. Different Hommage and different Koetsu cart, but goes to show that what might work "best" on paper doesn't necessarily translate to the real world.

 

[briguy]

Beautiful table. Over the course of my audio travels, I've used Schroder and Ikeda arms and loved them both (to be fair, though, I bought Ikeda back in the good days where you had to buy through 2juki on eBay and the cost was 1/3 of the cost with US distribution).

I've still got a few Garrads in the house: a nice 301 refurbished by Audio Grail that I'm about to put in a nice, but quite cheap, plinth and a 401 in a plinth from a known plinth builder that looks a bit similar to your design and cost 15x what I just paid for the plinth for the 301. I've had many Garrads and am not quite sold on some of the implementations. The cost, anyway. I've got plinths, bearings and platters coming out my ears and IMO the worst audio money I spent was the plinth for my 401. Looks good. Beyond that, not worth it.

The Shindo approach, the A23 plinth, these I think have merit in the context of a well designed cohesive system. Like anything else.


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Yeah, we'll see how this turns out. You can't really audition tables at this level prior to purchase, particularly since it is custom built.

Since Shindo isn't making their table anymore for the foreseeable future, this seemed like the best route. It's definitely a beautiful table.

 

[Cucumber_jones]

A23 makes two versions of their SUTs. One for SPU style carts like the Shindo, EMT, etc. and another for non-SPU style.

Sorry this is wrong. The T1 is for the old ortofon SPU and the T2 was built specifically for the EMT. May work with other carts but built for very specific carts.


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[vortrex]

Like I said, there may be better matches, but I'm getting pretty phenomenal sound. Your post referenced the SUT meant for the SPU style carts, which I don't have. I haven't had the luxury of owning multiple SUT's and the T2 is pretty versatile.

In fact, I think it was Art Dudley who did a review of a bunch of SUT's and found that the A23 Hommage mated better with his Koetsu cart than the Koetsu SUT "made" for it. Different Hommage and different Koetsu cart, but goes to show that what might work "best" on paper doesn't necessarily translate to the real world.

Hey if you want to use a SUT that was purpose built for another cart with completely different specs than Koetsu that's fine, just saying you're not going to get the best out of it.

 

[briguy]

Sorry this is wrong. The T1 is for the old ortofon SPU and the T2 was built specifically for the EMT. May work with other carts but built for very specific carts.


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You're right. I was thinking he meant EMT made SPU style carts.

 

[briguy]

Hey if you want to use a SUT that was purpose built for another cart with completely different specs than Koetsu that's fine, just saying you're not going to get the best out of it.

Thanks man. Your blessing means a lot to me.

 

[vortrex]

Thanks man. Your blessing means a lot to me.

You're welcome. Another case of more money than sense, maybe you'll figure things out someday. I was just reading your "emergency" thread on another forum where you paid the cart installation expert to align it for you.

 

[briguy]

You're welcome. Another case of more money than sense, maybe you'll figure things out someday. I was just reading your "emergency" thread on another forum where you paid the cart installation expert to align it for you.

I also don't perform lasik surgery on myself, fill my own cavities or build my own cars.

Sure, I could do those things. But I prefer to exchange the money I earn doing what I do well for products and services done well by those who do them best. I guess I value my own time and the expertise of others more than you do.

Another case of more mouth than manners, maybe you'll figure things out someday.

 

[Cucumber_jones]

I also don't perform lasik surgery on myself, fill my own cavities or build my own cars.

Sure, I could do those things. But I prefer to exchange the money I earn doing what I do well for products and services done well by those who do them best. I guess I value my own time and the expertise of others more than you do.

Another case of more mouth than manners, maybe you'll figure things out someday.

In all seriousness I don't think you could perform lasik on your self. That would be a bitch of a job.


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