Decided to try a SPU cartridge

I use an SPU Royal N, which is the normal bodied version of the SPU Royal GM MkII, absolutely the most enjoyable cartridge I have owned, former cartridges being VDH White Beauty, Koetsu Jade, EMT JSD VM etc.

Whilst any SPU generally requires a massy arm for them to perform at their best, there is one arm manufacturer that the SPU's will work with that flies in the face of this rule, this being the Viv Lab's Rigid Floats.

When I bought my SPU I was up for an arm change as well, so I was demoed it with a Kuzma Ref313 and a Kuzma 4point, all using the same turnable, both excellent arms but when I listened to the Rigid Float 9" it was like the shackles had been taken off, the music just flowed and it appeared like the volume had been turned up. I bought the 9", but they work equally as well in the 7" and 13" which both being slightly different things to the party.

@boothroyd 

The Rigid Floats fly in the face of all known theories of cartridge alignment, if you are using a standard style cartridge like the SPU Royal N the Nelson Hold headshell is a thing of beauty. Remove the headshell and just pop in a full bodied SPU and Bobs your uncle. It is one of the easiest arms to set up, the only slight issue is height adjustment which is easily overcome by using playing cards as shims. 

@kennyc 

The Kuzma 4points are fantastic arms the 9" is a Pitbull terrier of arm, with the 11" and the 14" being more relaxed, for the 11" and particularly the 14" you need to use relatively low compliance normal bodied cartridges and you can only use Nude SPU's. Are the Rigid Floats better? It comes down your own ears.

Strangely whilst mine is a 9" it's positioning is very close to that of a normal 12".

A general tip with Rigid Floats whilst in theory they are free standing they do benefit from being bonded to the armboard/plinth with double sided sticky tape or even better and if you are really brave gluing it with a few dabs of epoxy. 

@kennyc 

I didn't think you can use an SPU G type with a 4point as the headshell fixing is not compatible.

@yeti42 

I am certainly loving my Royal N, for me it just plays music and I am not missing any of the so called hifi elements.

In the UK I know people are changing there Kondo IOMs etc for the Royal N. It is a cartridge that is being championed by the designer and maker of Living Voice speakers, he has told me that it is without doubt his favourite cartridge.

@kennyc 

The Viv Lab's definitely work with SPU G's, just remove the headshell and pop in the SPU, although I would argue the Royal N sound's better than it's G equivalent the Royal GM II, and it's cheaper as well.

@kennyc 

IMHO you should be using an SPU in your main system. I am also in my 60's and have only just joined the SPU party having been down numerous other roads before. The beauty of the Royal GM II or the Royal N is that they use the Ortofon Replicant Stylus, which is a modern profile able to retrieve the maximum from the grooves, so you get the joy of what the so called 'old MC technology' brings along with the detail of a modern cartridge.

One question for those more knowledgeable about stylus profiles, I have heard the Ortofon Replicant Profile is the same as the Fritz Geiger, is this correct?

@kennyc 

We will need an update once you get it all in place.