Is a Koetsu Rosewood Sig Overkill for my JMW 9Sig?

A competent tonearm will not optimize a very good or even better cartridge.

Actually, one will realize better performance with a very good tonearm/average cartridge combination than an average tonearm/very good cartridge combination.

A Zyx Airy or Koetsu Rosewood Signature will not realize their full potential riding a JMW-9.

Semi,
I owned a JMW-9 for 2 years so I speak from experience. I used it with 4 different cartridges, Dynavector 20XH, Music Maker 2, Zyx Airy 2, and Zyx Airy 3.

The 9 will track all of these cartridges but only the Dynavector will be optimized. The Music Maker, Zyx, and the Shelter 901 will not show their best in that arm. If you have a problem with that fine, but that's the truth whether you like it or not.

For the record, I think VPI builds fine tables. They compete with many of the top manufacturers. However, the JMW-9 arm, with or without the window dressing upgrades, is not a particularly good tonearm IMO.

Thanks for listening.

Optomized, to me, is the cartridge or any component reaching its' full potential. In the case of the JMW-9 cartridges such as the Dynavector 20XH, Benz Glider, and Lyra Helikon sound very nice. IMO a better tonearm are will not extract much more from them than the 9.

However, with serious audiophile cartridges such as the UNIverse, Ruby 2H, Dynavector XV-1, etc. the 9 isn't a good match. However, the 9 is not alone in that regard. I would add the Rega 250, 300, and some of the Origin Live arms into that group among others.

Yes the Vector 3 is a superlative piece. Dead quiet as you say. It is built better than the Tri-Planar and IMO a better tonearm overall.

Private email me for more.

Goat,
I sent you a private email but to capsulize:

I like the 10.5 better than the 9. Is it the best match for the UNIverse and/or XV-1? No, but better than the 9.

I have nothing against unipivots. Actually I sell a line of unipivots.

Look, I've posted my opinions based on my experiences. If you find them similiar to your own, fine. That's great. If you don't and disagree, that's fine, too.

I don't care.

>>I'd eat my own children before giving up on that.<<

Could we see pictures of your children?