Micro Max 282 vs. Exclusive EA-10


I have mounted an Exclusive EA-10 on my Micro (I added a pic to my system), one of the most expensive Japanese tonearms, maybe a little underrated. The tonearm and the tubes are re-wired by Ikeda silver wire. The EA-10 reminds me very much of the Max 282, most properly it was built by Micro Seiki. Does anybody know if this is true?
thuchan
Dear Raul,

I went to Mexico in 2006, staying one week at friends in Mexico city and then I went on a four week trip discovering most of the areas of the country by car. I went also by plane hopping into the eastern districts again renting a car. I have nearly only good memories even of "the dark areas". I loved the ancient sites ("all discovered by me" :-) and the highlands very much, the beaches in the east where I met some people from the US being transported with big ships into "their resorts". Funny business.

I think I shot over 3000 images cause I loved the colours which I happened to be confronted with, in architecture, markets, people...

A good Mezcal is always welcomed and of course...

Best & Fun Only - Thuchan
Raul

The last time we were in Mexico was several years ago my wife and I have an interest in archaeology ,on a tourist level that is. Also we have vacationed at the usual hot spots in Mexico.
Colourful culture,down to earth friendly people, lot.s of live music and great food everywhere!
Dear Thuchan, As a world citizen you are in some sense
'everywhere' but I had no idea that this also apply to all of our threads. So I missed Rauls invitation in the other thread in which one can get lost btw. My excuse for describing you as someone who invites himself to 'the party'. But I assume that you are welcome everywhere ,not to mention your looks as the younger twin brother, so the question about 'invitation' become a trivial formality.
But instead of some strong German protest I got even an
compliment as belongig to 'exceptional members'. What an
magnanimous person you are. However I am not sure about the
real meaning of 'your beloved Germany'. Well dear Thuchan
I may be 'exceptional' but in some other sense. You see I
have three 'mother countrys': Serbia is my birth mother,
Germany is my intellectual mother and Holland is my existential mother. In all of them I feel at home and I have no specific preference.

Regards,

Dear Thuchan: Good. México ( as many other countries. ) is a land full of history and culture traditions at each single district/region ( as you name it. We name it: State. ). In some way is like a kaleidoscope where any one ( including the Mexican. ) discover magnificent " things/experiences ".

Well, next time you will be here I can show you " new old stock " México " items ".

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
Dear In_shore: Welcome any time again, I'm your " tourist guide " and of course with time for audio fun.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
Dear Nandric,
you are exceptional, not only because you have a wonderful humor but also due to your international background. You really made some experiences which promoted you into an intercultural guru status. Maybe 007 Connery will be a lame duck against your learnings and border crossings.

Nevertheless now is the time to find your next home, you still have some energy doing this? Or have you reached the Nirvana stadium Raul seems to have passed regarding music systems?

Anyway stay tuned. Did I say "my beloved Germany"? In fact getting older I see some more positive aspects with my countrymen as I thought there could be. BTW it is a changing society thanks to the international influences. I am sometimes puzzled when some "northern tribes" call us Eurabia... wonderful and maybe wrong cause this is only one influence among many.

Now I have to stop, being the younger twin brother I have to listen to the Holy Grail now...

best & fun only -Thuchan
Dear Raul,

thanks for you offerings. Do you mean your new tonearm? Anyway whatever you have in mind it will be my pleasure.

BTW will you produce your tonearm in your country? how many do you plan for the first series? I think the Talea and the Reed 3Q are the most discussed new school arms at the moment. I will have a look at the Thales arm at next weeks High End in Munich. I know it is not a simple technology and difficult to manage but maybe there are some improvements.

Have you ever been in Munich? If not there might be no excuse for not coming in 2012?

best & fun only. -Thuchan
Dear Thuchan: What I mean it was places in México that you don't know yet. Of course if the tonearm is ready you will see it.

Yes, the production will be in México, things are that Guillermo is owner of one of the more important " broker " CNC/Lasser and industrial machinary in our country so we take advantage on this welcomed fact.
We are thinking in a first 50 units production.

I was at Munich, Hamburg and Berlin airports ( in Hamburg for one night. ) but my wife and daugther were in Germany a few years ago when they made a tourist trip by 8 weeks in Europe.

Absolutely, it will be a pleasure to know and learn about your lovely country.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
Dear Thucan. I'm refering to México " new " places to you.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
Dear Raul,

I went from Monte Alban to Villahermosa, Tuxtla Gutlierrez and took a boat ride on the Canon de Sumidero, did not reach the lovely beaches of Oaxaca. Next was Palenque, all the way north to Merida, Uxmal and Puerto Morelos.

Huatulco`s Harbors is a now scheduled destination !!!

best & fun only - thuchan
Greetings!
Considering purchase of Exclusive EA10 tonearm. Like to ask for opinions, preferably from those with actual experience, about synergy with my cartridges. Have a Grace F9 Ruby (non-Soundsmith), Technics EPC-405c, and a Victor X1II. Look forward to your insightful replies.
Grace and Victor should be fine. I have NOS styli for both of them if you need a backup.

BUT If you want something special for this Pioneer tonearm then look for Pioneer PC-1000 mkII cartridge, it was the best MM cartridge from Pioneer ever. Very rare model. I like this cartridge very much. Beryllium cantilever.
Dear @askye : It depends if the one you can buy comes with two arm wands: and S shape and straigth one where this is for high compliance cartridges as the ones you own it. The S shape can works too using low weigth headshells.

The best alternative is to find out the MAX 282 that comes with 3 arm wands: two straigth ones with different effective mass and one J shaped. I really like the MAX 282 that's a very well damped design.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
The price for Micro MAX series is insane nowadays, it is interesting to read totally different opinion on the same tonearms from different users, here is the one from @opus111  from the first page of this thread: 


having owed both Max 282 and 237 multiple times, I'd say it is one of the worst sounding tonearms I have heard. Bright and sterile would be the right words to describe the sonic character. I would've still kept them if they sounded half as good as they looked. 

FR-64 sounds 10X better at lower used price.

Dear @askye : Read the first page of this old thread where some gentlemans said that apparently the Pioneer tonearm was builded by MS that was the designer/manufacturer of the MAX 282 and they said that because in some ways looks more or less similar to the 282. In the other side you can read the OP opinion and from other very high knowledge owners of the MAX 282.

Even that I never had on hand the Pioneer tonearm you are asking for I think that if was designed by Micro Seiki they does not shared with the Exclusive tonearm the incredible and unique gyroscope type in the pivot tonearm bearing and this makes a difference for the better.

Other unique characteristic in the 282 is that's a tonearm balanced design where Micro Seiki created a mechanism for set up the VTF with out adding resonances that makes degradation to the cartridge signal. Things are that only the GST-801 and MAX 282, uses a non resonance mechanism where all the other balanced tonearm designs uses a spring to set up the VTF that rings as a bell degrading the cartidge signal this is the way how were designed the terrible FR/Ikeda tonearms an even the SME that I own but that I use in static way.

Now, Exclusive is the top Pioneer line and always a challenge for any audio product manufacturers.

In both cases, Exclusive and MAX 282, it’s a must that the tonearm will be rewired internally in those removable arm wands.

R.


WTF? I started reading this thread and it wanders off into some bullshit crap that has nothing to do with the tonearm in question. Talk about thread crapping!!

Hi, Question: how do you open this end in order to rewire this pipe?

Thanks

salvo

 

Pioneer Exclusive P3/EA-03 Tonearm Arm Straight Pipe tube / 02

Hi all, I would like to resurrect this thread from the good ‘old days as I recently acquired an EA-10 complete with dedicated AX-6G armbase to go on my Micro RX-1500. It’s the final instalment to a quartet of arms including Audio Craft AC-4400, Micro MAX-237 and FR-64S.

My question concerns the oil damping and is directed at folks who have personal experience with this tonearm. Maybe @thuchan @rauliruegas @syntax @dover if they are still around? Or anyone else perhaps?

Before I make an effort to find the correct damping fluid I’d like to know if this is worthwhile or perhaps even necessary to get the best performance from the EA-10. I’ve learned that the use of damping is not always clear cut. While it is mandatory with the AC-4400, I definitely prefer the MAX-237 without damping.

So what is your verdict on the EA-10: to be damped or not to be damped?

@edgewear 

@downunder has been running a Pioneer P3/EA10 for some years. You might try to PM him. I found this on the web ..

Original Pioneer part is GEM1058, which is 200 000 cst. I use silicone oil from 20 000 to 50 000 cst

 

@dover thanks for that info.

The EA-10 came to me with EP-03 straight armpipe only. I would like to find the S-type armpipe as well, in order to make cart rolling more convenient and also to be able to use integrated headshell cartridges like SPU and FR7.

I know the S-type is much harder to find than the straight armpipes, but if any of you have a spare one lying about or know a reliable source, please let me know. Thanks!

Dear @edgewear  : Very good tonearm and the damping issue will be defined by your listening tests like with the MAX one you own.

 

The damping oil is a must with the Audiocraft and for the MAX/Exclusive is up to the owner.

 

In my case I used with damping oil and tested from 10k cst to 50k cst and obviously with the quantity too. You have to try and decide about.

The internal rewiring on those vintage tonearms is a must to do it too, made it by a good professional source and te wire could be the one from Audio Note UK.

 

Enjoy it,

R.

Thanks Raul, I’m gradually getting a handle on the EA-10’s sound. First trials with Benz LP are very positive, but I will try different cartridges before applying the damping fluid. The amount of damping can be adjusted or even discarded, so it’s easily disregarded if there’s no improvement.

The rewiring of the armpipes is certainly the next step. I need a reliable technician to perform this job. Not just on the EA-10, but also on the Audiocraft and the MAX.

I think Dieter Brakemeier of Acoustical Systems (and former member dertonarm) used to be the expert most referred to here. But I don’t know if he still does this kind of work, being a fully fledged manufacturer and all.

Any other specialists in Germany or at least within the EU?