Schroeder vs. Triplanar VII Sonic Differences

Rwd, remember that I did not have the Reference. It was a Reference arm tube but had smaller magnets and had a simple unscrew and raise or lower VTA adjustment. I think this is the same for the DPS and Model 2.

I do not think the Schroeder wanders, but the Decca had to have the space between the magnets very carefully adjusted.

I think 180 and 200 gram records require raising the VTA on all arms, so yes, you have to change the VTA but once locked down , it stays.

This thread, like so many, has gotten off course. I have owned both the Triplanar and the Schroeder arms. The Triplanar was an early version and the Schroeder was a special version for the Loricraft/Garrard 501 turntable.
I think, however, that the characteristics of the arms endure.

The Triplanar was easy to set up and to adjust VTA. It is very smooth but not as dynamic as the Schroeder. The Schroeder is designed for rigidity and is somewhat difficult to set up. The key variable is the gap between the magnets. VTA is difficult to change reliably.

I don't remember which cartridges I used with the Triplanar. On the Schroeder I used the Allearts MC2 and the Decca Jubilee. Although it was very difficult to optimize the Decca, when I did, I loved the sound.

I now have the Shindo Labs/Garrard 301 which uses what was originally the 12" Ortofon spring loading arm and the Ortofon SPU cartridge. This is all designed to work together and is easy to set up, but VTA is not easily adjusted. As a system, it is the best vinyl I have owned.

Rwd, Every Shindo that I have seen, 4, have the modified Ortofon 12" arm and the modified Ortofon SPU cartridge.

Let me know what you hear.

Rwd, if you are ever in NYC go by an hear the Shindo Labs/Garrard 301 set up. My guess is that you would buy it.

Check out shindolabs.com, Rwd. I think you will have to send an email to get an invitation.

Yes, it is a heavily modified Garrard 301 with equally modified Ortofon arm and cartridge.

Rwd, don't do it. The Schroeder is harder to set up but clearly better.

Rwd, you said, "...I could be convinced to try a Tri-Planer." I said don't do that.

As I said earlier, I had an early Tri-Planer and really thought it allowed dialing in the cartridge quite easily. It was also great to be able to set the VTA easily for individual records. I still have many records with the setting number written on them.

The Schroeder came much later and was not the Reference, although because it had the Reference arm tube, I thought it was. It came with my Loricraft 501. It was strikingly dynamic once I learned how to set properly the distance between the magnets, which is critical. I suspect the Schroeder is more rigid and hence the dynamics.

I now use the Shindo Labs, so I have no personal investment in either the Tri-Planer or the Schroeder.