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Talea Arm: What cartridges are best?


What cartridge has your experience shown to work well with the Durand Talea tonearm?

Many Talea owners have used the Ortofon A-90 with satisfaction. Are there other combinations that give a rich, revealing and what I would call musical presentation?

In using the charged word 'musical', I want to distinguish between an experience of enjoying a recording, and the urgency I have occasionally experienced when I can't turn off my system, no matter what else beckons in the outside world.

I have a Talea One and am searching for a match made in heaven. I have no idea whether a wood bodied cartridge will compliment, detract, or be neutral in combination with the Talea's wooden wand.

In the same vein I don't know whether the A90 works effectively with the Talea *because* of its physical structure --a metal frame, contrasted with a wood bodied stator-- or simply because it's a really good interface between the Talea and the A90.

What gives?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Best,

David
cdk84

Showing 1 response by mikelavigne

mikelavigne
2,206 posts
 
hi David,

congrats on the Talea 1, it is a great arm.

i owned the Talea 1 for over 2 years and had maybe 5-6 cartridges on it.....including the A90, Lyra Olympos SL, Azden YM-P50VL, Miyajima Premium Be mono and others....

i've also heard the Talea 1 with a Dynavector XV-1s and a ZYX Universe....and at shows i've heard others that don't come to mind.

i've yet to hear a cartridge that does not seem to work on the Talea 1. it is particularly stable and precise. for instance, i have seen other medium compliance arms struggle to control the heavy Miyajima mono cartridge; the Talea handles it with ease.

if you are considering a particular cartridge, i would recommend contacting Joel Durand for specific feedback. if anyone would know about any sort of potential issues he would.
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