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Tonearm for TW Acustic and heavier cartridge

I may be looking to get TW Acustic Raven AC in the next 6 months. Right now I am auditioning a Raven One with Raven 10.5 arm in my system with Koetsu Onyx cartridge.
The sound is wonderful on piano, vocal, small jazz band but I find it a bit too mellow, perhaps a bit too sedated on rock/pop and large scale orchestral work. I was going to burrow Raven AC to try after this but friend of a friend snatched it before I could listen it in my home. Anyway, I will have to wait awhile before our local dealer will have a new one in that I can listen to.

Anyhow, I am wondering about arm that I can use. Raven 10.5 arm seems nice enough but there a few quirks that I don't like. VTA on the fly is certainly not as easy to use as some other arms. I am plannng to use either Koetsu Onyx or Air Tight PC-1 supreme with the new table. A friend suggests that I should look at SME V rather than Phantom (which seems to be a popular arm with TW Acustic) for heavier cartridge. Durand Talea looks interesting but a bit too cost prohibitive at this time but might be an interesting choice when I want to add second arm.
Arms that are a bit easier to get here are Graham, SME, TW Raven or I could also get older Micro Seiki arm from a friend. So if I want to mount either 12 or 12.5g cartridge, what would be a good arm for these combinations.
suteetat

Showing 2 responses by dgad

dgad
782 posts
 
Suteetat,

VTA on the fly on the Raven 10.5 is far easier than on the SME V (which does not have VTA on the fly). And as for comparing to many other arms, is by far the best VTA on the fly system I have ever used.

As for the Koetsu Onyx. It is a bit of a "mellow" cartridge. That is why you buy it. As for the Air Tight or other cartridges, what you determine by matching the Koetsu will not apply 100% or even 75% to an Air Tight as the compliance is different between the cartridges and this is of more importance. Also the PC-1 is not a mellow cartridge. I think you might just like it.

The Raven arm is one of the less mellow arms I have used (if that truly means anything). But I do have, and have had some mellower arms that have matched well with my more lively cartridges.

You also, need to consider matching is everything. Even in an ideal match (perfect arm for a Koetsu) the majority of the stone bodies will be mellow. The only one reputed to be lively is the Coral Stone but the cost is up there. Try an Allaerts MC2 Finish on the 10.5 and you will get the best of all worlds with a wonderful combination.
dgad
782 posts
 
Put some nail polish as a marker on the VTA dial. That is what I did. Looks great and does the trick for easy repeats.
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