Tonearm recommendation

Hello Halcro,
Absolutely nothing, but first a couple of questions if I may.

as noted above, I have the AT150MLX on the DP8. I love this combo. While I know it's not optimally set up ( my Mint is on the way ), I could live right here and be happy. It does so many things well. The few things that need improvement I think will be addressed when it's aligned properly.

I used the AT extensively on my FR66 when I had it mounted on the Feickert, and loved it as well. I used an old Supex ( I think ) headshell that was light and mated well. I never heard anything amiss from that combo.

So my question is this.

Since I don't have any biases against using a MM in either the FR or the Moerch, do you think the set-up you suggest would up the ante over the AT. I know I'm asking something very subjective, but I know you have a lot of experience with them.

I started taking a look at the various FR cartridges, but I've got a lot of studying to do. I'll keep at it.

One last question. A few years back I nuded a Denon DL103r, mounted it on an aluminum plate and had Soundsmith put their best ruby cantilever/stylus on it. Sounded pretty good, but apparently late night listening sessions and more than one martini make strange bedfellows. It never had a chance to break in before I snapped the cantilever, so I'm sure better was to come.

Again, I know I'm asking something very suggestive, but do you think here is any merit to upgrading the Denon ? I have a 103r here and the Midas body, and could send it to Soundsmith for upgrading.

Or do you think I should seriously pursue the MM cartridge set-up you recommend over the AT, and forget about upgrading the Denon and go after the FR7 ?

Thanks Halcro,                            Crazy Bill

P.S. Actually, I would welcome any comments from anyone who has experience with the above.

To anyone who knows FR cartridges.

Would this be a good one on my FR66s

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fidelity-Research-FR-7-cartridge-early-version-with-pure-silver-coil-Ex-RARE...

Cheers,                         Crazy Bill

Hi Crazy Bill,
FWIW....my two cents on your specific questions......
I haven't heard the AT150MLX but I have the AT-150ANV (which incidentally beat the Atlas and 6 other cartridges in a Fremer readers' shoot-out) 😎
I've heard only hesitation from those who do own the 150MLX and in the absence of enthusiasm....there must be doubt?
Even my new 150ANV, whilst good.....does not have the 'magic' or emotion of the really good vintage MMs I love.
Many make the mistake of thinking that a move to a high-cost LOMC cartridge will change their listening experiences....
This is rarely the case and I have met no audiophile who can tell the difference between a MM and a MC under a controlled 'blind' test.
Most of my favourite cartridges are MM (all vintage) but there are some LOMCs (mostly vintage) which I also highly value.
I have a Denon 103R (with selected equal-channel output) and whilst it is great value for its modest price.....it is easily bested by the modified  Shure V15/III. 
I have both Fidelity Research MM cartridges and LOMC.
The FR-6SE is better than the FR-5 or 5E IMO (although Jonathan Carr likes the 5E).
I have an original FR-7f which did not impress me greatly with its new conical stylus.
When Axel replaced it with a line-contact stylus however....it transformed it and is now one of my favourite cartridges 😘
If you are hell-bent on a MC cartridge.....why not buy an SPU Silver Meister directly from Ortofon ?
With your FR-66S tonearm......this is a combination that is sure to put a smile on your face 😍
Regards

OK Halcro,
I'll give it a shot ( Shure/Jico).

It'll take a few weeks to get it here and going. Once I'm happy with the setup I'll listen and let you know what I think.

Thanks for the advice.

Cheers,                     Crazy Bill

Hello Halcro,
So much for a few weeks.
Decided to stick with Ebay and PayPal, as I have some leverage if something is amiss.

Here's where I'm at:

These coming:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262667268841

http://www.ebay.com/itm/122091675405

These OK, or did I mess it up ?

Thanks for the advice.

Cheers,               Crazy Bill

These OK, or did I mess it up ?

Hahaha.....I don't think you messed up Crazy Bill 😎
Whilst you may have paid slightly over the odds for the V15/III....it looks like the one you bought is in 'mint' condition which will allow you to compare the Shure original stylus to the SAS 👐
Looking forward to your reports....
Regards
Henry

Hello Henry,
It'll take me a while to report.
I still need to spend some time with the AT to get a good baseline.
After I've got a good fix on the AT, I'll switch to the Shure and take a listen with the stock stylus and report back.

Then I'll switch to the Jico and report back.

Have great hopes as to where this may end up.

Cheers,                        Crazy Bill

Hello Henry ( and others )
I'm back.

FINALLY have some time to play and a lot has happened in the past couple of months.

First, made an armboard to mount the 66s on the Amazon. Procured a Yammamoto ebony headshell to add to the mix. Started mixing and matching headshells and cartridges on the FR66s. Initial findings after a lot of playing had the Grado Statement on the Yammamoto headshell and the Shure V15lll ( on the Supex headshell ) w/original stylus very close, with the edge going to the Grado. Then I remembered ( getting old is a bitch ), that I had the JICO SAS stylus for the Shure, and I put it on.
No contest anymore. The Shure with this stylus is simply making music the likes of which I've never heard before on anything in my system. The biggest improvement is in the upper registers. A mammoth detail increase with absolutely no stridency or congestion at all. SMOOTH and extended with detail.
  
I'm impressed and immensely happy with this cart. Thanks Henry. I NEVER would have looked this way without your recommendation.

That said, I am making a tonearm change. Both the Moerch DP8 and the FR66s will be listed here soon. Something about the Riggle Woody calls me. I've made the deposit to Pete and I've decided on the Woody SPU. I've got some good headshells and want to be able to swap in a mono cartridge when the mood strikes me. I've got a fair share of good mono pressings and I want to do them justice. I'm thinking one of the Ortofon SPU mono cartridges would be a good way to go. But I'll come back later after I've got the arm mounted and set-up.

Thanks again Henry.

Crazy Bill

Reed 3P tonearms are amazing and fully adjustable on the fly (even azimuth) and works well on Feickert Blackbird. I use Reed 3P "12 as a reference, but i do love vintage tonearms as well, for MC cartridges the standalone SONY PUA-7, Lustre GST-801 are very good and will put a Jelco in a shame.

oops, i just realized i'm too late as the original post if from the last year. 

@lewm,

I have been an owner of a Pete Riggle Woody arm for about 2 years.  It is the most convenient and easy to use arm I'm ever had and it sounds as good as anything I've heard at Axpona during the last 8 years.  The arm has OTF adjusting of most everything except VTF.  You can easily hear the changes as you adjust.  Nothing needs a tool to get done--all easily turned small knobs.  It looks very nice, too.  I finally have my extreme Lenco project done and it now runs to perfection--dead quiet and the speed is rock solid with the strobe light and disc.  The Lenco has more upgrades and mods than anything short of the Artisan Fidelity all out efforts.  The addition of AF's copper platter on top of the Lenco platter and an on/off switch together with getting the motor spring orientation correct so the motor sits perpendicular to the chassis has made the Lenco a powerhouse of great sound.  I use a Benz Micro Ruby 3 myrtlewood body w/ Soundsmith level 3 rebuild.  I had a Whest 3.0 RDT SE phono pre, but am switching to a custom built and adjusted for the Benz Micro Ruby 3 phono pre--Audio Horizons TP 8.13.  It is dynamic, lucid, with a hint of beauty to the sound.  Joseph Chow is adding 6db of gain to the unit to bring it up to 67db.

The sound of these combined is way above anything I've ever had in my system--used to have a Maplenoll Ariadne for about 8 years.  Finding it's equal in sound was a full time job and I was losing until now.  The combo I'm now using is much more dynamic, with greater drive, pace, clarity, and no noticeable detrimental artifacts.   I was running the Lenco with a Trans-Fi Terminator that was a step up from it's predecessor, the Origin Live Silver II arm.  I'm back to enjoying the sound of my analog setup like when I had the 'Noll--except no air supply issues and even better, more involving sound.

Bob

Now, I owned almost all FR tonearm models including the 66 

That's not true.....
Raul NEVER owned an FR-66S nor heard one in his system 👺

The 66 is a non-damped tonearm and builded from metal that as a metal is extremely resonant and instead to damps the cartridge/LP/TT self vibrations/resonances/distortions only magnify it.

Raul has been making claims like this for a decade without any supporting evidence, believing that if he says it enough times.....people will believe him 🧐
Here are two YouTube videos showing the FR-64S playing the same piece as the Dynavector DV-507II......a magnetically damped tonearm.

• FR-64S
• DV-507/II 

It should be obvious in this direct comparison....to definitively pinpoint the exact occasions (via the timeline) where these claimed "vibrations/resonances" are occurring.....
Time to face the EVIDENCE Mr. Kraken.......😎 

Dear Raul,
This is not like you.....?
I'm a little worried....
You haven't responded at all...let alone with a list of all the 'resonances' and 'distortions' you're able to pinpoint on the FR-64S undamped tonearm which you've been denigrating for a decade...?
Can you not find any???
But you have the finest 'self-taught' TRAINING (you've been telling us) that allows you to hear within 10 seconds EVERYTHING that is wrong with a system..?
C'mon....you can do it..🤗

But if you CAN'T do it Mr. Bigmouth.....you will never again be able to denigrate the Fidelity Research FR-64S and FR-66S Tonearms because I will Link this Thread to any Posts from you in the future. 
You surely don't want to live your pseudo-guru life like that....do you?

Kind Regards