Used TechDAS Air Force III vs New Feickert Firebird with Kuzma Safir 9 vs SME 20 MK 2

Dear @chauncey  : The cartridge compliance along the cartridge weigth numbers makes " differences " with the tonearm you will " marry " it.

High compliance cartridges normally ( everything the same. ) are has better cartridge tracking abilities that means can pick-up " more " music information that came in the LP groove modulations and that's per sé an advantage over a low compliance cartridges and other advantage of the HC is that tracks better at the inner grooves of the LP than a LC.

Low compliance could be in the range of 4cu to 9cu, medium compliance from 10cu to around 15-16cu and high compliance over this last compliance range.

 The ideal frequency resonance range between a cartridge and tonearm combination should be between: 8hz to 12hz for that cartridge could shows at its best.

If you buy the Safir for the Hayabusa probably you were out of that range what's not a good idea. For the Safir with a cartridge weigthing 9grs. you need that the cartridge has between 5cu to 7cu.

I never has the opportunity to listen the Safir and I never buy a tonearm with that kind of very high effective mass because that all mass will be what the cartridge cantilever/suspension will looks during play due that's a dynamic mass.

R.

@rauliruegas 

What about the Hayabusa with an older SME IV.VI arm?

@rauliruegas

Also what unit is cu? I feel bad even asking but it’s been a while since my electrical engineering classes!

@chauncey have you made a decision on which table? White Stabi R?

Dear @chauncey : Yes, your SME tonearm will be a good " husband " for that lady. That tonearm is an excellent design for almost any cartridge, I the V and listened that one in the TechDas TT.

In the other side, cu means compliance units.

Btw, this is what the designer of the Safir posted in his site:

" All four points of the bearing have minimal friction and zero-play in all planes of movement, thus ensuring that the cartridge platform and the cartridge itself follow the grooves of an LP with extremely low friction and minimal vibrations. "

The tonearm is a 4 point unipivot design and even with out any measure where the designer could confirms that zero-play/low friction we know that unipivots normally has low baring friction but unipivots always has a " chatter "/rattle self movement due to the enormous/tremendous forces developed bay the cartridge stylus during play trying to folows those "Himalaya mountain chain " that are the LP groove modulations. There is no true/measured evidence at microscopic scenario where we can find out that the 4point tonearm has not that chatering under playing condition and through high velocity LP recorded grooves.

I know that almost all 4point tonearm designs owners and reviewers " like " what they heard but it’s not enough for me that " like ". Well this is me and others differs from me and it’s ok.

R.