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Clearaudio master reference vs Feickert Blackbird

You may look my system below. I am using a Dr. Feickert Blackbird Turntable with Kuzma Tonearms. Recently My dealer offered me a great bargain "Clearaudio Master Reference Turntable with a TT2 tangential tonearm". As expected, I opened a thread, wishing to hear about the user experience and opinions. Only Hansonaudio left a message, which I am thankful.

Master Reference is an old and very expensive model. It usually paired with tq1 souther tonearm(which had a lots of problems). My offered turntable paired with a tt2 tonearm(10k usd). It is nearly impossible to find user having the same combo, so trying to find a user opinion in audiogon/internet is only a wishfull thinking I guess.

Lately, there is review on audiobeat which compares Master Reference+Tq1 vs. Vpi 4 Classic(handle two tonearm). I think Vpi 4 is very similar to my turntable. I do not know if they are equal competitors, but they are having the same design principles. In this review, reviewer finds out vpi4 is better then Master Reference(nearly in every field). I emailed the reviewer about his findings, but i did not receive an answer. This review is the only opinion I can gather about this turntable.

So when my dealer brought the turntable to my home, I am not very optimistic about this TT+Tonearm. My dealer set up the tt and the tonearm with a Brinkmann cartridge(which he uses for demo). We both agreed that, this cartridge is not equal to Lyra Titani or Zyxx Universe 2 nor Ortofon Cadenza Red. First and the second cartridges are better, last one is worse then the Brinkmann. So just to warm up for this turntable, I started to listened,for a week. My turntable, with 4point+Lyra is far more better then the clearaudio+brinkmann combo. Clearaudio only has a darker background. On every other aspect, bass definition, holographic images etc. 4point+Lyra was king.

After a week I decided to change the cartridges, and mounting my 4point to clearaudio. We changed the cartridge. Lyra gone to tt2 tonearm. But sadly, we cannot mount the 4point, because we did not have the proper armbase(soon we will change)

So now I am trying Clearaudio Master Reference+TT2 tonearm+Lyra Titan. I may say it is very convincing. But I really like to see how 4point+titan react on each turntable, i think this comparison will really show the difference between two turntables. For, TT2 against 4 point, all I can say is Mr Kuzma did a great job with this tonearm(considering tt2 is 10k tonearm)

Generally my first impressions are right, and I ended up with them, but I do not want to rush about this decision. Because whether a good deal or not, I will pay a good amount for trade, and I really like to worth it, or I will not consider this offer.

I am planning to write how 4point+lyra reacts on both turntable. I did not find anything like this on net, so maybe my experience will be useful for another :)

Also I really like to hear your recomendations, about comparing or anything else......
altanpsx
altanpsx OP
70 posts
 
Last couple of hours i am listening lyra tt2. Record after record i love my titan more. İ think you need to throw something decent to master reference to get some extraordinary results(like titan). i really like what i hear.
corby
80 posts
 
i have a kuzma airline with a dynavector xvit and also a tt2 with a clearaudio insider reference both on a tw acustic ac3 table. the tts needs a cartridge with very low compliance.
i did have the carts reversed at one time, the xvit on the tts and insider on the kuzma.
the kuzma/insider sounded very thin. the tt2/xvit was better, but not as good as the kuzma/xvit.
so, the tt2 is cartridge dependent. the tt2/insider combo is fantastic. black backgrounds, deep bass and beautiful mids. extremely detailed.
the kuzma/xvit has those properties also, just a more aggressive sound from the xvit.
you may want to try different carts on the tt2, but try to get a compliance of 14 or lower. the insider is 10.
bpwalsh
1,197 posts
 
One of my customers has a Clearaudio Master Reference turntable with Kuzma 4Point tonearm and Clearaudio Goldfinger v2 cartridge. Before the 4Point he had a Clearaudio TQi with upgrades. It wasn't close.

My recommendation is stick with your Feickert Blackbird and 4Point. The Titan/Titan i is a good match with the 4Point, as I have set up that combination as well and also with a Zyx Universe -- another successful pairing.

Kuzma dealer.
mallen123
110 posts
 
I cant comment on the Feickert, but can give you some thoughts on Clearaudio.

I had a master solution and looked seriously at upgrading to or buying a master reference to get the better speed stability with the three motors and also get multi tone arm capability.

I ended up buying a used clearaudio Innovation wood that exceeds the master reference performance for less money. It's also much smaller footprint and easier to setup with only one motor. It's newer design materials better damp lp to cartridge vibrations resulting in generally blacker backgrounds. It is probably my last TT unless I hit the lottery.

If you do get the master reference, make sure it has the ceramic magnetic bearing if at all possible. It's a major performance improvement and costs a fortune to upgrade if not already there.
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