Replacing an ETII
Wolfgang -- Wed, 05/07/2008 - 10:07
I replaced my ETII some time ago. It had an openness and effortlessness in the midrange that I found addictive, but I got the "itch" and "upgraded" to a SME V, then a Triplanar, Fidelity Research, and Graham. While each of those arms was superior in different respects (notably the bass performance and set-up), I lost that midrange magic that I had with the ETII.
I've wanted to go back to a linear tracker but they either at too expensive (Kuzma Airline), or look like DYI kits (the $3K Music Conductor? from the UK).
My questions are:
1. Are there any linear trackers coming out on the market that improve on the performance of the ETII (or 2.5) but don't cost as much as the Kuzma Airline?
2. Are the 12" arms the best of both worlds? (the low tracing distortion of a linear tracker with the bass performance and user-friendliness of a pivoted arm?
Thanks!
Wolfi
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Wolfgang,
I've actually answered some of your questions in the "Show Report" thread.
I don't know of any inexpensive linear-trackers. Most of them are pricey as hell. But then so are 12-inch arms, like the $10k+ Da Vinci Grandeeza, which does, indeed, combine some of the virtues of linear trackers with those of pivoted arms.
Jon
Yes, thank you. Sorry for doubling up on this.
Unfortunately, my tonearm budget will need to be $3K or under. I have been looking at "used" Graham Phantoms, Triplanar VIIs, and Basis Vectors, but none are either linear trackers or foot-longs.
That said, I'm nervous about achieving a proper set-up on the Air Tangent, Forsell, ET2.5, Goldmund, etc. that occassionally pops-up on the used market. I assume all of these arms of compatible with either Koetsu or Air Tight moving coils.
The SME 312S might be a good option, but it seems like I'd have to buy it in the UK since it is not available separately in the US (at least, the last time I checked). The Nottingham 12" arm doesn't appear to be in the same ranks as the other arms listed above.
Sometimes I wish I'd never heard the sonic magic from linear trackers and foot-longs.