LP12 and Clearaudio Master Reference

[AnotherJohnson]

Of course being in Oz, you might prefer a flat white.

https://www.google.com/search?q=flat+wh ... sid=mosaic

[Big Dog RJ]

Oh yeah! That's more like it.
Yes, it's usually a Latte or Flat White when ordering at Cafe's. However, after the new Nespresso gadget, it's opened a whole new selection of various options in some fabulous Coffees. So been having new types every night... and what's better is the music sounds even better after the second cup!
Cheers it is maaate!

Woof! RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

and what's better is the music sounds even better after the second cup!

The Italians make what they call cafe corretto, or “coffee corrected.”

It involves Grappa. If your first and second cups are cafe corretto, then (if you don’t fall asleep) the music will probably be more “liquid” .
Sweet dreams

[AnotherJohnson]

James Hoffmann (world renowned coffee expert and 2007 World Champion Barista) did a video on tasting every Nespresso pod. I have not watched it, so I don’t know what he liked best.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMwNnAtTL8

[AnotherJohnson]

I just watched it. He liked the Ethiopian, the Zimbabwean and the Colombian. He does tend to be opinionated. I often don’t agree with him. Another fellow actually created a Hames Joffmann channel as a spoof. Hoffmann did not complain. He said it was funny.

Here he presents his take on the higher end version of Nespresso which uses different pods. The Virtuo.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pO06RC4pvr0

And yet another JH Nespresso lesson, including reusable pods.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HouzvJGazs4

[AnotherJohnson]

And last, here is a very nice person who cuts the JH take on Nespresso down from 34 to 14 minutes. She seems like a patient person who would be more fun as a friend compared to JH.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UmgzCIadgC0

[Big Dog RJ]

Ah yes! It's the Virtuo Next Nespresso machine that I have. Also uses the entire Virtuo range, such that this baby can accept upto four different Pod sizes and makes upto 7 different cup sizes. From 40ml to 535ml, which is a jug! Oh yeah... if I drank the jug, I'd be bouncing off the walls! Just like those Dipoles! True Dat?

Woof! RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

Getting this back to the turntables …

I’ve continued the break in of the Charisma V2.1 on the TT-2 linear tracking tonearm. I am up nearing 75 sides. I should be able to compare the TT-2 to the Universal 12” sometime later this week.

I have had one negative incident. On one side of one record, a record defect caused a “locked groove” for the TT-2. It was annoying. It was very easy to manually skip that groove. But I tried the Universal 12”, and it plowed through.

I double checked the geometry, and everything was OK. But there is some bit of dirt or a deep divot low in that groove. I may try a different VTA.

In any event, one problem on one side of one record does not seem too finicky. I’ve run into locked grooves with the pivoting tonearms occasionally too.

Regarding the sound at this stage, last night before I retired I grabbed an original DG recording of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players from 1970. This was one of the first classical records that my wife and I bought together. It’s of Debussy. It has some scratches and a few ticks and pops due it now being about 50 years old and played with many different “needles.”

It was beautiful… and the ticks and pops were not nearly as invasive as they seemed when I played this record recently.

So … this setup has some promise.

[admin]

One issue on +70 sides would not be a game changer for me by any means. Sounds like overall this is a resounding success.

[AnotherJohnson]

I played an early digital recording of the Atlanta Symphony conducted by Louis Lane … Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring. I was quite surprised at how well it handled the percussion, especially on Fanfare. I was pleased with the separation of instrument voices … as easy to follow every instrument as I’ve ever heard, and I was also surprised at how well it handled the strings. Early digital tends towards the strident side, and this was actually pretty decent. There is an element of finesse here.

[AnotherJohnson]

A factor that is in play is the Double Matrix Professional Sonic. I have cleaned my records with VPI, Nitty Gritty and Kirmus (starting with my HW-17 back in 1985) so they’re not abused. I won’t know for sure until I put the LP12 back on line. But my sense is that this new cleaning machine is doing a really exceptional job. It is a fluid hog in auto and super auto modes, but the records tell the story. In the eco and manual modes, it uses much less. After I’ve got the cartridges and arms sorted, I may do some experimenting to see/hear more specifics.

[AnotherJohnson]

James Hoffmann (world renowned coffee expert and 2007 World Champion Barista) did a video on tasting every Nespresso pod. I have not watched it, so I don’t know what he liked best.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMwNnAtTL8

Here is a much nicer presentation on what you can do with Nespresso. JH never likes anything.

Abigail’s beverages look like far more fun.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=euGafl2S5Vw

[AnotherJohnson]

I have had one negative incident. On one side of one record, a record defect caused a “locked groove” for the TT-2. It was annoying. It was very easy to manually skip that groove. But I tried the Universal 12”, and it plowed through.

I double checked the geometry, and everything was OK. But there is some bit of dirt or a deep divot low in that groove. I may try a different VTA.

I had another locked groove. So I revisited the leveling of the track. I had it as close to dead level as I could read without a magnifier. With magnification it was just a hair off … trying to run UPHILL at some minuscule angle.

I worked a little harder to “level the playing field” using the magnifier. I turned one screw about 15 degrees looser. The end result is that both locked grooves I’ve encountered are resolved.

Maybe finicky means that you have to really fine tune for perfection rather than that you have to bust butt to get it to “work.”

At least the effort seems to pay off. This is the most ergonomic Tonearm I’ve ever used. The queuing is smooth, secure, and precise. It is vibration insensitive. The bass is firm and extremely tight and well defined. The midrange is very clear, articulate, and sounds are concisely placed. The treble is sweet, and again, very easy to parse into distinct voices.

Is any of this due to the cleaning machine? Trials comparing the TT2 to the Universal 12 may start later today.

I am ready to at least say that the TT2 is very well made, it responds to adjustments, it is not bass shy as is often speculated, and … I really like what I’m experiencing with it.

[admin]

Clearly proper setup is crucial here. Glad it fixed the groove lock issue, although even that happening so rarely wouldn't bother me so much. It's an amazing machine, congrats.

[AnotherJohnson]

I’ve had the TT2 running now for 9 days … about 40 hours of playing time.

The very clear and obvious pros to the TT2 center around its ergonomics. It is not that hard to set up once you’ve wrapped your head around its various adjustments. The adjustments are repeatable, predictable, and seem linear.

The TT2 is the most solid tonearm I’ve ever used. It is easy to precisely cue it. It is insensitive to nearby vibrations. It tracks beautifully, gives articulate definition and detail, tight bass, very clear easily parsed midrange and treble.

Whatever criticism I might raise is most likely attributable to the modestly priced MM cartridge. The Charisma V2 is a flagship level MM … but MC cartridges exist for a reason.

In direct comparisons to my high spec LP12 with Lyra Etna Lambda, the LP12/Lyra’s sound often comes across as more sophisticated. This is only obvious in side by side comparisons. Without the LP12/Lyra high bar benchmark, the TT2 would seem to be close to the top of the game.

Clearaudio recommends their MC line at or above their Concerto level for the TT2. They have a specially designed antiresonance 12 asymmetric finger mounting interface and they’re proud of it . I am thinking of trading some interconnects to get the current version of their Da Vinci just to see if it brings Lyra’s degree of sophistication to the party. But not today.

[admin]

Sounds like there was a pretty steep learning curve in setting this up but now it's smooth sailing. Makes sense as most of us don't have a lot of experience with linear tracking arms (or at least I don't). It would be interesting to get an MC cart on there to see what it has to potentially offer. I don't even want to think about how much those ultra high end cartridges cost!

[AnotherJohnson]

It would be interesting to get an MC cart on there to see what it has to potentially offer. I don't even want to think about how much those ultra high end cartridges cost!

Since I already have the Linn/Lyra combo, which is a true world class vinyl player, there is no sonic reason to even have the Clearaudio gear, except for curiosity.

Yet, like a moth to a flame, I’m drawn to it. I admire Linn and Clearaudio. When CJ started, they were also starting. They built their companies into titans of the industry. If you’ve ever watched an interview or factory tour for either of them, you know that they have very large technical staffs (on the order of McIntosh). In fact, Clearaudio builds TTs for rebadging by McIntosh and other companies. Linn is less cooperative with others. If it’s Linn, the badge will say Linn.

If the Tiefenbrun or Suchy ancestral lines die off, Linn and Clearaudio will live on, at least as long as there is good management. Both made a successful transition from the founder to the second generation a long time ago. Both are getting on toward the point of the next transition as the “children age out and look for the right next leader.”

Wilson is similar. Born in the 70’s. Grown to a large base of employees. Transferred to the next generation very successfully.

ARC nearly failed. It was not a smooth transition after WZJ’s sale. After assorted holding companies and not yet ready for prime time investors, it came close to death. Now, with appropriate management and capital, ARC seems on track.

VPI is another US based company that is in transition. Like CJ, it is very small with no significant work force beyond the owners. QC was questionable earlier in the transition. I’m told it’s better now. I am no fan of the uni-pivot. I am no fan of 3D printing. I am no fan of the hanging weight anti skate or ignoring anti skate. But all that aside, VPI looks like a job, more than a company.

DarTZeel is in a state of flux right now. The “owner” who seems to be the company is bored and unhappy with his present lot, so he’s spinning excuses to cover the fact that he’s ceasing his status quo. No Herve = no company. It is a delicate thread.

[admin]

DarTZeel is in a state of flux right now. The “owner” who seems to be the company is bored and unhappy with his present lot, so he’s spinning excuses to cover the fact that he’s ceasing his status quo. No Herve = no company. It is a delicate thread.

I was not aware of the troubles at DarTZeel. I hope they work out their issues. It would be a shame to lose the brand.

[AnotherJohnson]

I was not aware of the troubles at DarTZeel. I hope they work out their issues. It would be a shame to lose the brand.

https://www.dartzeel.com/

Herve would say that there is no trouble.
He’s just changing directions.

I would say that DarTZeel is his job, and he is redefining it.

Reports are that the legendary customer service isn’t uniform or universal.

If the brand failed, it would have no impact on the industry. It is a Veblen priced, gold faced, micro-player.

I was talking to a dealer recently. He’d taken one of their amps in trade towards a super expensive (lots of margin to absorb trades) system. He said it sounded great … not better than other great amps, but great nevertheless. But … if you are counting on factory support over the long term, forget it. This was BEFORE Herve’s announcement that he’s changing his game.

I’ve seen and heard some reports that he is working to develop products that could serve a larger market (lower cost). If that’s successful, then the company would grow.

Talking about phono cartridges, a year or two ago Herve advertised that he would custom build a $1M phono cartridge. Yes … $1,000,000 for a phono cartridge that he would custom build just for you.

I am reminded of the $100/glass lemonade stand. “Just gotta sell one.”

[admin]

It looks like their website is down right now,... that's ominous!