In addition to its aesthetic consistency with AVM's electronicsmost apparent in its sleek aluminum "cover frame" and the blue-LED illumination of its recessed acrylic platterthe Rotation offers an inboard DC motor, permanently lubricated bronze platter bearing, and a gimbaled tonearm with an "impressively massive" bearing yoke and a slidingsingle-bolt headshell for good cartridge adjustability. 
MM inputs offer 44dB of gain, MC inputs 64dB, the extra 20dB provided by a stereo pair of Jensen step-up transformers. The former is the LM-09, which retains the original model's basic design elementstungsten-carbide bearings with user-adjustable pre-loading, and a 9" armtube made of carbon-fiber laminateswhile offering lower overall mass by means of an aluminum rather than a stainless-steel bearing yoke. Though it lacked the bottom-end weight and macrodynamic range of even more expensive turntables, and had a slightly dry, analytical sound, the SME offered a very low noise floor and stable image specificity, said MF. Based on the original, stereo version of Grado's Lineage Epoch (see elsewhere in "Recommended Components"), the Epoch Mono is a moving-iron cartridge built into a bulky body carved from cocobolo, a dense tonewood. It is eligible for inclusion in the April 2021 edition. (Vol.40 No.2 WWW), Lyra SPT: $60/1.5ml bottle In AD's system, the HSD 006 sounded "like a TSD 15, but a little more modern. Created under the direction of tonearm designer Frank Schrder, the Tzar DST differs from the Neumann in its use of an aluminum body and a carbon-fiber cantilever. extremely high quality. Audio-Technica AT95E, Lyra Atlas, Atlas SL, Atlas Mono, Etna, Etna SL replaced by new versions not yet reviewed. In describing the Duo's sound, BD pointed to its ability to reveal the "primal purity of instruments' timbres and the natural, effortless feel of the performers." Gain is 26dB. Like the Miyajima Madake moving coil cartridge (see elsewhere in this edition of "Recommended Components"), the Madake Snakewood has a cantilever made in part from a strain of bamboo that grows only in the mountains surrounding Kyoto, Japan. (Vol.43 No.8 WWW), EMIA Phono step-up transformer, with copper wire: $2700 (Vol.41 No.10 WWW), Koetsu Rosewood Mono: $4495 (Vol.42 No.11), Grandinote Celio: $8750 "The Fozgometer gets my highest recommendation!" It offers the user a choice of four traditional alignment schemesie, ones distilled from the work of Erik Lfgren, who more or less invented the two-point alignment schemes used by the vast majority of manufacturers and hobbyistsand one brand-new one, developed by Acoustical Systems' Dietrich Brakemeier, called UNI-DIN. Notably, the titanium-bodied Ultra Eminent Ex moving coil cartridge mates an output level that's only moderately low (0.3mV) with an exceptionally low internal resistance (0.6 ohm). Recommended tracking force is 2gm. There exists some disagreement between AD and MF over the overall rating, but Class B seems appropriate. begins to materialize into the person, instrument, or environment the information represents," and in doing so sounded "less mechanical than any other MC I've experienced." (Vol.41 No.10), Schick 12" Tonearm: $1995 Nonetheless, AD deemed it "a superb cartridge and a remarkable buy." Additionally, the P1's drab gray finish is exchanged for the RP1's choice of White, Cool Gray, or Titanium. It uses a 6CA4 rectifier tube and choke filter, while RIAA is accomplished passively with zero feedback using a transformer-based LCR network. (Vol.37 No.10, Vol.40 No.10 WWW), Audio-Creative GrooveMaster II Titanium: 1524 AD, who regarded the original Zu Audio/Denon DL-103 as a giant-slayer of Homeric proportions, thought the Grade 2 Premium Zu DL-103 Mk.II went even further, offering fine musical timing and "an ocean of tone." KM's go-to cartridge. The EMT's overall sound was open, clear, and transparent, with above-average presence, body, and color, and an outstanding sense of momentum and flow. The things I've read are titillating , to say the least. Based on Audio-Technica's ubiquitous and universally heralded AT3600, the CF3600LE replaces the AT3600's aluminum cantilever and conical diamond stylus with a 0.0003" 0.0007" elliptical stylus and a carbon-fiber cantilever. and the best-built arm I have owned." (Vol.42 No.5), Tzar DST: $10,000 Classis the attribution published on Stereophiles Recommended Components US Other recommendations as the following Review icon legend: Sound Stage Select Component CA Sound Stage Great Buy CA Sound Stage Reviewer Choice CA Enjoy The Music Product of the Year Award US Stereo Times Most Wanted Components US The Master 1 replaces the DS-W1, which MF reviewed in the September 2015 Stereophile. According to Herb, the MoFi combo "had stronger energy, achieved bigger dynamic swings, and was more detailed than comparatively priced 'tables from VPI and Rega." Care must be taken when cueing cartridges with the Reed arm, as moving too fast will disable the servo mechanism. On the underside of this chunky aluminum beamSorane doesn't specify an effective mass, but the ZA-12 is clearly a high-mass arm suitable for only low-compliance cartridgesare channels for the signal wires. The 11" version costs $6000. Like its stablemate, the Hana SL Mono, this moving coil cartridge impressed Herb with its "naturally supple viscosity and glowing vivid tone." Made in the US, the very affordable Schiit Mani was designed by Theta Audio founder Mike Moffat. (Vol.44 No.1 WWW), DS Audio DS-E1 optical cartridge and equalizer: $2750 Outwardly identical to the T1, the Hommage T2 takes the same uber-perfectionist approach and applies it to EMT's high-output, high-impedance cartridges and pickup heads: the TSD 15, the OFD 25, and so forth. This pivoted tonearm has a unique design that uses a servo-controlled, battery-powered motor and a laser to enable it to track tangentially and also to address antiskating. The Haniwa/ViV tonearm is an odd duck, designed so that a cartridge mounted therein exhibits underhang instead of overhang, and with zero offset angle. In the written review, the Ares II was preferred over the Chord Qutest. (Bergmann claims for the Odin an effective mass of 14gm.) (Vol.42 No.4 WWW), Analog Relax EX1000: $16,000 Forget that the new Hana ML is the costliest Hana so far: This low-output (0.4mV) moving coil cartridge is nevertheless priced lower than the perfectionist-audio average. Auditioned with a Graham Engineering Elite tonearm, the AFO Premium impressed MF with "its ultraquiet backgrounds, the generosity of its presentation of instrumental sustain and decay, its neutral spectral balance, and [its] dynamic presentation . During the review, I've tried HANA ML with Trinity phono preamplifier, Lab12 melto2, Gold Note PH 10, Thrax Audio Orpheus, Dynamic Sound Associates DSA The Phono II and Grandinote Celio phono preamplifiers. In a follow-up, JA noted impressive measured performance including superbly accurate RIAA equalization. (Vol.38 No.6), Ypsilon MC10 & MC16: $3300 (Vol.41 No.12 WWW), Ortofon MC A Mono: $5039 . (Vol.42 No.12 WWW), Miyajima Labs Infinity mono: $3475 Pertinent specs include a low (0.5mV) output, a recommended downforce of 2gm, and a recommended load impedance of over 200 ohms. JCA also noted that the Lino was extremely quiet, and, compared with the current-mode Sutherland Loco, the Lino "seemed subjectively brighterbut not brightwhich led to more sparkle on high piano notes." 
With a turns ratio of 1:40, the Mediator 40 has just the right amount of gain for an Ortofon SPU or similar low-output moving-coil cartridge; used with his Shindo-modified SPU, the Audio-Creative SUT impressed AD with its excellent scale, force, and vivid portrayal of instrumental colors: "a top-shelf trannie at a crazy-low price," he said. The most expensive, the Infinity Mono, can be ordered with either a 0.7 mil or a 1.0 mil stylus attached to its aluminum cantilever. "If that's what you can afford, the MMP3 at least gets the job done quietly and cleanly." AD's verdict: "The A-Rings are not a perfect solution, but they did the job effectively and without too much fuss." WebOrtofon's MC Anna phono cartridge, introduced in 2013, apparently remains a popular choice for analog perfectionists who can afford its $8924 price, but it has now been joined in the (Vol.37 No.11, Vol.40 Nos.7 & 10), PTP Audio Solid12: ?2950 plus shipping $$$ As for the titanium versionAudio-Creative sent samples of bothAD noted that the differences "all fell in the heavier armtube's favor," with deeper and more forceful bass and "firmer note attacks." AD tried the AudioSilente idler on his own 301 and discovered slight improvements, both audible and measurable, compared to his good-condition original idler. The Woodsong disc is machined more accurately, from better-quality alloy, and is fitted with a better-fitting hub. . Back to basics. It's a Lyra tradition that the company often follows up their standard cartridges with low-output versions of same; so it goes with this most recent version of the Atlas SL, whose low output is accomplished with fewer turns of wire, resulting in less moving mass, lower internal impedance, and, presumably, faster response. Loaded with 80 ohms, this low-output moving coil impressed HR with the intensity with which it endowed familiar recordings, as well as the enhanced intelligibility of vocals, "natural-feeling contrast levels, grain-free clarity, and lifelike solidity." "It's just fantastic," effused J-10. Use of Musical Surroundings' optional Linear Charging Power Supply ($650) brought more consistently good sound to the treble range and allowed "voices, violins, and electric guitars [to sound] more vibrant and lifelike," and more corporeal overall. (Vol.38 No.5, Vol.28 No.5), EMT 997: $5995 It's like $600 and gets very good reviews. This has been missing for the last few. Herb also praised the Saboten's "grainless, liquid transparency, its unique sense of intimacy, and its decidedly tactile focus on vibrating acoustic surfaces. Using his oven or the Groovy Pouch, SM was able to successfully flatten even severely warped and dished LPs, but cautions: "Be sure that your oven's temperature is properly calibrated before baking your precious LPs." He also described the player's sound as "serenity-inducing . (Vol.40 Nos.4 & 6, Vol.41 No.8), Ypsilon VPS-100: $26,000 Single after single, the Hana SL Mono made sound that was decidedly present, punchy, finely detailed, and liquid." (Vol.35 No.2, Vol.41 No.9 WWW), Ortofon SPU Wood A: $2519 The verdict: "In the Master 1, DS Audio has fulfilled the promise of the original DS-W1." It produces effortless, wide dynamic swings and seemingly full, flat frequency response," Mikey concluded. . The question of belt vs friction drive is addressed by the distinctively styled Reed Muse 3C, which can be ordered in either modeor, for an upcharge, in a version in which the user can switch between the two, albeit not on the fly. (Vol.28 No.5; Vol.35 No.4 Vol.38 No.5 WWW), Dhmann Audio Helix One Mk2: $49,000 Whereas most moving-coil cartridges have their stylus at one end of a cantilever and their coils, wound on tiny coil formers, at the other, the Tzar DSTlike the vintage Neumann DST 62 cartridge on which it's modeledsays to hell with the formers: Its coils are glued right to the cantilever just behind the stylus. Made in Italy, the Celio is housed within a clamshell steel case, the rear panel of which contains the gain switch, as well as dual-mono DIP switches for selecting load impedance. For special systems only, as it is a complete pickup head, not just a cartridge. Auditioned the KEF R3s, Polk Legend L200s and the KEF LS 50 Metas a few days ago with 5 tracks of my choosing and thus far my rank ordering of these speakers is as noted. (Vol.40 No.8 WWW), Haniwa HCVC01: $6000 In MF's estimation, the Andros Tssera "traded bottom-end authority and grippy bass for the fully developed textures and sonorous midrange that even the best solid-state designs somewhat lose track of," adding that jazz and classical music "thrived in the Andros Tssera's hands"; rock fared less well. Despite isolation feet that "provided little actual isolation," Mikey found that the Avenger Reference "fulfilled the promise of rim drive's benefits minus the noise and rumble." (The latter is available in three sizes, for effective lengths of 9", 10", and 12".) Its companion tonearm is billed by Haniwa as their HTAM01 model, but MF recognized it as the ViV Laboratory Rigid Float tonearm, which he wrote about in the August 2014 Stereophile. Its two-piece aluminum cantilever drives a cross-shaped armature wound with several turns of fine-gauge copper magnet wire. Thanks to the Dynavector's clarity, immediacy, and presence, "music was consistently more dramatic and involving, while never sounding unnecessarily harsh, aggressive, or forward," said SM. 
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