LP12 and Clearaudio Master Reference

[AnotherJohnson]

I’ve got these two running again after they were off line during my recovery from my second shoulder replacement.

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I finished setting up the linear tracking tone arm today.

It’s all sounding great.

[admin]

The Clearaudio looks absolutely insane (in a good way)! What are you thoughts on the linear tracking system? Be careful with lifting that thing, it may lead to another surgery!

[AnotherJohnson]

Short answer:
Setup is tedious to learn and unforgiving if you do not learn well. I spent 6 hours over three days getting it “perfect.” It is dead level. I did not resort to the ill-advised but common hack of setting it up to run “downhill.” Since finally dialing it in, I have played 20 sides, it has not hiccuped once. It has even plowed through some damaged grooves (I often use damaged records in the early stages of dialing in so as not to damage a good record should things not yet be right).


I have the same cartridge on both the Universal 12” tonearm and the TT2 tonearm (Clearaudio’s flagship moving magnet, the Charisma V2). When the one mounted on the TT2 has 50 hours on it, I’m going to do some serious comparative listening. Right now, after about 6 hours of break in, my impression is that the TT2 is more detailed, delicate, and refined compared to the Universal 12”. Of course at retail the TT2 is about twice as expensive so it ought to offer some improvement to justify its existence.

Longer bit:
I sold (and owned) the Souther linear trackers 40 years ago. My favorite was the TriQuartz, paired with the Clearaudio Veritas cartridge. Lou Souther distributed Clearaudio at the time.

At Lou’s end, Clearaudio acquired his IP. The Clearaudio linear trackers that do not use air bearings are descendents from Lou’s work.

The TT2 is a beautiful piece of vinyl kit. I bought it second hand, and with the help of the former owner (who has abandoned vinyl in favor of Reel to Reel) and also the help of Musical Surroundings (the US importer), I have been able to restore it to its original condition.

I can say with certainty that the TT2 in my current system blows the doors off of the TriQuartz in my mid 1980s system.

There is over $100k worth of stuff in that picture. My first house was purchased for less than $50k. Money ain’t what it used to be.

[Big Dog RJ]

Outstanding mate!

Now just sit back and enjoy those finest tunes! (With a Nespresso)
Woof! RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

Outstanding mate!

Now just sit back and enjoy those finest tunes! (With a Nespresso)
Woof! RJ

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[AnotherJohnson]

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[Big Dog RJ]

Ah! Nice one nice one

Just a quick question?
How do you find the ARC phono-preamp on that rig? I was under the impression that you sold off all the tooob gear... and using the B-088 preamps phonostage instead...? Or maybe I got things mixed up.

Anyway, I'm sure either way, tooob phono or Burmester phono, it'll still be very fine tunes!
Now that's a WOOF!
RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

Just a quick question?
How do you find the ARC phono-preamp on that rig? I was under the impression that you sold off all the tooob gear... and using the B-088 preamps phonostage instead...? Or maybe I got things mixed up.

My 088 does have an MC Phono module, although it also is compatible with, and can be adjusted for, many MM cartridge choices.

When I bought the 088 I tried the built in phono module. I opted NOT to use it for a few reasons.

First, and foremost, in direct comparison using the Lyra Kleos and Lyra Etna MC cartridges I had on hand, I preferred the ARC Ref Phono 3SE.

Second, Turntables nearly always have RCA terminations. The 088 has balanced inputs. Burmester includes adapters, but I am leery of adapters.

Third, I prefer my turntables to be well away from my speakers. But I prefer my preamp to be close to the amp and the sources that are not strongly affected by the proximity to the speakers. To run with the 088, the TT needs to be close to the preamp unless you’re willing to run VERY LONG unbalanced interconnects with the phono cartridge level signal.

I have the turntables feeding the two separately adjustable inputs to the ARC 3SE with normal length high end rca cables. I have balanced custom tuned Transparent Reference level cables making the 25’ run from the 3SE to the Aux 1 input on the 088 (line level balanced run).

With all that said, if I decide to keep the TT2 and Universal 12 for long term use, I may move the LP 12 over to the 088 … but I would have to be careful about the interaction with the speakers. More likely, I will prefer one arm or the other, and then disconnect the one I like least in favor of the Ekos SE and Lyra Etna Lambda.

[AnotherJohnson]

Here’s a view from above to more clearly see the two arms.

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The linear tracking tonearm continues to perform flawlessly today

These have a reputation for being finicky, and it did take me three days to get it right … but I think I could set another one up in one two hour session. Everything is challenging when it’s both complex and new to you.

[AnotherJohnson]

The Universal 12 has a clever magnetic antiskating feature. Of course the whole idea behind the linear trackers is that there is no bias force to offset with antiskating adjustments. The record’s master is cut with a cutting head along the radius, so the linear tracking tonearm is following the same path.

[admin]

Again, it just looks amazing. I'm sure it sounds wonderful.

Once you have the linear tracking tonearm set up, does it need any recalibration with time or it's a one time "set it and forget it"?

[AnotherJohnson]

Again, it just looks amazing. I'm sure it sounds wonderful.

Once you have the linear tracking tonearm set up, does it need any recalibration with time or it's a one time "set it and forget it"?

Whenever you change cartridges you have to adjust, but this is true for any type of tonearm except the P-Mount.

I think I could do this CORRECTLY faster than I could do a uni-pivot.

It is very logical. The written instructions may be less clear because the person who wrote them was familiar with subtle points that a new user wouldn’t yet know.

I am well into a second day of “break in.” I am really pleased with the imaging, detail, balance, and slam.

The fellow I bought it from is a fairly well known member of the industry. His company is in the R-T-R market, but he says this is the best tonearm he’s ever heard. He was running it with the $17k Goldfinger on a Master Reference.

[AnotherJohnson]

Just a quick question?
How do you find the ARC phono-preamp on that rig? I was under the impression that you sold off all the tooob gear...

One other important thought. The 088 just has one phono stage. If I want to run all my turntables, including the Dual 1009 I use for 78s, I need four phono inputs. Between the 088 and the ARC, I only have three. So I need to get ANOTHER one

Oh, and one other thing. If it weren’t $20k+ to beat the ARC Ref Phono 3SE with a solid state unit, I’d get rid of the ARC and its tubes.

I can leave my solid state gear on 24/7. The tube gear has to waste tube life in warm up, or it has to waste tube life in standby after it’s warm already. The Burmester stand alone phono preamp is something I could live with. It is better than the module in the 088. But it is quite expensive so I’m putting up with the tubes.

[admin]

One other important thought. The 088 just has one phono stage. If I want to run all my turntables, including the Dual 1009 I use for 78s, I need four phono inputs. Between the 088 and the ARC, I only have three. So I need to get ANOTHER one

Could you get switch so you can run multiple phono inputs into the switch and then run that into the phono preamp?

I can leave my solid state gear on 24/7. The tube gear has to waste tube life in warm up, or it has to waste tube life in standby after it’s warm already. The Burmester stand alone phono preamp is something I could live with. It is better than the module in the 088. But it is quite expensive so I’m putting up with the tubes.

I don't think anybody doubts that SS is more convenient than tube. But the ARC is a very nice unit that you seem to like. Sometimes worthwhile to put up with some annoyances if you like the sound and it saves a lot of $$$ for an alternative replacement that would equal its performance.

[AnotherJohnson]

Could you get switch so you can run multiple phono inputs into the switch and then run that into the phono preamp?

Of course you could … but I would not. It might sound pretentious, but what I share below is not meant to be.

In the world of 4 and 5 figure cartridges, 4 and 5 figure cables and interconnects, 5 figure phono preamps, and 6 figure systems, they’re really out of place. If you can’t hear a difference, it doesn’t mean it’s OK, it means the rest of your system is poorly chosen or set up. I was comfortable with that sort of stuff when I was mucking around with vintage gear unaware of its veiling effects. I would not waste the money on such things today.

FWIW, I first started fooling with such “solutions” around 1965 at Radio Shack and Lafayette Electronics. After all, in 1965 Julian Hirsch was telling us that all electrical paths sounded the same.

[admin]

Very fair. At the end of the day you can just manually pull the RCA cables and switch them whenever you decide to listen to a different TT/tonearm. Certainly not the end of the world.

[AnotherJohnson]

Very fair. At the end of the day you can just manually pull the RCA cables and switch them whenever you decide to listen to a different TT/tonearm. Certainly not the end of the world.

I would do that before I would resort to a switch.

I am thinking seriously about moving the LP12 over to the 088 and trying the Burmester module again. It wasn’t “bad” with the other Lyra cartridges … I just liked the ARC 3SE better. $20k tube preamp vs $3k solid state module … hmmm … which should sound better?

[Big Dog RJ]

Just a quick note: if I recall... isn't Julian Hirsch the same chap who reviewed the Bose 901 series VI, and stated it was the best speakers he'd ever heard??? Oh bummer... anyway I actually ended up with a pair, going way back to high school. The 901's were suspended from our ceiling with the supplied Bose chains & bolts kit. Those things rocked the house with a few Carver amps... ah! The good old days.

The recommended 901 stands were ridiculous, short and not sturdy at all, looked like an oversized wine glass with a boxed top shape. The ceiling suspended installation was much better but back then, anything hanging from the damn ceiling was better!

Right! Points noted on the ARC phono vs the B-088. Agreed on the XLR adapters, not a fan, although provided by the manufacturer as safe to use. A dedicated phonostage is better in terms of absolute Fidelity, where nothing is shared on a common chassis. Having separates has always proven superior. Then again, if the owner is quite happy with just one unit/preamp that provides all the features and connectivity, and it sounds pretty darn good then why bother?

I reckon, just enjoy those fine tunes.
Woof! RJ

[Big Dog RJ]

BTW, if McIntosh were to ever make one of those fancy coffee machines... I bet my life on it, they would install those big blue meters! Without a doubt!

How cool or bizarre would that look, eh?
I can just picture it.

[AnotherJohnson]

BTW, if McIntosh were to ever make one of those fancy coffee machines... I bet my life on it, they would install those big blue meters! Without a doubt!

How cool or bizarre would that look, eh?
I can just picture it.

I think you should protect that idea. ECM is made in Heidelberg. It looks like Burmester might have had a hand in it.

Meanwhile, cheers!

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