Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site

drdna wrote:

The Decca London Reference appears ideal.  I am probably going to buy one of these. Romy, you are free to borrow it if you wish to listen to it; just do not break it.

Possible it is a good cartridge, I do not know. The Rep insisted that my tonearm is crap and I must not to use it with Decca London Reference. Well, I have my own attitude as well and I discard anybody who feels that 3012 is not THE arm. Thanks, for the offer to try the Decca. Unfortunately I do not practice to borrow or to lend cartridges. I feel that cartridges are like underwear – it is belong a person and shell stay there.

drdna wrote:

The question now for me is what second tonearm is appropriate.  Any suggestions. It will need to be neutral; maybe the Schroeder or the AirTangent? I rather like the linear tracking tonearm.  When I have heard it, the sound was complemented nicely.

If you plan to put the First Second Arm (!) then I strongly encourage going for mono arm. In my view it must be the mandatory 3012/3009 with SPU Mono. I seldom do “suggestions” but a mono arm is not arguable from how I see it. The linear tracking tonearm is cool but it might be the Third Arm…

drdna wrote:

I do not believe it.  I think it is a very good MC cartridge, like Jan Allaerts or ZYX, but probably still thin, inner detail, and no connection to Sound.  Why else would people who are buying it appear so unable to describe what they hear.

I do not know what you believe or not as I did not express anything about Mantis – I clearly have no opinion.  The fact that people are unable to describe the sound I think is a good sign. What however distracted me from exploring the Mantis further was the publicity game of the guy who makes them. He is in the business of promoting his cartridges and builds the cliental of followers – that is cool, that is all manufacturers preacupated with.  The problem is that I do not play along in those games. If he build custom cartridges and claims some superior knowledge and skills then he need to demonstrate more integrity then kiss in ass any asshole he found for him profitable to kiss.  I have a number of manufactures cooperated with me on custom projects. They have skills, expertise and a desire to do advanced thighs. I have some listening expertise, advanced demeans, money to burn on the projects with unpredictable results and stupid enthusiasm to constantly engage myself in those projects. For me those projects is a process of collaboration where maker and user mutually discover the thighs, navigating results to the most advanced outcome possible under given conditions. I do not think that the Mantis guy is at the level what he might be interested in result only.  When he just started a few years back he was. How he was told by a few industry crooks that he is good and he feel himself extremely valuable.  He will go away over it in a few years but for a time being he too busy to collect the signatures of the people who have seen his penis under a magnifier glass. I feel it I too boring not only participate but even to watch. 

drdna wrote:

I agree.  The Ortofon will be a good choice, not the best choice in my taste, but a good choice.

 Well, I juts a little afraid that it would be a good all around cartridge not the “hard-core” cartridge for my Reference Arm. If it be so then my Ref arm will be too close to my Second Stereo arm. What would be the “best choice”? Well, too much to ask for “best”… If I definitely know the answer I would go for it… I will be bitching anyhow, this way, asking people an advise - I will have somebody to blame…

Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site