New Kronos Turntable - The Sparta 0.5

Manos_Bits

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Apr 13, 2014
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a friend of mine has got the big Kronos PRO.. he is a friend of Louis Desjardins the designer of kronos & Sparta.. he has also got many other TT's and a very advanced system..
I pushed him to remove the belt from the lower platter and evaluate big Kronos.. after doing that, he found minor differences!!
 

Cascais

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Nov 5, 2012
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a friend of mine has got the big Kronos PRO.. he is a friend of Louis Desjardins the designer of kronos & Sparta.. he has also got many other TT's and a very advanced system..
I pushed him to remove the belt from the lower platter and evaluate big Kronos.. after doing that, he found minor differences!!
That was a very interesting experiment and he must be a very good friend of yours to do something like that. At that level minor difference are what it's all about - nuances - but indispensable since the counter-rotating platters are the essence of the Kronos design. I hope that Desjardins has great success with his TTs.
 

slcaudiophile

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Nov 6, 2014
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Um ... SLC?
an interesting comparison would be the sparta 0.5 and the new amg giro. i think the 0.5 is still +$3K over the amg giro with their cartridge and 9" arm but there is something with the amg tables that is just incredible. i recently heard the v12 using a goldfinger and my god ive never heard anything like that set-up, not even close. it is a nice option to be able to upgrade the 0.5 later on.
 

Manos_Bits

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Apr 13, 2014
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That was a very interesting experiment and he must be a very good friend of yours to do something like that. At that level minor difference are what it's all about - nuances - but indispensable since the counter-rotating platters are the essence of the Kronos design. I hope that Desjardins has great success with his TTs.

sure.. here are some photos from my friend's system..
I will try to find his exactly comments from the evaluation of big Kronos without the down platter been rotating..

http://www.aca.gr/Antonis_System_01
http://www.aca.gr/Antonis_System_02
http://www.aca.gr/Antonis_System_03
 

PeterA

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Dec 6, 2011
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sure.. here are some photos from my friend's system..
I will try to find his exactly comments from the evaluation of big Kronos without the down platter been rotating..

http://www.aca.gr/Antonis_System_01
http://www.aca.gr/Antonis_System_02
http://www.aca.gr/Antonis_System_03

Nice photos. It looks the other turntable in the first picture is an SME 30/12 with V-12 arm. Have you asked your friend how the two tables compare? I understand that they have different tonearms and perhaps cartridges and phono cables.
 

Cascais

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Nov 5, 2012
257
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I would guess that the SME and Kronos would be close, particularly with one platter disabled on the Kronos. Fascinating comparison, the best of Canada vs the best of the UK.
 

Manos_Bits

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Apr 13, 2014
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Nice photos. It looks the other turntable in the first picture is an SME 30/12 with V-12 arm. Have you asked your friend how the two tables compare? I understand that they have different tonearms and perhaps cartridges and phono cables.

right!! these 4 of the main TT's of Antonis System.. he has got many others, he has got 10_nths of cartridges too :b
I love SME, his system its fantastic sounding!!

SME 30/12
SME V12(arm)
Koetsu Jade (cart)

KRONOS AUDIO
Graham B-44 Phantom (arm)
EMT JSD 5G (cartridge)

Acoustic Signature One
Kuzma stogi ref (arm)
Koetsu Blue Lace Onyx (cart)

Horning Anthracite Master Reference Sati
Thales Simplicity (arm)
Koetsu Blue Lace Onyx (cart)
Kuzma 4 point (arm)
Micro-Benz Ebenus LP (cart)
 

PeterA

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Dec 6, 2011
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right!! these 4 of the main TT's of Antonis System.. he has got many others, he has got 10_nths of cartridges too :b
I love SME, his system its fantastic sounding!!

SME 30/12
SME V12(arm)
Koetsu Jade (cart)

KRONOS AUDIO
Graham B-44 Phantom (arm)
EMT JSD 5G (cartridge)

Acoustic Signature One
Kuzma stogi ref (arm)
Koetsu Blue Lace Onyx (cart)

Horning Anthracite Master Reference Sati
Thales Simplicity (arm)
Koetsu Blue Lace Onyx (cart)
Kuzma 4 point (arm)
Micro-Benz Ebenus LP (cart)

Manos_Bits, how would you describe the sound of the 30/12 and the Kronos? Are they similar or quite different and has he experimented with adding isolation platforms under any of his turntables?
 

Manos_Bits

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Apr 13, 2014
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325
ATHENS - GREECE
www.aca.gr
the only thing Antonis has built DIY by him self is isolation platforms!! he has made lots and long-time efforts to study, design and built his own platforms..
unfortunately the thread is in Greek language, I will try to translate some main posts and give them here..
you can see some photos here!! http://www.aca.gr/index/forums/fgr/diy
 

Cascais

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Nov 5, 2012
257
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I always knew that there was a serious audiophile community in Greece. Here is a video that Manos probably knows, from a few years ago. The secret is electricity which is 50% of the sound, says the presenter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs1aUws0Lrs
 

Manos_Bits

Well-Known Member
Apr 13, 2014
96
33
325
ATHENS - GREECE
www.aca.gr
I always knew that there was a serious audiophile community in Greece. Here is a video that Manos probably knows, from a few years ago. The secret is electricity which is 50% of the sound, says the presenter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs1aUws0Lrs

right, this video is a proffessional version showing the "points of hi-end view" of our club members.. all of the people in this video are current club members except the president (changed in elections).. there is a more recent amateur video also.. Audiophile Club of Athens
 

Mark Jones

[Industry Expert]/Member Sponsor
Jul 9, 2014
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I have been playing with the 0.5 for a few days now and it sounds as good as it looks. I think it will compete nicely against its rivals the 20/3 and AMG Viella. The AMG has the advantage of being able to be used with all three 9, 10.5 and 12" arms ( the Sparta max's out at 10.5) as well as a second tonearm option available. The 0.5's big advantage is its upgradability path to the full blown Sparta. They do sound different but both are spectacular. I would probably place the 20/3 last out of the three. But the SME is still an incredible table, a class act, fit and finish is spectacular and it is the most affordable of the three.

_K2C2576.jpg

_K2C2590.jpg
 

Cascais

Well-Known Member
Nov 5, 2012
257
2
150
Portugal
Recently I was in the market for a new turntable to replace my Oracle Delphi III and bought the SME 20/3A. I had heard the full Sparta, was impressed mightily but had not heard of the .5. I might have been interested but preferred the SME for two reasons: price as my dealer offered a great deal, and in Europe the large price difference between the Sparta and SME partly comprises import duty which I try to avoid by buying EU products where possible. The other reason involved import hassle into the EU as I had had problems with another component made in Canada which had to go back for repair and was held up for weeks in customs. Nada mas, I said. However I made the right choice as the SME 20/3 with the series V arm is a great instrument for making music. And if not playing it, I like admiring its industrial design, simplicity and strength. The Sparta is a looker too, but the SME is my TT for life. Very nice photos.
 

slcaudiophile

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2014
167
2
123
Um ... SLC?
I have been playing with the 0.5 for a few days now and it sounds as good as it looks. I think it will compete nicely against its rivals the 20/3 and AMG Viella. The AMG has the advantage of being able to be used with all three 9, 10.5 and 12" arms ( the Sparta max's out at 10.5) as well as a second tonearm option available. The 0.5's big advantage is its upgradability path to the full blown Sparta. They do sound different but both are spectacular. I would probably place the 20/3 last out of the three. But the SME is still an incredible table, a class act, fit and finish is spectacular and it is the most affordable of the three.

View attachment 21342

View attachment 21343

thanks for the update and analysis.
 

PeterA

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Dec 6, 2011
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Recently I was in the market for a new turntable to replace my Oracle Delphi III and bought the SME 20/3A. I had heard the full Sparta, was impressed mightily but had not heard of the .5. I might have been interested but preferred the SME for two reasons: price as my dealer offered a great deal, and in Europe the large price difference between the Sparta and SME partly comprises import duty which I try to avoid by buying EU products where possible. The other reason involved import hassle into the EU as I had had problems with another component made in Canada which had to go back for repair and was held up for weeks in customs. Nada mas, I said. However I made the right choice as the SME 20/3 with the series V arm is a great instrument for making music. And if not playing it, I like admiring its industrial design, simplicity and strength. The Sparta is a looker too, but the SME is my TT for life. Very nice photos.

It would be interesting to compare the following: Sparta 0.5/SME Model 15, Sparta 1.0/SME Model 20/3, Kronos/SME Model 30 in a rigorous direct comparison with the same arm and cartridge. I am not aware of anyone having done it yet. I just heard a Kronos Pro in a friend's system. It is much better than his former TW Akustics Raven. I would like to compare it to my SME 30/12 but each is too heavy to move to contemplate that.

Ultimate purchase may depend on local costs and dealer back up. I know SME tables are much more expensive in the US than they are in the EU.

I have a friend who has Canadian electronics. When sent back from the US for repairs or upgrades, it is always a hassle, expense and long delay at the border.

Your 20/3A can certainly be a table for life. Congratulations.
 
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Mark Jones

[Industry Expert]/Member Sponsor
Jul 9, 2014
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Yes the 20/3 is a wonderful table.
 

PeterA

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Dec 6, 2011
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Yes the 20/3 is a wonderful table.

Mark, you are in the unusual position to be able to directly compare the Kronos, SME, and AMG tables. Have you ever done it for a customer using the same tonearm and cartridge in the same system?

If so, what did you find to be the differences? Have you ever tested them for speed accuracy using the Sutherland Timeline?
 
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Mark Jones

[Industry Expert]/Member Sponsor
Jul 9, 2014
58
2
315
Hi Peter, no I have not, that is tough to do. I have no SME turntables currently on hand.

I know we all want answers on "What's Best" He He, but it is next to impossible. Looks, serviceability, fav dealers, tonearm options etc also get in the way of what's best.

The SME's are SME's if you know what I mean.

Ian's Kronos Pro/ Black Beauty is my fav for sound.

The AMG is beautiful, sounds beautiful, can have two arms (but only a 9" with an SME mount for the second one)

The Sparta 0.5 is great on its own and can be made even better down the road.

I know said all this before, but really can you go wrong with any of these? Nope.

This is also a public forum and I am dealer, so I have to be politically correct on what I say.


A bit off topic but I can say "What's Best" in phonostages - The Tenor Phono1 is beyond good. Did a comparo the other night against the 3 really well known big time phono pre-amps (one American, German and Swiss) and it was no contest. I think it is the best product they have ever made. The only problem is the waiting list to get one.
 

Cascais

Well-Known Member
Nov 5, 2012
257
2
150
Portugal
Hi Peter, no I have not, that is tough to do. I have no SME turntables currently on hand.

I know we all want answers on "What's Best" He He, but it is next to impossible. Looks, serviceability, fav dealers, tonearm options etc also get in the way of what's best.

The SME's are SME's if you know what I mean.

Ian's Kronos Pro/ Black Beauty is my fav for sound.

The AMG is beautiful, sounds beautiful, can have two arms (but only a 9" with an SME mount for the second one)

The Sparta 0.5 is great on its own and can be made even better down the road.

I know said all this before, but really can you go wrong with any of these? Nope.

This is also a public forum and I am dealer, so I have to be politically correct on what I say.


A bit off topic but I can say "What's Best" in phonostages - The Tenor Phono1 is beyond good. Did a comparo the other night against the 3 really well known big time phono pre-amps (one American, German and Swiss) and it was no contest. I think it is the best product they have ever made. The only problem is the waiting list to get one.

Another positive for SME is the helpfulness of their staff in England as I had a couple of questions which were answered with authority in a phone call. My local dealer brought their turntable specialist all the way from Porto to Lisbon to set up my table, so I am confident that it is set up properly beyond my ability to do it. However the result was that the TT completely outclassed my SACD player (one of the best available) to the point where I had to start experimenting with power cords to make it competitive, which it is now. I agree with Mark Jones about comparing these fine turntables, too many variables and too much work involved which gets in the way of listening to music. Now that mine is set up it will probably stay just where it sits now for a long time. Any servicing which it might need in future can be done locally.
 
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