Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement v2

bonzo75 · Apr 16, 2018

PeterA said:
Ked, did you compare Mike's GFS to his other cartridges when you heard his system?

I like the suggestion to Ron to get the Opus and send it to Mike. If Ron does not like it, I'd be happy to buy it from him at a nice discount.

Compared it to the Anna.

Ron Resnick · Apr 16, 2018

jfrech said:
Hi Peter, I had the Atlas, Allaerts and the GFS mounted in the Centroid. Just not the GFS in the LT arm. The GFS has the power and drive of the Atlas, the midrange beauty of the Allaerts but with even more resolution and spacial finesse. The resolution is one of those those things that is presented with a touch of warmth...no etch. The GFS just has a uncanny way at unraveling how each instrument sounds and places it in it's own unique area on the sound stage. Like how a wooden stick hits a cymbal and then the cymbal splashes across the sound stage. You can hear each distinct sound, the unraveling, but it's still totally stitched together and continuous.

I mostly listen to Jazz and Chamber music. Lots of piano, Cello, Violin, drums, sax etc

All 3 are great cartridges. And your phono stage, music choice and arm may tilt your choice in a different direction.

Very interesting, thank you. Have you ever auditioned the Air Tight Opus 1?

Ron Resnick · Apr 16, 2018

bonzo75 said:
And yes, in Gian's system Opus sounds better. It does a much more front to back depth, denser image with flow, more natural tone. But in his system, or the Doehmann + TAD of Tbzc, the GFS sounds different to what it does in Mike's.

So best way for you to answer this is to buy the Opus and send to Mike. Check compared to GFS there as well.

If Opus is better, keep it.

Next, buy the LT and have it set up. Then ask Mike to come over with his Durand, set it up, and see if you still prefer the LT.

If yes, keep it, else it will be snapped up pronto in the used market

Yes, I agree that, in theory, that would answer all open questions.

But I just cannot impose upon someone to remove his finely-tuned tonearm and cartridge, fly to me, mount it on my turntable, set it up with my new cartridge, and then remove the tonearm from my turntable and fly home and subject him to re-installing his tonearm and cartridge. I just will not ask people to do that.

Plus, even if someone did all that, one could argue that since my new Opus 1 would not be broken in we could experience a misleading sonic result.

PeterA · Apr 16, 2018

Ron, are you having second thoughts about the ZYX? Why not just live with that for a while in the SME 3012R as David recommends and get acquainted with the new system. I'm sure the system will have some qualities you like better than others. Once you know your system, then you can fine tune it with future cartridge and arm choices. I think it is premature to try to buy your second arm and cartridge before you have even heard your new system in your new room. But, that is just me. I suspect the sound you heard from Mike's GFS and Durand arm, even if you could isolated it from what the rest of the system was doing, will be different in your system and room.

Ron Resnick · Apr 16, 2018

PeterA said:
Ron, are you having second thoughts about the ZYX? Why not just live with that for a while in the SME 3012R as David recommends and get acquainted with the new system. I'm sure the system will have some qualities you like better than others. Once you know your system, then you can fine tune it with future cartridge and arm choices. I think it is premature to try to buy your second arm and cartridge before you have even heard your new system in your new room. But, that is just me. I suspect the sound you heard from Mike's GFS and Durand arm, even if you could isolated it from what the rest of the system was doing, will be different in your system and room.

Oh no, not one bit! New In Box ZYX UNIverse Premium on NOS silver 3012R is a done deal about which I am very excited!

I continue to toy with the idea of a second tonearm/cartridge combination. I was thinking Schroder LT with Benz Micro LP S.

But after hearing the Goldfinger Statement on the Durand Telos Sapphire tonearm I am thinking of tacking to a more neutral set-up for the second tonearm/cartridge combination. (The Schroder LT/Benz LP S combination probably would veer to warm side of the 3012R/ZYX, whereas a GFS or Opus 1 probably would veer to the more neutral side of the 3012R/ZYX.)

PeterA · Apr 16, 2018

Ron Resnick said:
Oh no, not one bit! New In Box ZYX UNIverse Premium on NOS silver 3012R is a done deal about which I am very excited!

I continue to toy with the idea of a second tonearm/cartridge combination. I was thinking Schroder LT with Benz Micro LP S.

But after hearing the Goldfinger Statement on the Durand Telos Sapphire tonearm I am thinking of tacking to a more neutral set-up for the second tonearm/cartridge combination. (The Schroder LT/Benz LP S combination probably would veer to warm side of the 3012R/ZYX, whereas a GFS or Opus 1 probably would veer to the more neutral side of the 3012R/ZYX.)

How do you know what you might want or how these combinations will sound if you have not heard your system or room yet? Neutral tonal balance is but one sonic characteristic. There are also dynamics, resolution, extension, and others. Again, I think it is fine if you want to make decisions on stuff that you have not heard yet. Personally, I'd wait. The only advantage I see is that you can get David to set it all up for you, but I would try to learn how to do this analog set up stuff yourself. Once the new cartridges break in, some set up parameter will likely need to be adjusted and fine tuning can reap huge benefits.

bonzo75 · Apr 16, 2018

Ron Resnick said:
Yes, I agree that, in theory, that would answer all open questions.

But I just cannot impose upon someone to remove his finely-tuned tonearm and cartridge, fly to me, mount it on my turntable, set it up with my new cartridge, and then remove the tonearm from my turntable and fly home and subject him to re-installing his tonearm and cartridge. I just will not ask people to do that.

Plus, even if someone did all that, one could argue that since my new Opus 1 would not be broken in we could experience a misleading sonic result.

I was suggesting you send your Opus to Mike. He dials in for 100 hours, he gets to hear the Opus in his system, you get a compare by memory and Mike's opinion. If Opus is better there and at Gian it is better.

I know a seller of Schroeder LT (made by Schroeder) in EU who flies around and sets it up for clients. If I decide to spend more than a fr64 or brinkmann 10.5 that might be my choice. To be confirmed.

Bruce B · Apr 16, 2018

Am I the only one who doesn't like the sound of the GFS? Well, at least in my SME 30/2 - series-V setup. I'm more than happy with the Coralstone....

Mike Lavigne · Apr 16, 2018

Bruce B said:
Am I the only one who doesn't like the sound of the GFS? Well, at least in my SME 30/2 - series-V setup. I'm more than happy with the Coralstone....

no. lot's of negativity on the GFS according to those visiting my room (which I was previously not privy to).

OTOH I think due to the Clearaudio naming process there is lots of confusion between previous Goldfinger versions and the actual current model GFS. so how much of that bad vibe is actual personal experience with the current model GFS? and then there is the higher mass than normal which the big bad Telos Sapphire just laughs off. not all arms are created equal.

everyone who hears it in my room seems to really love it. and it's easily the best overall cartridge I have heard (not heard the Opus 1 or Atlas SL in my room). nothing at shows get's close to what I hear in my room so show performance with a cartridge is not relevant for me.

jazdoc · Apr 16, 2018

Mike Lavigne said:
no. lot's of negativity on the GFS according to those visiting my room (which I was previously not privy to).

OTOH I think due to the Clearaudio naming process there is lots of confusion between previous Goldfinger versions and the actual current model GFS. so how much of that bad vibe is actual personal experience with the current model GFS? and then there is the higher mass than normal which the big bad Telos Sapphire just laughs off. not all arms are created equal.

everyone who hears it in my room seems to really love it. and it's easily the best overall cartridge I have heard (not heard the Opus 1 or Atlas SL in my room). nothing at shows get's close to what I hear in my room so show performance with a cartridge is not relevant for me.

As a recent visitor, I would agree. Possibly my favorite cartridge.

Ron Resnick · Apr 16, 2018

PeterA said:
How do you know what you might want or how these combinations will sound if you have not heard your system or room yet? Neutral tonal balance is but one sonic characteristic. There are also dynamics, resolution, extension, and others. Again, I think it is fine if you want to make decisions on stuff that you have not heard yet. Personally, I'd wait. The only advantage I see is that you can get David to set it all up for you, but I would try to learn how to do this analog set up stuff yourself. Once the new cartridges break in, some set up parameter will likely need to be adjusted and fine tuning can reap huge benefits.

Yes, I agree Peter. I am only brainstorming as usual.

I will not begin work on the second tonearm/cartridge combination until the system is all set up.

Ron Resnick · Apr 16, 2018

Mike Lavigne said:
. . . everyone who hears it in my room seems to really love it. . . .

+1

You converted me . . . so much so that I absolutely will investigate the GFS for my second cartridge. I think it has caused me to drop my Benz LP S idea and to tack toward a more neutral cartridge — GFS or Opus 1 — for my second cartridge.

miniguy · Apr 16, 2018

You guys might want to take a look at the comments about the Top Wing carts on AE.

http://audioexotics.hk/forum/#/disc...feat-of-achievement-by-koichi-san-of-top-wing

bonzo75 · Apr 17, 2018

Compared the top wing red sparrow to two Allaerts models, a modded EMT, koetsu urushi over the weekend through a custom SS current phono using a Schroeder CB arm. Want to repeat it using the Thrax phono but the trip will have to wait

Ron Resnick · Apr 17, 2018

miniguy said:
You guys might want to take a look at the comments about the Top Wing carts on AE.

http://audioexotics.hk/forum/#/disc...feat-of-achievement-by-koichi-san-of-top-wing

What is this Blue Dragon cartridge?

Here is a description:

https://www.stereo.net.au/news/top-wing-handmade-cartridges-now-available

It is ultra low output.

http://topwing.jp

miniguy · Apr 17, 2018

Here’s the WBF thread on the Top Wing carts posted in Feb.
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?24848-Top-Wing-Seiryu-arrives-at-Believe-High-Fidelity

miniguy · Apr 17, 2018

Ron Resnick said:
What is this Blue Dragon cartridge?

Here is a description:

https://www.stereo.net.au/news/top-wing-handmade-cartridges-now-available

It is ultra low output.

http://topwing.jp

I would rather call it simply low output. Ultra low output would be something like the Audio Note IO-M: 0.12 mv @5 cm/sec

jfrech · Apr 17, 2018

Ron Resnick said:
Very interesting, thank you. Have you ever auditioned the Air Tight Opus 1?

I've heard it, but not in my system. It's very very good also.

gian60 · Apr 17, 2018

i listen Red Sparrow in Milan Show with Vertere,Thrax and Wilson Benesch,and this cartridge impress me a lot.
I know very well this speaker,my friend is distributor,and sound was very fast,transparent with a lot of details and body

I am wayting Tang report end of this week.

dminches · Apr 17, 2018

Needle doctor's current price on this is $16k.

Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement v2

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