I have the external PS and the vacuum platter. A friend also has one (after lusting for mine). He managed to find the cast iron cradle that brings the whole thing to 60kg!
First Sounds: Grand Prix Audio Monaco 2.0
- Thread starter tima
- Start date
Oh my word - what a lovely deck. Congratulations.
Edit: @Maurits - I will be interested to read your thoughts on how your new Monaco compares with your ^ Basis.
Happy listening.
Last edited:
I know motor control system is bi-directional servo from JVC...I am not sure the motor is from Micro because it is coreless, brushless and slotless and I don’t think Micro ever made anything like that for their TTS.
A Monaco is out of my budget as well!
Sorry - I thought I had read earlier you had just bought one. It must have been another member. I didn't check. There goes that failing memory of mine again....
Ahhh - it was @Maurits - have edited the above post to ask how it compares to his Basis.
Last edited:
Yea Fremer's original review may have been prejudicial perhaps but I think another factory is at play. Lack of size and bling. Lot's of audiophiles like large massive turntables and lots like bling. the Monaco is neither of them, instead concentrates on audio quality.
I had the original Monaco at home with Tri-Planar tonearm for about 3 months when I was baby sitting for a friend. Sound wise it was very similar sounding to my Pioneer Exclusive P3 DD table, especially with its speed and continuous in the bass. proper speed control has a lot to do with that.
The only thing I did not like was the clamp system was part of the design and really something you had to use to get the best out of the design - for me it was a bit of a pita to use. that may say more about me than the table
Interesting, I love the clamp system and think it's fantastic. But I came from a SME 20/2 with a similar screw down type of clamp, so I was already used to this style of clamping.
Yes, the v2.0's clamp offers repeatable accuracy. An LED lights briefly on the clamp when the specified pressure is reached. A small washer of variable durometer fits beneath the record according to record thickness/weight; this allows clamp pressure to stay constant across records. If you want to experiment or use a different pressure, the table comes with special tool that let's you adjust it. And the new clamp is updated with roller bearings, making spin down smooth. A relatively simple well engineered alternative to vacuum hold-down.
well, let me first say that I had the chance to buy a second hand Monaco and I could trade-in the Basis audio. It was perhaps a kind of a risk. But I'm so glad that I took it. It is one of my greatest purchase ever. I have it now for five days and can't stop playing vinyl. However I'm no longer able to compare the two tturntables directly. I can say that Monaco has a far langer sound image. You can look through the music and everything is in place. And it has lot more authority. That is my first impression for now. I had the basis audio for 5 years and like it a lot, but with Monaco there's no way back.
I hear the enthusiasm in your voice, Maurits. It's great to learn you took a risk with a used turntable and it paid off for you - you picked a good one! The Monaco will grow with you as your system continues to improve. Come back after a while with further impressions.
Congratulations !! I'll echo your comments when I moved from my SME 20/2. It was an amazing first impression that hasn't ended or waned for me. I've now had 3 different arms on mine over the years. 4-5 cartridges. The table is a fixture for years and years to come. What arm and cartridge are you using?
I have a Triplanar VII U2 with a Vandenhul Crimson cartridge. If you have some suggestion for cartridges that would be good matches for my Triplanar. Please let me know.
Congrats. A mate of mine Ian had a Basis Debut and bought a demo Monaco v1. He also said the Monaco was a lot better sounding.
Enjoy.
I had a few Lyra's on my Triplanar, with good results. I'm not familiar with your VdH to really comment on comparisons.
Triplanar with Lyra is a combination that you see a lot on the internet and I surely will try this soon. My VdH cartridge doesn't fit properly on the Triplanar. The body is too deep so that the cantilever is about 1mm to much forward.
I had the exact same issue with my vdH Colibri Master Sig and Triplanar. If you send it to van den Hul he will trim the top of the large wood body so that it fits. There is brief thread about this:
Triplanar Owners - help please
Dear All, I am trying to install a VDH colibri XGW on my Triplanar (my existing cart if a Lyra Kleos which is fine). Now when I adjust the overhang, I see that the VDH needs to be set far back in the head shell because the cantilever extends forwards a lot. Anyway - it requires it to be so...
www.whatsbestforum.com
Edit:
the problem
solved vy vdh
Last edited:
Tim, did you ever tried the Fuuga on the Triplanar arm?I had the exact same issue with my vdH Colibri Master Sig and Triplanar. If you send it to van den Hul he will trim the top of the large wood body so that it fits. There is brief thread about this:
Triplanar Owners - help please
Dear All, I am trying to install a VDH colibri XGW on my Triplanar (my existing cart if a Lyra Kleos which is fine). Now when I adjust the overhang, I see that the VDH needs to be set far back in the head shell because the cantilever extends forwards a lot. Anyway - it requires it to be so...
Edit:
the problem
View attachment 79215
solved vy vdh
View attachment 79216
Not that I recall. I bought the Fuuga specifically to use on the 4Point, where, with its low compliance, it works great. That doesn't say it cannot work on the Tri-Planar. Maybe I can remember to try it next time I have the Triplanar installed. It is a really nice cartridge.
The Fuuga weighs 15g and has a compliance of 7cu measured at 100Hz. This suggests medium to heavier arms. The standard compliance measurement is taken at 10Hz; Asian cartridge makers use 100Hz and there is not a straightforward conversion. A suggestion is to multiple the Asian cartridge figure by anywher between 1.5 and 2.0 - or so I've read. Using that factor to yield a compliance closer to 10+ moves the resonance into an acceptable range for a Tri-Planar+Fuuga combo. But that's theory - reality may warrant a trial before purchase. It may work fine.
Sorry - I have both yet no direct answer at this time.
Hi Tim,
Have you posted what you like about the 4-Point vs TriPlanar on the GP Monaco? I used to have the shorter TriPlanar and not the more recent carbon fiber/longer TriPlanar...
Thanks Tim for your splendid explanation. I fully understand and I agree that theory and reality may have other results. I have read lot of good things about the Fuuga, and it's on top of my wantlist. However I don't own a kuzma arm, so if it doesn't work I will have a problem. So that's why I haven't decided yet of buying a Fuuga or Lyra. We'll see.
Similar threads
 | Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator |  | Ron Resnick Site Co-Owner | Administrator |  | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |