Etsuro Gold cartridges use a sapphire top cartridge mounting plate. whatever it's doing i'm liking.
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Kuzma SAFIR 9
- Thread starter Marcus
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I ordered one Safir 12 with internal wires for DaVa, delivery will be in September, will report back.
for all safir owners I am unsure what RCA plugs tend to be installed by sellers but since replacing the KLEI I got (along with Kondo wire) with the latest Furutech RCA i almost think a letter should be sent to all safir owners saying that they should check their RCAs because the wrong ones will certainly limit what the Safir is capable of. the Klei's simplified, bloated and thickened.
I wouldn’t recommend using WBT, KLEI, or the original Eichmann silver RCA connectors with Kondo cables. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend using those silver connectors with any cable at all (I simply don’t like their sound). Since original Kondo RCA connectors are impossible to source, I believe the best option is to use WBT gold-plated copper connectors.
I had great results with Audio Consulting cryogenic silver cables paired with Furutech CF-126 RCA plugs, but I’m not sure if they would be a good match for Kondo cables.
The combination of the Verdier/Safir is suboptimal because the turntable's springs are not designed to keep it permanently exactly horizontal. The Safir must be stable and perfectly aligned horizontally, otherwise it won't work! The only way to solve this is to deactivate the springs, but this robs it of its sonic soul. I know what I'm talking about, I gave up on this combination!
what did you do @phoni in order to deal with this? did you stick with la platine and a different tonearm or?
i do find whenever i put the platine on rigid footers that it loses something. having said that so many changes since i last tried. i might give it another shot. i agree the safir is much better when it is perfectly horizontal.
i will say though that perhaps it is sub-optimal but overall still pretty good. i guess i would need a good point of comparison to be aware of it.
i do find whenever i put the platine on rigid footers that it loses something. having said that so many changes since i last tried. i might give it another shot. i agree the safir is much better when it is perfectly horizontal.
i will say though that perhaps it is sub-optimal but overall still pretty good. i guess i would need a good point of comparison to be aware of it.
I have also used the Safir / Verdier combo, but not for an extended period of time! When you deactivated the Verdier’s springs, did you use any other form of suspension, such as a Vibraplane or Active Antivibration platform etc? If not, could this “robs it of its sonic soul” be the result of vibration getting through to the arm and cartridge? Thanks
What about AN Uk?
Audio Note AN-CS RCA Chassis Mount Socket Red
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You noticed the loss of sound quality when you removed the springs, great! In the end, I abandoned this combination and installed the 14-inch 4-point instead of the Safir. This combination works wonderfully and does justice to the original spring system of the Platine Verdier.
My turntable is driven by a monofilament thread. You have to experiment with the thread tension, it only needs to be tight enough to prevent from slipping.
I hope I was able to help you!
My turntable is driven by a monofilament thread. You have to experiment with the thread tension, it only needs to be tight enough to prevent from slipping.
I hope I was able to help you!
It will probably be ok.What about AN Uk?
Audio Note AN-CS RCA Chassis Mount Socket Red
Parts ConneXion offers 25,000+ high-end DIY audio parts, from capacitors to vacuum tubes. Get premium components, expert support & fast worldwide shipping!
I don’t see any problem with that, as the Verdier doesn’t moves around and tumble all the time, but hopefully it is adjusted in that way, that the platter and then the tonearm is exactly horizontal when everything is ready to play an LP, so loaded with LP, puck, etc.
After that the movement is not relevant, just when you knock your table or during earthquakes.
Every tonearm should operate under horizontal circumstances, the SAFIR is not more specific than other tonearms. Isn’t it?
Phoni, how many degrees of levelment error from the horizontal have you during playing LPs?? 0,1? 0,01? Is it relevant? Why moves your Verdier during LP playback??
A have a Platine Verdier and had two Nouvelle Platine Verdiers in the past, I know them well, and I intend to try a SAFIR in the future.
After that the movement is not relevant, just when you knock your table or during earthquakes.
Every tonearm should operate under horizontal circumstances, the SAFIR is not more specific than other tonearms. Isn’t it?
Phoni, how many degrees of levelment error from the horizontal have you during playing LPs?? 0,1? 0,01? Is it relevant? Why moves your Verdier during LP playback??
A have a Platine Verdier and had two Nouvelle Platine Verdiers in the past, I know them well, and I intend to try a SAFIR in the future.
i did put the platine on rigid footers. the motor is also on rigid footers. i am v greatful to you @phoni because suddenly i was in heaven! sound improved tremendously. i think when i had used the rigid footers previously my platine wasn't on air but was still in contact with bearing.
anyway this time, with double looped silk thread (which is slightly forgiving i would say but certainly not stretchy like rubber or polyester), the Wow fell away to smallest levels ever seen (shaknspin2) and the sound was quite phenomenal. order of magnitude quieter.
so i must demur and say that i think the platine/safir combo is, with rigid footers for both motor and table, absolutely the best thing i've heard.
anyway this time, with double looped silk thread (which is slightly forgiving i would say but certainly not stretchy like rubber or polyester), the Wow fell away to smallest levels ever seen (shaknspin2) and the sound was quite phenomenal. order of magnitude quieter.
so i must demur and say that i think the platine/safir combo is, with rigid footers for both motor and table, absolutely the best thing i've heard.
Probably the problem was not an issue of the SAFIR on a Verdier with spring-loaded feets, but maybe you hear a better performance with rigid coupling of motor and platter, as you place the motor AND player on rigid feets.
So I question again, if the problem is really a specific SAFIR problem on a springloaded turntable, or maybe just the change of other circumstances that result in better or worse performance.
So I question again, if the problem is really a specific SAFIR problem on a springloaded turntable, or maybe just the change of other circumstances that result in better or worse performance.
Hi Birdwatcher,
the only spring-loaded turntable I know of that works with the SAFIR is the Kuzma Stabi M! Grab a very precise and light spirit level, place it on the chassis of the Verdier and start the drive. The drive pulls the chassis toward the motor. Press it lightly into the springs and you will see that it has a different level!
Back to the SAFIR:
Due to its high effective mass, this tonearm must be aligned absolutely horizontally. Franc Kuzma will explain to you that this requirement is essential, otherwise it will not work. If you own a SAFIR, remove it and check its horizontal alignment with a high-precision spirit level. Even the smallest deviation will prevent the SAFIR from working properly, and a Verdier in its original condition cannot meet these conditions!
the only spring-loaded turntable I know of that works with the SAFIR is the Kuzma Stabi M! Grab a very precise and light spirit level, place it on the chassis of the Verdier and start the drive. The drive pulls the chassis toward the motor. Press it lightly into the springs and you will see that it has a different level!
Back to the SAFIR:
Due to its high effective mass, this tonearm must be aligned absolutely horizontally. Franc Kuzma will explain to you that this requirement is essential, otherwise it will not work. If you own a SAFIR, remove it and check its horizontal alignment with a high-precision spirit level. Even the smallest deviation will prevent the SAFIR from working properly, and a Verdier in its original condition cannot meet these conditions!
@phoni certainly when i levelled the Safir on the garrard 401 i used to use, i was very pleasantly surprised with the improvement. And the recommendation had come from Kuzma (my dealer had just visited the factory for some product event). So I do agree with you - Safir needs to be flat for best performance.
…yes, but after everything is moving, the changes are so little, that i doubt it is relevant.
Of course one has to adjust the system in that way, that during operation everything is leveled.
But I have never used or tried or heard it, so my arguments are just theoretical, and you have tried it. So maybe you are right.
Maybe another question: has someone tried the SAFIR on a Brinkmann Taurus or Balance? Could be an optical and maybe even sonically good match, and they are rock solid, too.
Balance and Safir -sonically works extremely well.
I know people that love the Verdier we have several of them in our audio group- I would say that we have equal opinions amongst that group that have abandoned the springs for hard coupling ---- and those that maintain the very same springs. Stability vs Soul perhaps in each execution.
I know people that love the Verdier we have several of them in our audio group- I would say that we have equal opinions amongst that group that have abandoned the springs for hard coupling ---- and those that maintain the very same springs. Stability vs Soul perhaps in each execution.
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to me the la platine sounds more charming with less noise so whatever achieves that is good. in contrasting firm footers versus la platine feet who knows when the feet were last lubricated/serviced. to me on the la platine feet it is less precise and less dynamic and fuzzier but i am sure in some installations its own feet are preferable.
re: safir i aim to swap out the safir and install a fr64s soon in order to try and get a feel for whether or not the safir is at 100% on la platine. thought i might also try the safir back on the garrard 401.
re: safir i aim to swap out the safir and install a fr64s soon in order to try and get a feel for whether or not the safir is at 100% on la platine. thought i might also try the safir back on the garrard 401.
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