Anyone heard the X-quisite Cartridge from Thales?

shakti

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Micha Huber, the founder of Thales, has done created the next Produkt to complete his analogue range, starting from Tonearms over to turntables and now offering 3 new cartridges.

The first impressions I heard from a friend were very promising, so I am looking for some more listening stories to judge, If I might add one into my Carts collection.

https://www.x-quisite.ch/cartridges/x-quisite-st
 

spiritofmusic

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Juergen, I'm afraid I had to laugh at the ad blurb on the AE Forum site...finest gold wires stored for centuries in an special brass bell...or some such similar pretentious rubbish.
Just building up the "justification" for the price, which because it hasn't been revealed, must be sky high.
It's made for the AE stable, expect nothing less.
 
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shakti

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The AE exclusive version is , as expected, not in the official product offering.

RRP (depending in the markt) are in the current range for premium Cartridges.

X-quisite ST around 13.000,- eur

X-quisite CA around 7.000,- eur
 
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nickif

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I've been to AE showroom often lately during the COVID-19 and maybe I can share some of my thoughts.

There are two vinyl setups in the showroom 1, Hartvig statement turntable + Thales statement arm + Xquisite ST; 2, Da Vinci EQ turntable + Durand Tosca arm + fuuga; other components of the system are top of the line as usual: Robert Koda K15ex pre, Robert Koda K160 mono amps, Zanden 1200s phono, Gobel Divin Speakers, tripoint troy elite etc...

Both setups perform at the top level while the fuuga sounds fluid and saturated and the Xquisite just pours out crazy amount of details in a pleasant way. For vocal/jazz I like fuuga more as it's a bit more engaging; for classical I'd go for Xquisite as every detail counts.

Xquisite might be the most detailed cart I've ever heard.
 
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howiebrou

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I've been to AE showroom often lately during the COVID-19 and maybe I can share some of my thoughts.

There are two vinyl setups in the showroom 1, Hartvig statement turntable + Thales statement arm + Xquisite ST; 2, Da Vinci EQ turntable + Durand Tosca arm + fuuga; other components of the system are top of the line as usual: Robert Koda K15ex pre, Robert Koda K160 mono amps, Zanden 1200s phono, Gobel Divin Speakers, tripoint troy elite etc...

Both setups perform at the top level while the fuuga sounds fluid and saturated and the Xquisite just pours out crazy amount of details in a pleasant way. For vocal/jazz I like fuuga more as it's a bit more engaging; for classical I'd go for Xquisite as every detail counts.

Xquisite might be the most detailed cart I've ever heard.

Have you managed to compare the Xquisite with the VDH Master Signature yet?
 

iaxel

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Arrived a few weeks ago (still breaking-in).
Very impressive so far.
Extreme dynamics, very detailed, extremely low distortion.
Nothing like any VdH I’ve heard.
A different animal.
 

shakti

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bonzo75

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How is it different from the EMT cart they are modding
 

shakti

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Some German recommended retail prices are announced:

X-Quisite CA : 8700 eur
(Copper coils, alloy body)

X-Quisite ST : 12000 eur
(Silver coils, titanium body)

X-Quisite GT : 13500 eur
(Gold coils (titanium body)
 
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shakti

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iaxel

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Do you use the GT or the ST version?
ST. According to Micha (Huber), the GT is made specifically for a HK dealer (Audio Exotics).
 
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iaxel

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How is it different from the EMT cart they are modding
Very different. It's a completely new design.
Sounds nothing like the EMTs I've heard.
 
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shakti

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bonzo75

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Iaxel, when you say it is different from the vdh, did you like the vdh Stradivarius, or did it not work for you?
 

iaxel

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iaxel

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Iaxel, when you say it is different from the vdh, did you like the vdh Stradivarius, or did it not work for you?
I have not auditioned the VdH Stad in my system. I only tried the Colibri (XGP IIRC).
Back then, I couldn't get it to work properly in my setup. It was very sibilant and bright sounding. As well as being extremely finicky with tracking.
 
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shakti

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shakti

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iaxel

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Looks like, that GT body is the same as ST (both Titanium) and the HK GT EE is bronze body.
I think I would have gone with the ST, even if the GT was offered to me back then.
But it would be interesting to listen to them both.
 
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