EMIA SUT's---both silver and copper 120 L

Mike Lavigne · Jun 16, 2020

Tango said:
That really sounds like a great tt with just varied degree of strengths and no weaknesses. Do you now use the EMIA across all your tts?

right now i only have one Etsuro Gold and one EMIA Silver SUT. so i have to switch them from the CS Port tt to the Saskia. but there are -2- 40db MM inputs on the CS Port phono, so in the future we will see where this goes. i can use the internal CS Port phono 63db input for my Miyajima labs Premium Be mono if i like. i also have an Ortofon MC Anna i can use on that 63db input.

right now my mono and the GFS are plugged into the darTZeel phono inputs.

regarding the Saskia, it has it's own character, which i'd say is tonal density, energetic idler flow, and a focused 'right-sized' sound stage. like a really 'tight' group of musicians. are any of those attributes 'weaknesses'? i doubt it. where the Saskia becomes different than other idlers i think is the designer's efforts to get it to be like a belt drive in it's ability to dig deep for nuance......which takes very low noise. it's fundamentally that way from the ground up, not just super-tweaked to rise above it's origins. and it weighs 220 pounds.

if you contrast it with the CS Port LFT1 with the linear tracker, the CS Port has this extreme delicacy and scale, a majesty and mystique and expansive musical view. so they are two views. i appreciate both and can get sucked into both. it's just that i've spent more time with the CS Port up to now and maybe had not really appreciated just how 'interesting' the Saskia was until now.

Mike Lavigne · Jun 16, 2020

spiritofmusic said:
Mike, fantastic. Is that option of a Stacore under the Saskia a possibility? If ever a tt was made for the Stacore, Saskia is it. Just that continuity of slate for a start.

Marc,

i have thought through the Stacore Saskia option; and i don't see it happening. first, the money. then; it would raise the height above what is comfortable and perfect now, or require me to cut down the rack legs and compromise gear beneath. finally; i just love the synergy of the performance i hear now and really don't want it to change, however left brain logical it might be that it would improve things. i want nothing to change.

agree completely with your perspective of the slate on slate and all that. just happy, happy as it is.

spiritofmusic · Jun 16, 2020

Sure Mike. It's been so stellar for my direct rim drive that it feels like the perfect match. One for the "pending" tray, maybe?
But as you say, if it ain't broke...
For me, it's been a uniquely appropriate solution for the problem I had.

Are we to take it that this lack of noise from the Saskia idler has elevated its previous ranking of just below the all-round magic of the CS Port to much more alongside it, just a different flavour?

Mike Lavigne · Jun 16, 2020

spiritofmusic said:
Are we to take it that this lack of noise from the Saskia idler has elevated its previous ranking of just below the all-round magic of the CS Port to much more alongside it, just a different flavour?

i suppose yes. if i had to choose one of them, right now i could not.

the Saskia model two could be (mostly would be) the only turntable in a top level system and fully deliver 100% of the goods. it has it's own character, and other turntables have theirs, but it has no area where it get's in the way of the music.

Bobvin · Jun 16, 2020

Mike Lavigne said:
it seems that the CS Port phono might be a giant killer. i'm really happy with it.

it is super low noise, very grainless, liquid, and battery powered. it uses a single tube per channel.......so it has that sense of tubes but is not at all tubey sounding. very linear and balanced sound. it compliments the space, presence and delicacy of the CS Port belt drive/air bearing/linear tracker, and the more focused and punchy Saskia model two 'uber' idler equally well. it is a serious piece of kit.

the designer/major-domo of CS Port was the head of design and ran an industrial power supply company for many years prior to starting CS Port.

Seems the tube in the CSPort phono is the same as that used in the Ypsilon, a SIEMENS C3g. I'd love to add just a little tube magic to my phonostage, why I had initially looked at the Ypsilon before learning it wasn't going to work well with the Benz LPS (without additional purchase expenses) due to the Benz internal impedance. So sticking with my Einstein phono stage for now, dreaming of Etsuro.

spiritofmusic · Jun 16, 2020

Mike Lavigne said:
i suppose yes. if i had to choose one of them, right now i could not.

the Saskia model two could be (mostly would be) the only turntable in a top level system and fully deliver 100% of the goods. it has it's own character, and other turntables have theirs, but it has no area where it get's in the way of the music.

Well Mike, it's managed to obviate the one thing idlers can be reasonably criticised over, noise/rumble that serves to obscure low level detail.

Kinn · Jun 5, 2021

Hi Guys, I’d always been curious about SUT but have not gotten much positive feedback. Stumble onto this thread, read about Mike’s experience, then read up as much on Dave Slagle as I can and wrote him an email for further queries. First impression I got, bold, huge dynamics, weighty sound and involving. Am hearing the A95 at its optimum performance now. Being my first SUT, I ordered a Cu unit and now I cannot imagine what I’m missing with an Ag unit. Thanks Mike for his detail experience.

Stay safe and enjoy your music!

Tango · Jun 5, 2021

Mike Lavigne said:
regarding the Saskia, it has it's own character, which i'd say is tonal density, energetic idler flow, and a focused 'right-sized' sound stage. like a really 'tight' group of musicians. are any of those attributes 'weaknesses'? i doubt it. where the Saskia becomes different than other idlers i think is the designer's efforts to get it to be like a belt drive in it's ability to dig deep for nuance......which takes very low noise. it's fundamentally that way from the ground up, not just super-tweaked to rise above it's origins. and it weighs 220 pounds.

Sound like a really unique idler tt. Right-sized while doing nuance. Not that I would expect to have that level of nuance of the CS Port but given you have had quite a few idlers and other famous tts in the past, saying so here must be more than something. Very fortunate to own one Mike.

Best regards,
Tang

Lagonda · Jun 6, 2021

Tango said:
Sound like a really unique idler tt. Right-sized while doing nuance. Not that I would expect to have that level of nuance of the CS Port but given you have had quite a few idlers and other famous tts in the past, saying so here must be more than something. Very fortunate to own one Mike.

Best regards,
Tang

It even uses the same motor as your favorite TT, Tango !

bonzo75 · Jun 6, 2021

Tango said:
Sound like a really unique idler tt. Right-sized while doing nuance. Not that I would expect to have that level of nuance of the CS Port but given you have had quite a few idlers and other famous tts in the past, saying so here must be more than something. Very fortunate to own one Mike.

Best regards,
Tang

Tang was off but now that he is back on and two tables short his itch is resurfacing

Lagonda · Jun 6, 2021

bonzo75 said:
Tang was off but now that he is back on and two tables short his itch is resurfacing

David has a Big Daddy American Sound coming out soon !

Mike Lavigne · Jun 6, 2021

Tango said:
Sound like a really unique idler tt. Right-sized while doing nuance. Not that I would expect to have that level of nuance of the CS Port but given you have had quite a few idlers and other famous tts in the past, saying so here must be more than something. Very fortunate to own one Mike.

Best regards,
Tang

Tang,

thank you. i love my Saskia. and visitors gravitate toward the Saskia. it's easy to fall in love with it's vibe. more right brain.

my only other idler in my own system was the Dobbins Garrard 301 w/Loricraft power supply. that one left a yearning for what it did for the connection to the music......so it has been a touchpoint in my postings since. it was crude in some ways, but in other ways perfect. the Saskia completes what the Garrard starts, adding a hint of the authority and solidity of the Rockport, low noise of the NVS, and then sets the standard for image density and focus.....in my experience. bass articulation and foundation without overhang is off the charts. it has musically significant heft.

in direct comparison, the CS Port does provide more scale, stage separation, inner nuance and delicacy, but it might be at the peak level of those attributes, as a high mass string drive with an air bearing and linear tracker should. the Saskia is very good at nuance and delicacy too, just not tip top. i enjoy the two as counterpoints. i likely play the CS Port 60%, the Saskia 40%. which is more a reflection of my musical leanings than preference.

i view the Saskia and 927 each as unique turntables. from reading about yours, maybe the 927 is more extreme, the Saskia more an all around choice.

best regards,

Mike

spiritofmusic · Jun 6, 2021

Stealers Wheel "Saskia to the right of you, CS Port to the left..."

dionisofun · Jul 17, 2022

I'm a little confused by the differences between the EMIA suts and the Intact Audio suts, as both are designed by Dave Slagle.

Mike Lavigne · Jul 17, 2022

dionisofun said:
I'm a little confused by the differences between the EMIA suts and the Intact Audio suts, as both are designed by Dave Slagle.

i don't really know. except that Dave Slagle built SUT's prior to collaborating with Jeffrey Jackson starting EMIA.

maybe the EMIA SUT's have a different distinctive case work ethos? not seen the Intact Audio SUT chassis.

Dave might still offer SUT's which are Intact Audio only, and not EMIA. but i don't know about that myself. you would likely need to contact Dave to find out.

dionisofun · Jul 17, 2022

Mike Lavigne said:
i don't really know. except that Dave Slagle built SUT's prior to collaborating with Jeffrey Jackson starting EMIA.

maybe the EMIA SUT's have a different distinctive case work ethos? not seen the Intact Audio SUT chassis.

Dave might still offer SUT's which are Intact Audio only, and not EMIA. but i don't know about that myself. you would likely need to contact Dave to find out.

There is also an important price difference between both suts:

Intact Audio Sut Cooper version : $2.250
Emia Sut Cooper version: $3375

Intact Audio Sut Silver version: $4.500
Emia Sut Silver version: $6000

bazelio · Jul 17, 2022

dionisofun said:
There is also an important price difference between both suts:

Intact Audio Cooper version : $2.250
Emia Cooper version: $3375

Intact Audio Silver version: $4.500
Emia Silver version: $6000

That's interesting. Maybe @dave slagle will see this and explain the distinction between them.

dionisofun · Jul 19, 2022

bazelio said:
That's interesting. Maybe @dave slagle will see this and explain the distinction between them.

I sent an email to Dave who gave the following answer to my question:

"The transformers are identical, the only difference is the cost due to the packaging and after sale support. We will credit 70% of the purchase price of the EM/IA units towards a new unit in the event your cartridge parameters / needs change in the future. Dave"

Maril555 · Jul 19, 2022

dionisofun said:
I sent an email to Dave who gave the following answer to my question:

"The transformers are identical, the only difference is the cost due to the packaging and after sale support. We will credit 70% of the purchase price of the EM/IA units towards a new unit in the event your cartridge parameters / needs change in the future. Dave"

Kind of a sideways question for the owners of EMIA SUTs:
Have you ever had hum with EMIA, as SUTs in general are susceptible to? And what cables do you use from SUT to phono? Design, construction, shielding, length, etc.?

Solypsa · Jul 19, 2022

Maril555 said:
Kind of a sideways question for the owners of EMIA SUTs:
Have you ever had hum with EMIA, as SUTs in general are susceptible to? And what cables do you use from SUT to phono? Design, construction, shielding, length, etc.?

When it comes to cabling you want lowest capacitance and shielded ( which raises capacitance ). Pro cables at least document what you are dealing with

. Gotham, Klotz, Belden ..

Maybe some other cables sound better but you wont know why.

EMIA SUT's---both silver and copper 120 L

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