Durand Kairos. . .

MylesBAstor

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jazdoc

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http://durand-tonearms.com/Kairos/thekairos.html



The Kairos™ is our newest model. It will be introduced for the first time at the 2014 High-End Audio show in Munich (Germany), then will be presented to the US customers at T.H.E. Show at Newport Beach (May 30-June 1, 2014). See our section News for more details on these shows.

The Kairos™ offers all the adjustments needed to explore its full potential: VTA is adjusted with a convenient threaded collar which raises or lowers the whole bearing assembly; the VTF can be modified in fine increments; and, as in the case with the Talea™, the azimuth can be very easily adjusted on-the-fly, by turning a screw located under the main plate. Anti-skating is of course available, and can be defeated with a simple operation.

For the first time in our tonearms, we offer with the Kairos™ the option to use your own cable if you feel inclined to, and we introduce a unique feature to that effect: a DIN plug integrated in the base of the arm, to minimize the transmission of vibrations to the phono cable. The arm is sold without cable, but we offer separately a dedicated phono cable (DIN-RCA or DIN-XLR), developed specially for the Kairos™.

Faithful to our usual design philosophy, the Kairos™ is based on the simplest design and the greatest attention to the types of materials involved in the assembly, so as to guarantee maximum quality of reproduction. For the very first time in our products, the armwand is made of a specially developed blend of composite materials. The result of a long period of development, we are delighted to offer this technology, and are confident in the tonearm’s abilities to deliver far beyond its price point.

It's a killer arm for the money.
 

PeterA

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It's very interesting that Durand seems to be moving away from wooden arm wands. I love the elegance of the design. It sees to share some design elements with the Telos, or looks to be descended from that arm and quite different from the offset tower type of the Talea. If the Talea remains in the line up, is this new Kairos arm above it or below it?

The departure from wood reminds me of what happened at Magico.
 

jazdoc

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My understanding is that both the wood and composite will continue to be offered for the Telos. The new Kairos will be a composite arm wand.

Peter, you are correct, the Kairos incorporates many of the design elements of the Telos, including the constrained unipivot design. I share your enthusiasm for the aesthetics...
 

mep

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At least the headshell offset appears to be correct this time.
 

dmnc02

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MylesBAstor

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jazdoc

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I believe the anticipated MSRP is $6,450. I will update when confirmed. My impression was that pricing will be announced at the debut in Munich.
 
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mep

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I believe the anticipated MSRP is $6,200. I will update when confirmed. My impression was that pricing will be announced at the debut in Munich.

And that would be without the tonearm cable. How much for the Durand cable? Is it going to come in the fancy museum quality display box like the other Durand arms?
 

jazdoc

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My understanding is that the packaging will be more austere. Don't know the cost of the cable but obviously you are free to pick and choose. If you are a 'cable denier', Radio Shack has you covered ;)
 

mep

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My understanding is that the packaging will be more austere. Don't know the cost of the cable but obviously you are free to pick and choose. If you are a 'cable denier', Radio Shack has you covered ;)

I'm not a cable denier and last I knew, Rat Shack doesn't sell tonearm cables. If this new arm is going to sell for around the price you suggested, I'm not surprised that the packaging will be more "austere." The beautiful wooden box that the higher priced Durand arms come in have to add a minimum of $1k to the price of the arm. What is the length of the new arm?
 

jazdoc

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Don't know the tonearm length. My wife would comment that I tend to overestimate. Might be worth checking out the website....
 

mep

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Apr 20, 2010
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Don't know the tonearm length. My wife would comment that I tend to overestimate. Might be worth checking out the website....

Now that's funny. I did go to the website and it doesn't say what length the arm is. I'm guessing 9"-10."
 

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