The review is a big joke comparing 3 TT based on memories & other people systems . I have heard the Kronos Pro . It's great for its price point & it certainly didn't whack the AFO. Good but certainly not better . Well I m keeping my AFO
A praising short review on Kronos Pro turntable
- Thread starter CKKeung
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The review is a big joke comparing 3 TT based on memories & other people systems . I have heard the Kronos Pro . It's great for its price point & it certainly didn't whack the AFO. Good but certainly not better . Well I m keeping my AFO
To quote the review , " Now we’re talking a turntable that will turn your records into reel-to-reel tapes. It will do that.”
I dare to challenge that it's no where near my Studer A80 with stock electronic costing euro 5k+ & connected to my cheapest 5m XLR cables connected to XLR -Lemo adapters. If it's even near to it , I will buy the Kronos Pro at full retail price . Such review do more harm to the brand than to promote it
I dare to challenge that it's no where near my Studer A80 with stock electronic costing euro 5k+ & connected to my cheapest 5m XLR cables connected to XLR -Lemo adapters. If it's even near to it , I will buy the Kronos Pro at full retail price . Such review do more harm to the brand than to promote it
As guys on this forum will know, I've been seriously considering getting into 15ips tape, and of course I've been aware of the stellar, transcendental SQ touted for tape. I have no reason to disbelieve. It seems as pointless to say the Kronos turns lp replay into tape replay as it does to say the current king of analogue feel DACs, the GG, turns dsd into vinyl.
The difference between great lp and tape, is probably of an order similar to the difference btwn the best digital and lp.
Let's just be happy w/stellar playback on the GG, on the best tts, and on the best tape machines, and not mix the picture.
And while we're at it re "my tt is better than that tt", my $7k Trans Fi Salvation tt and Terminator T3Pro arm, has the measure of the 4x pricier SME 20/V and TW Acustic AC3/Graham.
The difference between great lp and tape, is probably of an order similar to the difference btwn the best digital and lp.
Let's just be happy w/stellar playback on the GG, on the best tts, and on the best tape machines, and not mix the picture.
And while we're at it re "my tt is better than that tt", my $7k Trans Fi Salvation tt and Terminator T3Pro arm, has the measure of the 4x pricier SME 20/V and TW Acustic AC3/Graham.
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I agree that it's impossible to compare turntables without having them both in your system (preferably at the same time). I have no idea which turntable mentioned here is the best and will never know for this reason.
I'm sure none of them sounds as good as tape but that each one sounds great.
I'm sure none of them sounds as good as tape but that each one sounds great.
Song
You make an interesting point. Incidentally, in the context of your system how does R2R compare with the AFO ? One of my regrets is that I never got around to listening to your R2R when I came visiting
Cheers
Pradeep
Christian/Rockitman claims his modded RS Technics 1500 has the beating of his AFO.
Spirit
Thanks. Even if it's a close call it's good enough for me given the huge difference in software costs :b
Pradeep
You are welcome to visit if you around the area. Upgraded my Vitus masterpiece stereo to Vitus Masterpiece Mono. Was using A810 when you dropped by . Upgraded to Studer A80
AFS + Axiom tonearm + Koetsu coral stone platinum + Vitus masterpiece phono is no where near my studer A80 with stock electronic & my cheapest 5m XLR cable with Lemo/Xlr adapter costing probably 5% of my analog set up. Comparing original Patricia barber Premonition LP & reel to reel Patricia Barber from Premonition , the analog sounded broken . I m not sure any analog set up can compete with Studer A80 with external preamp
Wow. I can't imagine the AFO sounding broken. I was very fortunate to hear Rockitman's system once. His tape is supposedly very good though I do not know the specifics. I remember his analog sounding excellent and in comparison to his tape set up, it did not sound to me to be anything close to broken. In fact, the two times that I have heard R2R directly compared to analog, it sounded about the same in one system, and actually worse than the analog in another system. I was surprised after reading so many glowing reports about the sound of R2R being vastly superior to everything else.
I would some day love to directly compare a direct to disk 45 RPM LP of the same song to a tape. In Christian's system, I did bring a direct to disk 45 of a solo piano and it sounded tremendous. The tapes were of different music.
I do find the comment in the review of the Kronos that this turntable makes all LPs sound like master tapes, or something like that, a bit over the top. Christian's AFO, arm and cartridge analog front end is the quietest vinyl reproduction that I have ever heard. And I did not hear tape hiss.
Perhaps someone can do a Studer A80/Kronos Pro comparison.
Peter , when I said the AFO sounded broken it's just a fig of speech in comparison to R2R. In doing comparison , the quality of the LP/Tape is important & to me , with both original Patricia barber Cafe Blue LP & R2R it's no comparison . Not even near & I don't think I have an inferior analog set up and I have demoed it many times to some of my friends . Even Dato Danon of Analog Fellowship FB group, who is highly praised for his analog rig admitted nothing come near to my Studer A80 , not his Kronos pro , not his AFO & not his Clearaudio Statement singing thru Gryphon Pendragon
By itself I m pretty happy with my analog set up & in fact , that's my " go to " set up if I want to enjoy music . R2R tapes are just too pricey
By itself I m pretty happy with my analog set up & in fact , that's my " go to " set up if I want to enjoy music . R2R tapes are just too pricey
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Oh, I understood it as such and used it in the same sense. I know you did not mean that it was literally broken, as if it could not hold proper speed or had some audible rattle.
Just the other day, one guy said of my friend's phono that another phono amp would make his sound "broken". Myles Astor wrote that hearing the Magico S7 at teh factory made his S5 in his system sound broken. Yes, it is a figure of speech which I think just conveys a wide gap in sound quality between two components.
I've been meaning to do a test the next time I listen to my friend's Kronos Pro. I would like to see if I can hear a difference in sound quality if I remove the belt from the lower platter preventing it from spinning. That is, after all, the main design feature of Kronos turntables. I'm sure this test could be controlled by one person so the other who is listening would not know if both platters are spinning or not. That would be interesting.
In comparison , I think I still prefer AFO . However bear in mind Kronos pro cost less than 1/2 price in USA
It never ceases to amaze me how much can be done to improve the LP12.
Bamboo plinths are said to make a big improvement .
For a table that was based on the engineering concept of the original AR table(costing about $100.00)in it's day,it's come a long way from it's humble beginnings.
But it's still based on that original design concept.
The Kronos is a new design concept as far as I know.
Who knows how many upgrades there will be down the road for it.
The point is things change as technology changes.
Pretty soon you run out of ideas and have to come up with something entirely new.
Bamboo plinths are said to make a big improvement .
For a table that was based on the engineering concept of the original AR table(costing about $100.00)in it's day,it's come a long way from it's humble beginnings.
But it's still based on that original design concept.
The Kronos is a new design concept as far as I know.
Who knows how many upgrades there will be down the road for it.
The point is things change as technology changes.
Pretty soon you run out of ideas and have to come up with something entirely new.
IMO, the fact that the Linn has managed to get where it is currently, is a testament to its original engineering concept. Too many times in this hobby, we assume that the latest technology is the greatest. IME, that is not always correct.
As to the Booplinth (the name of the bamboo plinth you are referencing), I have not heard it, but then again, I am very open to be it being a nice upgrade. As I said before, IF you haven't heard the latest upgraded version of
the LP12, then you really have not heard what the table can do.
It seems he did it.
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2015/12/kronos-pro-limited-production-turntable.html
There is now a new WTB forum thread over his recent and more detailed review.
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