Kuzma SAFIR 9

[Marcus]

Do you plan to use your CAR 60 with it.?

Yes, absolutely. A wonderful cartridge. I had Benz LP S on a second 4point 14 headshell but very rarely used it after I bought the CAR 60.

 

[bazelio]

Yes, absolutely. A wonderful cartridge. I had Benz LP S on a second 4point 14 headshell but very rarely used it after I bought the CAR 60.

Was your 4 point 14 a trade in on the Safir? Now that compelling evidence is surfacing around relatively high compliance carts working marvelously with high mass arms, I'm tempted to move to a 14 myself... As a baby step towards a Safir... Maybe.

 

[tima]

As a baby step towards a Safir... Maybe.

Just go for it !

 

[Marcus]

Was your 4 point 14 a trade in on the Safir?

No. Placed an ad and sold it in two days. This was the fastest sale in my life.

 

[bonzo75]

No. Placed an ad and sold it in two days. This was the fastest sale in my life.

Now congrats is really due in such cases

 

[bazelio]

Just go for it !

I'm not sold on 9" from an inner groove distortion perspective yet.

 

[wbass]

Was your 4 point 14 a trade in on the Safir? Now that compelling evidence is surfacing around relatively high compliance carts working marvelously with high mass arms, I'm tempted to move to a 14 myself... As a baby step towards a Safir... Maybe.

Is there new thinking about high-compliance carts/high-mass arms to read about?

I'm currently running a 4 Point 14 with a Kuzma CAR40. Probably needs some tweaking still. Might swap out or add a new cart in future.

 

[SOS]

I recently bought an Acoustical Systems - SMARTractor Alignment Tool and have now completed 3 set-ups using it. So simple and easier and more precise than my Feickert protractor. Highly recomend it. Also have decided to get a My Sonic Labs cartridge (when back in-stock). Trying to decide between either the Signature Gold or Signature Platinum. Any thoughts are most appreciated.

 

[bazelio]

Is there new thinking about high-compliance carts/high-mass arms to read about?

I'm currently running a 4 Point 14 with a Kuzma CAR40. Probably needs some tweaking still. Might swap out or add a new cart in future.

You could read the white paper. Lately, though, I've been playing with and measuring a few of the "famed" MM carts of yesteryear and they tend to have compliances of 25 or so. My tonearm mass is 18g and, do the math for 6-8gm cartridges plus 1gm or so for screws, I'm way out of the canonical resonance window. My conclusion thus far is that it doesn't matter. At least a few tonearm manufacturers seem to concur, though draw your own conclusions as you will...

 

[Solypsa]

Korf audio blog concluded same. At least where tonearm mass is higher than expected to be a perfect match.

Seems if tonearm is lighter than expected to be a perfect match ( low compliance cart with light arm ) there is more probability of issue than vice versa.

Hooray. Run an arm over 12g and enjoy all the carts

 

[bazelio]

Korf audio blog concluded same. At least where tonearm mass is higher than expected to be a perfect match.

Seems if tonearm is lighter than expected to be a perfect match ( low compliance cart with light arm ) there is more probability of issue than vice versa.

Hooray. Run an arm over 12g and enjoy all the carts

Yes agreed: Resonance frequency being "too low" - doesn't matter. Up to a point, anyhow. And that point seems to be very low by previously accepted norms. "Too high" might matter sooner, but I haven't experimented there as it's a don't care in my situation.

 

[Brian Beck]

“Resonance frequency being ‘too low’ doesn't matter.” Well, it matters IF your turntable is susceptible to floor vibration and has a loose, bouncy suspension.

Kuzma writes this in his white paper:

“In reality, better turntables now have less bearing and motor noise as well as better support stands and various isolation platforms which eliminate noise in range between 3-8 Hz.”

 

[bazelio]

I only care about what matters in my case, though. I'm not writing a generalized treatise on the topic.

Edit: I'll add that I've tried to measure footfalls and can't get any to register above 4Hz in my house. Maybe my Salsa dancing isn't up to speed.

 

[SOS]

Any owners now with 1st hand experience using the Kuzma Safir tonearm? Thoughts? Impressions?

 

[miniguy]

You could read the white paper. Lately, though, I've been playing with and measuring a few of the "famed" MM carts of yesteryear and they tend to have compliances of 25 or so. My tonearm mass is 18g and, do the math for 6-8gm cartridges plus 1gm or so for screws, I'm way out of the canonical resonance window. My conclusion thus far is that it doesn't matter. At least a few tonearm manufacturers seem to concur, though draw your own conclusions as you will...

It all depends on how tolerant you are of pumping woofers.

 

[bazelio]

It all depends on how tolerant you are of pumping woofers.

Are you pumping 5-6 Hz out of your woofers?

 

[miniguy]

Are you pumping 5-6 Hz out of your woofers?

9-10 Hz

 

[bazelio]

9-10 Hz

Ah you'll be fine with Safir.

 

[Marcus]

Safir 9 landed…

 

[Marcus]

Assembly and set up. Only 3 parts. No damping pads, no damping fluids, no extra weights, non detachable headshell and no VTA tower. Stripped to essentials but don’t worry. It has all the usual and necessary set up possibilities. Can’t comment on the VTA system because I use one on the tonearm tower, but azimuth is more precise than on 4Point and consequently easier to set up right.