Artisan Fidelity 301 Statement vs Kodo the Beat
Guys my profound apologies for the delay in responding.
But I've got an excuse....i just haven't been able to tear myself away from my listening position since my new deck has settled in
So there was the post installation, 'just-needed a break' period of a few days, to change the mindset from listening to equipment back to listening to music again, interspersed a light bit of tweaking.
And now it's just every spare moment wanting to hear more
First impressions?
Its a handsome beast, really growing on me looks-wise. I love the soft edges, the proportions and the finish. I adore the way the new armboard, machined from billet, complements both arm and deck. I like the feel of the on / off and speed controls, after the retro clunkiness of the AF 301's controls
My first impression of the sonic signature is that the big woofly throbbiness of the Artisan Fidelity has been replaced by something a lot punchier, kind of like the difference between a boxer with heavy hands and one generating similar power with cleaner technique and more snap. The leading edges of bass notes and transients are much more clearly defined, rhythm sharper, tighter and more infectious, all round PRaT significantly improved over the 301, perhaps with a slight loss of the effortless weight of the 301. It's certainly one to get the feet tapping....hold that cliche, let me tell you whats really going on - I'm sat in my lazy boy, feet shoulders hands and head all in motion in time to the beat and I'm rowing across my living room like a demented turtle.
This thing pounds!
One other first impression. The decay of notes left hanging in the air by the dreamlike brushstrokes of Alt-j have a non mechanical purity that is new to me, with this being my first encounter with a proper direct drive deck. Pianos have a new purity, vocals a subtle nuance that is immensley pleasurable, and there is a more tangible centre image than previously, the 301 being a tad more ethereal.
All in all i feel its going to make a terrific foil to my AF 301 as i play my club thumpers, power and PRaT vs devastating weight.
It should be noted that i have swapped the arm and cartridge from my 301 straight over to the Beat, so i really am just hearing the differences between the decks. It also bears pointing out that this combination of Ikeda arm and VdH Colibri really shouldn't work this well together, they are not destined to be a final pairing as the low mass Colibri is really too light for the Ikeda. The Ikeda is intended for my bass driven electronica accompanied with a Miyabi Fuuga, wheras the Van den Hul cartridge is going to specialise in Alt-j, James Blake and others of an acoustic ethereal nature, and really shouldn't be capable of the sort of mind-warping bass it is delivering now
(Ftr, the Beat is intended to have a Kuzma 4Point with Fuuga, and Schroeder LT with either Colibri or Miyajima Madake.
301 will have Ikeda with Fuuga, and Schroeder CB tonearm and either Colibri or Miyajima Madake, all when funds allow )
Guys my profound apologies for the delay in responding.
But I've got an excuse....i just haven't been able to tear myself away from my listening position since my new deck has settled in
So there was the post installation, 'just-needed a break' period of a few days, to change the mindset from listening to equipment back to listening to music again, interspersed a light bit of tweaking.
And now it's just every spare moment wanting to hear more
First impressions?
Its a handsome beast, really growing on me looks-wise. I love the soft edges, the proportions and the finish. I adore the way the new armboard, machined from billet, complements both arm and deck. I like the feel of the on / off and speed controls, after the retro clunkiness of the AF 301's controls
My first impression of the sonic signature is that the big woofly throbbiness of the Artisan Fidelity has been replaced by something a lot punchier, kind of like the difference between a boxer with heavy hands and one generating similar power with cleaner technique and more snap. The leading edges of bass notes and transients are much more clearly defined, rhythm sharper, tighter and more infectious, all round PRaT significantly improved over the 301, perhaps with a slight loss of the effortless weight of the 301. It's certainly one to get the feet tapping....hold that cliche, let me tell you whats really going on - I'm sat in my lazy boy, feet shoulders hands and head all in motion in time to the beat and I'm rowing across my living room like a demented turtle.
This thing pounds!
One other first impression. The decay of notes left hanging in the air by the dreamlike brushstrokes of Alt-j have a non mechanical purity that is new to me, with this being my first encounter with a proper direct drive deck. Pianos have a new purity, vocals a subtle nuance that is immensley pleasurable, and there is a more tangible centre image than previously, the 301 being a tad more ethereal.
All in all i feel its going to make a terrific foil to my AF 301 as i play my club thumpers, power and PRaT vs devastating weight.
It should be noted that i have swapped the arm and cartridge from my 301 straight over to the Beat, so i really am just hearing the differences between the decks. It also bears pointing out that this combination of Ikeda arm and VdH Colibri really shouldn't work this well together, they are not destined to be a final pairing as the low mass Colibri is really too light for the Ikeda. The Ikeda is intended for my bass driven electronica accompanied with a Miyabi Fuuga, wheras the Van den Hul cartridge is going to specialise in Alt-j, James Blake and others of an acoustic ethereal nature, and really shouldn't be capable of the sort of mind-warping bass it is delivering now
(Ftr, the Beat is intended to have a Kuzma 4Point with Fuuga, and Schroeder LT with either Colibri or Miyajima Madake.
301 will have Ikeda with Fuuga, and Schroeder CB tonearm and either Colibri or Miyajima Madake, all when funds allow )