Those tables are just stunning. You're very fortunate to own one.
Artisan Fidelity Achates SE
I’ve been meaning to post a review of this turntable for more than a year. I’ve owned many turntable/arm/cartridge set-ups over the past 25 years. I have always been firmly in the “analog is quite a bit better than CD or DAC or really any method of delivering digital.” A couple years ago, after reading a million reviews and posts, listening to my own best set-up and hundreds and hundreds more at shows and dealers, I decided to take the plunge and try an idler drive turntable. I’ve read about how many audiophiles eventually end up with an idler drive or get one in addition to their best belt drive. After much research, it was easy to find Christopher Thornton at Artisan Fidelity. He is one of if not the authority on getting the absolute best out of idler designs. I decided to go with the Achates SE for a few reasons. Aesthetics for one. I also wanted to go with a Lenco platform, mostly because I liked the clean look and simple design more than Garrard, but I’m sure both platforms make great music.
The Achates SE is a no-holds-barred all-out design of the Lenco. Chris ultimately designed and executed a table that delivers all of the best of an idler with neutrality, background silence and probably most importantly, life! This table allows music to come to life like nothing I’ve experienced in over 25 years of this hobby. The bass is phenomenal in its ability to lay a foundation for the music. Mids are open, clear and full of weight and density of sound. The highs are open and soaring and maybe most importantly....they are great from one record to the next....not just on a few of my favorite audiophile records. I also like that this turntable/arm allows for “set it and forget it” peace of mind, as nothing moves and requires checking or adjustment.
In case you are interested in researching a little, shown on the Artisan Fidelity website is the exact table I own. It is also the table that was at Axpona 2015 and 2016 on display by Lakeview Audio. Michael Fremer says on his video on YouTube “this is the best sounding room at the show.” I have the Kuzma 4-point and both Lyra Kleos SL and Etna. Etna is installed currently. I also got a SMARTractor alignment tool from Chris and settled on the UNI-DIN. Below are a few links to view/hear videos and read comments.
Best set of luck in your personal audio journey!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b91ydKjb7HQ
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/artisan-fidelity-turntables-drew-me-sound-made-me-stay
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2016/04/25/axpona-2016-fuugu-david-berning-and-lehave/
The Achates SE is a no-holds-barred all-out design of the Lenco. Chris ultimately designed and executed a table that delivers all of the best of an idler with neutrality, background silence and probably most importantly, life! This table allows music to come to life like nothing I’ve experienced in over 25 years of this hobby. The bass is phenomenal in its ability to lay a foundation for the music. Mids are open, clear and full of weight and density of sound. The highs are open and soaring and maybe most importantly....they are great from one record to the next....not just on a few of my favorite audiophile records. I also like that this turntable/arm allows for “set it and forget it” peace of mind, as nothing moves and requires checking or adjustment.
In case you are interested in researching a little, shown on the Artisan Fidelity website is the exact table I own. It is also the table that was at Axpona 2015 and 2016 on display by Lakeview Audio. Michael Fremer says on his video on YouTube “this is the best sounding room at the show.” I have the Kuzma 4-point and both Lyra Kleos SL and Etna. Etna is installed currently. I also got a SMARTractor alignment tool from Chris and settled on the UNI-DIN. Below are a few links to view/hear videos and read comments.
Best set of luck in your personal audio journey!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b91ydKjb7HQ
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/artisan-fidelity-turntables-drew-me-sound-made-me-stay
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2016/04/25/axpona-2016-fuugu-david-berning-and-lehave/
8 responses Add your response
Bravo, superb taste sir. Agreed, a properly designed idler drive can be a breathtaking, thrilling musical source for analog playback. As an analog enthusiast of 30 years and fellow AF idler drive owner (301 Statement), I can vouch for that first hand. The Achates SE, in my personal view, remains a very special homage to the Swiss Lenco design. When this came out a couple of years ago, it was (perhaps still is?) by far the most evolved, modern interpretation of a Lenco 75/78 idler drive I had ever seen. Personally, as an admirer of beauty in finishes, I slightly prefer the aesthetic profile read: curves of the Achates, but respect the modern, scaled contemporary design of the more compact SE sibling. Judging by the modest footprint, one would never imagine the SE weighs ~ 100 lbs. If we had another smaller listening room setup, I may seriously consider this model for an additional source, or for curiosity sake perhaps a the new Sp10r fitted into a proper plinth, but of course these are vastly different animals altogether. Are you using a dedicated ac power supply? If not, you may want to try one with variable frequency control, sometimes they are easier than fixed power supplies to finely trim and lock speed. I use one like this with the 301. |
Thanks for the responses. I completely agree with your comments about the scale of the Achates SE. It was one of the reasons I pursued this particular AF idler. I believe with the platter and arm the table weighs in closer to 120 lbs! I use a Monarchy Audio dedicated power supply that came with the table. The Lenco motor runs natively at 220-230v and 50 hertz, so this has been working great. Speed has been checked several times with a KAB strobe and it is always spot on. I bet your 301 Statement is also state of the art quality analog playback. What arm and cartridge are you using? Thanks! |
goldman Presently, the Ikeda IT407 + Koetsu Coralstone combination are running on the Garrard 301 Statement, a musical combination to die for. This beautifully designed table is definitely a keeper for the long haul. The secondary arm slot is open presently, but was running a Schick for awhile with an older Lyra, a combination which I never quite "warmed" up to. Maybe I should try an SPU instead? |
As of today, the most flexible regulated ac power supply I have used with the 301 Statement is the Sound Carrier UTPS. I have a Monarchy as well in storage. What I really like about the UTPS is the ability to finely trim and lock output frequency at the front panel for each desired operational speed. Unfortunately, the Monarchy does not offer this function. |
gilles130 Right. Monarchy ac power supplies are no longer being produced, apparently the owner has retired. |