Headshell leads and Arche headshell
I just received my Arche headshell. Definitely the best looking headshell that I have ever seen. I have been trying a couple of headshells, Phasetech and Ikeda with my Air Tight and FR64s and I did not like the result all that much in comparison to Reed. However, today, Air Tight with Arche headshell and FR66s sounds very very promising.
However, one problem that I have is headshell leads.
I have Oyaide, Ortofon and Ikeda silver leads that are all quite thick and stiff. I think the lead pins on Arche headshell may be a bit thicker than usual and it was really difficult to insert the headshell leads properly and I broke a few leads in the process :( Took me about an hour to finally fit all 4 leads then I found a new problem. The thick silver leads put enough force on the cartridge and kept pushing down the mounting plate essentially affecting SRA angle. As I understand it, the screw on Arche headshell can push down mounting plate for more SRA but there is no mechanism to fasten the mounting plate tightly against the headshell.
Finally I gave up on using those thick silver leads and just using Sumiko coppper leads for now which is so light and flexible that it virtually exerts no pressure to the mounting plate. Now the Air Tight/Arche/FR66s sounds great but I am wondering if there is any good silver leads that are flexible that would not cause any problem with Arche headshell?
However, one problem that I have is headshell leads.
I have Oyaide, Ortofon and Ikeda silver leads that are all quite thick and stiff. I think the lead pins on Arche headshell may be a bit thicker than usual and it was really difficult to insert the headshell leads properly and I broke a few leads in the process :( Took me about an hour to finally fit all 4 leads then I found a new problem. The thick silver leads put enough force on the cartridge and kept pushing down the mounting plate essentially affecting SRA angle. As I understand it, the screw on Arche headshell can push down mounting plate for more SRA but there is no mechanism to fasten the mounting plate tightly against the headshell.
Finally I gave up on using those thick silver leads and just using Sumiko coppper leads for now which is so light and flexible that it virtually exerts no pressure to the mounting plate. Now the Air Tight/Arche/FR66s sounds great but I am wondering if there is any good silver leads that are flexible that would not cause any problem with Arche headshell?
Showing 5 responses by syntax
Syntax, did you shorten your Ikeda lead? No, all stock. The Ikeda leads are flexible but it needs some time to put the leads onto the Headshell pins. There is no standard in diameter and some HS have thicker pins (Orsonic 101s ....) and others are smaller (Ikeda RS...). Best way is to put the leads first onto the cartridge (they also have mainly thicker pins), remove them and put those ends onto the HS pins. Or you can put them onto a tooth pick first ... That way is simple and can be done in very short time, |
In the lat years I tried some different Headshell cables and from sonic quality, the best were Ikeda and Oyaide. The Ikeda was not too stiff, installation wasn't such a pain with bigger HS pins but some broke and I had to buy new set. Then I bought the Oyaide, good as they are but they are very stiff and to get 2 carts running I had to buy 4 sets. The newest is Aggelos from Acoustical Systems, expensive, but they have some interesting differences. Aggelos + Arche HS + Ikeda cartridge They are very flexible You can see that in this picture. In the identical set up I broke 2 Sets of Oyaide and needed a LOT of time to adjust it properly... Here I made the whole set up in 2 minutes and it was perfectly done. Sonic differences Honestly, I wasn't expecting much - silver is silver -, my priority was the safe handling and good connecting. When I started an old Decca SXL for the sonic check I was v-e-r-y amazed to hear such obvious differences (and it wasn't bad at all before) - soundstage became deeper and wider - the positions of the recording microphones were more obvious - Instruments became a more nailed focus - Instruments became a better body - better real tones than before (I can hear that different violin brands - manufacturer - are used even when they play altogether - better separation even of very sublime details - Ambience of the Recording Hall became something hard to describe, in a way I "feeled" to be inside that Hall, very interesting Why well, based on those remarkable impressions I thought about it and the answers are based on the technical know how what is responsible for what (my Omnigon Phono Preamp is based on that structure). The silver inside is made and bought in Germany from one of the very best companies. I think, it is a higher quality than usual stuff, no idea how they did it, but it is definitely real premium quality. The clips are from the material costs a multiple factor to the usual ones, they are made for maximum signal transfer (others write that too, but they are not on that standard, but to be fair, there is much, much worse out there, too) and the soldering is also done with a material no one else uses. The whole chain has no weaks. Summary The better your system is in reproduction tiny details the more fun you will have sitting in the listening chair. A Design done Right. |