I lived with a Temper-V for four years.Before that,the Temper Supreme.On a Graham 2.2 arm,and Sota Cosmos Series IV table.
The Temper-V was as great an improvement over the fine sounding Temper Supreme as the Orpheus is over the "V"!
The "V" is a wonderful cartridge,regardless of other possibly superior designs.It has fabulous detail and is very neutral.It does not have high gain,so your phonostage should have some good output.
If you come by the "V"(it is no longer made)you will surely love it!Of that I am sure.
I have no experience with the Allaerts.Sorry.
Good luck. |
The super fine coil windings of my "Orpheus" is the main reason(aside from not really needed,with this cartridge)that I sold my Flux Buster demag unit.I too remember reading about the sensitive nature of the Allaerts,but I'd bet many of the top tier cartridges today must be considered similarly.Just a hunch.
Btw,Larry,I found the Temper-v to be quite dynamic.My pal owns a Titan-i,which I LOVE(btw),and I did not get the impression that the Temper-v missed dynamics or slam.Not polite to me,but my phonostage has 75 db of gain.Yet...the Orpheus IS in another league TOTALLY from the Temper-v(which I loved,and would have held onto longer had the importer not been SUCH a nice guy,in giving me the old pricing,so I HAD too move fast).
From what MF stated about the Allaerts(I believe Raul loaned him his MC2 Finish for the review.....and BTW WHERE IS RAUL THESE DAYS??...I hope all is well!!!!!)it was on the polite side,and was recommended with acoustical music,or small ensemble pieces,for best results.That was only what I read,so it is meaningless if there are those owners who "know better".
I have owned four different generations of Transfiguration cartridges(before that four generations of Koetsus,hmm).Each generation of "TRANNYS" was decidedly better than the last,but none was so decidedly superior to the last generation as the Orpheus!!STUPENDOUS!!!!
One important point about the Transfiguration line,as I have friends who have owned more than me...."You cannot kill them".They are like an old Honda!!They will perform "like new" for way longer than one would think.Both I and a friend had the original Temper for eight years.The ONLY reason I moved up,from there,was a "sweetheart deal" on the next generation.NO service problems,over 9 different cartridges,between us(and we were clutzes at times)!!!!!THAT should say something!
Best to all,and a "healthy, happy" holiday season! |
Larry,I never felt you were slamming the Temper.Of course you are entitled to any opinion you want to express.My opineing in an aggressive/antagonistic way was from long ago,in my "idiot era"!!I cannot believe some of the dumb posts I made!Some 'Goners will probably never forgive my stupidity!Can't argue that either.
I do believe the lack of dynamics,you experienced,with the Temper-V,was aided by the particular phonostage employeed.Remember the Titan(which has fabulous dynamics,and amazing detail...actually I cannot find anything to criticize with that design,as my friend owns one)has almost twice the gain of the Temper-V.
As stated,my hybrid tube/SS phonostage has 75 db of gain,and both myself,and a close friend had the Temper-v on the exact phonostage.Trust me,the Temper-v likes a nice high gain phonostage.The dynamics,driven this way,are absolutely first rate.Everything in a high end system is dependent on careful component matching,as I am sure you know.
I did hear an Allaerts on a very fine set-up last year.There was nothing about the system sound that would lead me to believe it was anything less than a wonderful cartridge.
There are SO many fabulous cartridges around today,that I truly envy those "sort of" collectors,who have multiple arms.Hey,if my dad could collect eight thousand "airline twizzle sticks"(a great hobbyist,was he,who donated to the Smithsonian his Charles Lindberg sheet music collection)then there is nothing wrong with owning multiple cartridges.
As to the Orpheus,which I have(but am still awaiting my Graham Phantom,which should come next week,I HOPE)it absolutely "smokes" the Temper-v.I simply cannot convey how great I think it is,without coming off like some kind of ego nut,about my own stuff.It IS an amazing design,and does everything superbly(actually beyond belief).I have heard it in two different systems,alot!With all my reference LP's...AMAZING!!
Though, it too was employed with a high gain phonostage."Scary" good!!!
The Airtight also really intrigues me.I will definitely get a full "personal" report from my friends,in due time.Of course the press has raved,here,but to get the scoop from reliable friends doesn't hurt.
Albert Porter has some very interesting,and surprising comments about the Airtight,ZYX UNI,and Koetsu Platinum Jade on his "equipment" threads.Very interesting,as Albert is a very honest and down to earth hobbyist,IMO!
He also states(this really intrigues me,as I love cartridges,and think they the most important part of a good set-up,but that's just my opinion)he will be scoping out a "new" unheard of high end cartridge,from Japan,that has the potential to be amazing....Gotta love it!!
Sorry for my long rant...well,not really-:)
best. |
...."My Titan is too new to justify replacing it"...
Larry,I hope you did not get the impression that I was implying you "do" this(or anyone,for that matter)!!!
My observations about the Orpheus only applies to my personal experience,in "my" system,compared with the Temper-v!..No more.
The Titan,you own is a fantastic cartridge,and I have heard it on many occassions,in my friend's superb system.It seems to do it all!
Best.
|
Larry,don't start to check out different NOS tubes in your phono section!!!It could lead to bankruptcy,and rather quickly!
I have tried 7 different tube families in my stage.Wound up going for my "lungs" with a hyper low noise set of Siemens 6922 CCas.They truly are superior,in my rig.
I very well might sell a kidney,and try out a set of Amperex "pinched waist" 6922's at some future point.
Sadly,like you,I will on occassion recommend a friend get something(only if I know it to be great),so I can hear it.
Don't get me started on the "minutiae" of what changes our set-up sound.I cannot tell you how many times I have demonstrated how literally half of a pinhead of damping fluid changed the sound of my LP playback,with my old Graham 2.2!
Hopefully my Phantom will arrive soon.I am beginning to like my CD player a bit too much!!
Best. |
Larry,"laziness" will soon become my moto,as I have done just about everything I can possibly think of to my existing system.Other than installing my Phantom I "HOPE" nothing else intrigues me.See...rationalizing can be a good thing.
Best. |
Folks,I will probably not get my Phantom soon,as they are on back order.I had hoped this would not be long,but cannot do anything but wait it out.Sorry.
Also,I cannot see myself giving any meaningful input,about the arm,or my Orpheus,as these products have been covered aplenty.I just don't want to go off,on some ego trip about the "fabulosity" of what I own.I assume I will be totally happy.Though I have been told there will be a new,lower viscosity fluid,and will start out with very little,and work up from there.Owners of the arm or cartridge already know this stuff,I am sure.
If some thread appears referring to these products I will probably add something,but there are posters who truly have way more technical input than me.
Best. |
Goldeneraguy,funny you mention your friend's father,who collects antique radios.In my audio/music room I have a beautiful(very well made)RCA reproduction of their 1932 model Cathedral Table Radio(of course I did some modification to the inner cabinet,for rigidity)!It is an absolutely beautiful piece,that sounds absolutely fabulous,for a table radio,as long as it's not played too loud."Nothing like a wooden cabinet"! I use this as my,"sort of" tuner,for listening to late night am/fm stuff.Love it,alot.
I have scoped out many antique radio sites,in the past.If I had the cash,and time,I think I would love to display some of the "magnificent" early era cathredral table top radios.GORGEOUS stuff!!I took my daughter to a party,some time ago.At a restaurant which had a huge collection of these early era radios on display.Really interesting,and beautiful.Very collectible!
PS-I spoke to my dealer this morning.He tells me that I will have my Phantom in three two five weeks.If I want it in GOLD,I could have it much sooner,but I like the silver,so will wait it out.
Blame Albert Porter,for his "anti gold" taste,which has impacted me....Just kidding(well, not).I like the silver look,due to it's more massive build.The gold(just to my taste,as my friend has gold)is a bit too much,due to the more massive look compared to my old 2.2.
I'm really getting worried,as my digital is starting to sound too good!!-:) |
