Don...the 10.5 was a cinch compared to the 3D....but wait....There is a new rear counterweight assembly that will make it a breeze to set up VPI arms with great and repeatable precision. Don't even think about it Don...evidently VPI is not your cup of tea. |
Those who read these pages are probably interested in getting that last degree of perfection out of their setup. In mounting my Benz, I took the suggestion of Fremer at the Analogue Planet and tried for a 92 degree SRA with the stylus set up as pictured in his article. This required the arm to be absurdly high in back, so I contacted VPI, Soundsmith, and others regarding the SRA issue. Peter from Soundsmith said that article is misleading because the way diamonds are cut can dramatically change the way they act...that is, the stylus may look leaning forward or back, but still be 92 degrees at the tip depending on the cut. Peter said that he has styli on his cartridges that are the same as my Benz....one should raise the back of the arm to horizontal, then play with it up or down for your own perfection. Now....on to what the arm sounds like... With the arm lowered in the back to horizontal, the low end is fat, faithful, and satisfying. The mids as I said before are clear with each instrument in its own space...round and delicious. Massed vocals sound like massed vocals...not just a wall of sound. I should also mention that the platter on my VPI is the ceramic one that's used on the VPI direct drive. |
As soon as the stylus hit the groove - even before the music started on the first album, I knew this arm was better. The arm does not seek to find the lead in groove...it just lands there with no jiggling. The 10.5 was quiet, but the 3D sounds almost CD-like. It is very fast, with an enormous soundstage with depth and width bigger than the 10.5. It tracks the most difficult passages with total ease....sss's are absolutely clean with no sh,sh, or spitting. Each instrument has its own space and posses a roundness ....but the most important for me characteristic is its total sense of ease....like real music. You have the option of Nordost or Discovery wire....Harry told me the Discovery wire is HIS choice, so I had mine wired with it, and I'm not at all disappointed. My arm is wired balanced (XLR connections) and is DEAD quiet. |
Harry says the cable needs about 2 months. I hear progression after 8 or so albums. |
Don...Why would you ask such a dumb question?? |
Regarding the Discovery wire....I didn't ask Harry that question. The Nordost wire I had in the 10.5i was definitely more sensitive to the upper frequencies, and thus sounded "harder" overall. The most salient characteristic about the 3D arm is is sense of absolute ease as I said before. For those car lovers out there, its like comparing a very capable Honda Accord to a Porsche. There is no azimuth ring on the 3D....that is why the azimuth control was so difficult. You must turn the rear counterweight (heavier on the bottom) in such a way as to balance the arm on the head of the pin so that the satisfactory result can be obtained. There are 2 (rubber??) rings inside the rear counterweight that grip very strongly. To rotate the counterweight with precision is mainly luck. What I have said will not be true with the normally supplied rear counterweight which includes the Counterintuitive which would make that rear counterweight much more manageable. In any case, if you are using this arm (or any arm) you should use the most appropriate weight to get it as close as possible to the fulcrum. As I mentioned, Harry is nearly complete in presenting the new counterweight for the 3D which he promises would make setup easy. I am not using bias correction at all....when Harry sends me the new counterweight I will try the arm with bias compensation, but as for now...I'm not touching a thing. It sounds fabulous.
To my dumb friend Don....My 10.5 was set up with extreme care. The ss's and sh's on my 10.5i was not NEARLY as smooth or natural as on the 3D...one would be delighted with its performance unless one would compare the ease that the 3D demonstrates. |
BRF....there was some discussion at VPI as to the validity of using brass side weights, however it did not improve the performance but did increase the cost of manufacture, therefore, the idea was dropped. I do not have brass (though brass would probably be nicer aesthetically. The arm without the counterweight feel lighter than the 10.5i, but not with the counterweight. It is wider and thicker than the 10.5 and gives the appearance of greater weight, but I think there is really little difference when set up. It feels less stable when moving it to or away from a record (I'm not really used to the different finger lift), but once you let it go and the cuing lowers it to the groove, it looks like its on rails. It never "Hunts" for the grove...just plops in and plays. My 10.5i was not the newest 10.5i - kind of an interim...Harry said that the sound was the same. |
Doug....that's the reason you use heavier weights closer to the fulcrum. If the record is warped, a weight farther away from the pivot will tend to be "thrown" and affect the arm more than the weight at the fulcrum. The object is to disturb the stylus as little as possible |
Chayro.... Harry has always stood by his customers and is always anxious to help...to adjust, rectify any problem, etc. |
Regarding the weight of the counterweight.....I also have the original 120 gm weight. I can set up the arm with that one and listen. That is a project for another time. Right now, the arm sounds great so I'll just listen and enjoy. (I just played Also Sprach Zarathustra - Reinger RCA, I have had for a very long time. I never heard so much air around the instruments. ...a total joy. |
By the way....SME advises loading enough lead on their rear counterweight to bring it as close as possible to the fulcrum in setting up the SME V |
Okonrad....I'm using a Benz LPS, but am starting to itch for an Atlas. Any thoughts?? |
Biwynne...and then I heard that although the Atlas is fabulous, the Etna has a bit better midrange.... I would guess, that it is impossible to audition these cartridges, so I'll just have to guess. Still ruminating. |
Hiendmuse....make sure you order the proper rear counterweight for your arm. |
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Hiendmuse....I have the redesigned counterweight. Harry and I went round and round with it. The Counterintuitive does not fit on the rear counterweight that I must use for my cartridge (Benz LPS - very heavy). When I complained to the Chief at the very difficult (almost impossible) adjustability of the counterweight on the 3D arm without the C/A, ( I had one relatively early) he asked me to "sit tight" for him to think about it. The result is the new counterweight which is really the old one with additions to adjust for additional weight. Harry said it sounds the same, but with increased adjustability. The Counterintuitive is really a "MUST" for that arm or you'll be looking fondly at the highest cliff to jump from. |
I found the Foz to be accurate and easy to use ...certainly better than the rod method.
Suteetat...you must have the regular rear counterweight. Did you touch base with VPI as to which cartridge you are using? They made the determination for me and it works great. |
I listened with and without (Harry you could have devised a way to remove the devise without removing the rear counterweight and spending an hour or so to reset the arm.... ) anyway, I prefer the sound without a/s and am enjoying it that way. |
Hiendmuse....no such issue.... I suspect that you have the larger side weights (the new ones) and I don't. When I sent pictures of my setup, VPI said that my side weights are fine ...but didn't really tell me they are the larger new ones or older ones. The larger weights give the arm more stability (although I really can't complain the arm tracks like a train). |
Attention boys and girls...the 3D tonearm has larger side weights now...I don't know when they changed but the difference is worth doing. I understand that the smaller weights can be modified. |
Good Hiendmuse....without that new counterweight, the 3D arm is a BEAR to adjust properly. |
Larryi...it is made that way....read the Fremmer review |
Okonrad.....I also have a 3D, but was told that my arm has the "old" side weights...that there are new larger side weights now, however the tower has to be changed to a new black colored one to accommodate the larger space so that the new weight doesn't bump into it. Does your Atlas play well? ...don't know if I should do the Atlas or Etna.... |
