Jan Allaerts cartridges

Man of facts, Musikdok blasted a "settler" to my previous post in the form of a fact about the Allearts' cartridges: Allaerts suggests 845 Ohms for the MC2 Finish (8400 DM in Germany, but one of the best six cartridges in the world). The MC1 Eco (2200 DM) has a "normal" 100 Ohm requirement. But both of these cartridges are low output. With "normal" amplification from a very good to excellent phono preamp, they will disappoint--because the noise of the electronics will be greater than that coming from the disc (except on extremely high-quality Japanese pressings). You need a superior phono-stage for these cartridges to yield a good Signal-to-Noise ratio on normal pressings. Marlec, how did you end up speaking to Simon Yorke? He is a great talker. He also has fresh ideas, and plenty of good warm words to dress them in. Did he actually say that Allaerts is a "wacky Belgian"?

I appreciate your continued input Slawney - it was never my intent to 'blast,' only to clarify. I must admit that my interest in Allaerts arose initially from my being a happy owner of a Michell Delphini, having read that much of the refinement of the unit was done via an Allaerts cartridge/Michell Orbe (can't recall the arm - SME-V perhaps). Since then I have found more positive references to the Allaerts line. I fully agree in theory your view that (presumably) such a high quality transducer cannot function optimally via a substandard phono stage (insofar as the phono hierarchy of table-->arm-->cartridge holds true) Have you perchance heard an Allaerts through a Delphini? If so, what is your opinion?

Slawney: the comments in quotes are those of Simon Yorke. BTW, I'm presently looking for a decent tt. Since the S7 is a well-regarded piece, I thought that I should contact its creator directly to get more info.

I also appreciate your input Musikdok. It's just that a fact sometimes has more impact on me than an idea. Re. the Michell Delphini: I have only heard the Allaerts MC2 on two turntables: the Simon Yorke S7 and the Simon Yorke S9. Yes, it was "rich and full bodied" (on the human voice and acoustic instruments), superb at retrieval of low-level information, dynamics and room information--all given that the phono preamp can handle the cartridge (I know that I am laboring this point)! The editors of the German audio magazine Image HiFi have been searching for a suitable phono preamp for this cartridge for the last year or so: they judge nearly every phono preamp they review on the basis of how it performs with one of the Allaerts. A very, very few phono stages make the grade, because of the S/N ratio. I have heard the Allaerts set up with a Lavardin phono preamp (at a trade show), and not sound as good (even on expensive Avalon speakers). I have not heard it on a Michell Delphini, beautiful table that it is (I can understand why you are so happy). Musikdok, do you mean by "refinement of the unit" the "research and development that went into" the Delphini? If so, the answer is simple: buy an Allaerts. If the table was optimized in the lab to perform best with an Allaerts, then it will sound optimal with an Allaerts. What cartridge do you use now? The SME V would harmonize with the Allaerts; it does with almost all cartridges. I agree with your phono hierarchy (in most cases), but where does the phono stage fit into it? In the case of the Allaerts, I would say the phono stage is just as important. There is good reason to buy a new phono stage just to accomodate this cartridge. Marlec: the S7 is more than decent, its superb, in the same class as the Forsell, and the top of the line Maplenoll. The only two turntables that I think might be better (theoretically speaking, since I have not heard them) are the Simon Yorke Archive, and the Rockport. BTW I think that I saw Jan Allaerts at the last Frankfurt High End show--I seem to remember his Belgian accent. Yes, it is coming back to me. He was very impassioned, maybe even madly so in the refridgerator-like context of a German audio trade fair. He called the people who used his cartridges "connoiseurs." Yes, that is the word he used.

To any who may be interested, after a months-long wait, I have at last received my Allaerts MC-1 Boron cartridge, which I decided to buy sound-unheard from an off-shore dealer (having not imposed on either a dealer - [are there ANY in the U.S.?], nor the importer), and the sound is WONDERFUL, even right out of the box. VERY natural and musical to my ears, as opposed to the somewhat "mechanical" sound I experienced with Benz (in my system, to qualify that one). NO compatibility problems with the phono stage. Yes, YES - hand-made in Belgium in limited quantities, preferred by Simon Yorke. A long wait, to be sure, but worth it nonetheless. Forgive my extreme enthusiasm, but this is my first true *high-end* cartridge! If anyone is interested (Mr. Porter?), I'd be happy to fax them a copy of the spec sheet for the line. Cheers, -John