Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
It looks like you would also have to replace the arm or you would still come up shy of the SE. For a grand more than I paid for the Concept I could land on the Performance.
Clearaudio Owner's Thread
- Thread starter Art K.
- Start date
It looks like you would also have to replace the arm or you would still come up shy of the SE. For a grand more than I paid for the Concept I could land on the Performance.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Thank you for the clarification. I just ordered the Concept clamp. Should be here in a couple of weeks.
guiller
Toscaninichus Australis
Pricing might not be that universal, and local prices are higher than in the US. Anyhow, I've chosen the Emotion over the Concept at the time and feel happy about it.
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Gravyfries
Member
Here's a nice review of the Concept:
http://www.tonepublications.com/gear/fantastic-value-from-clearaudio/
http://www.tonepublications.com/gear/fantastic-value-from-clearaudio/
I'm the new owner of a Marantz TT-15s1, made by Clearaudio. It's a very nice turntable, about as opposite in looks as I could get from my VPI Classic. I like it quite a bit. Did it beat my VPI with the same cartridge? Well, no, but it presented things differently enough to make owning both worthwhile. If I had to label it's sound with one word, I'd say 'transparent'. I guess that's why they call it 'clear' audio, right? As much as I'm a fan of the turntable, I'm an even bigger fan of the Virtuoso Ebony cartridge. It shines on both of my tables, and manages to somehow have the 'oomph' of my DL-103 combined with a much more refined sound. I LOVE this cartridge.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Congrats, John. Enjoy that Marantz (Clearaudio) table!
They didn't even bother to take their name off of certain parts...not much of a secret there as to who made it! Not that you can't tell by looking at it. My one complaint so far is that the feet are taller than the ones on the Emotion, but the motor unit appears to be the same height. So the motor needs to sit on something to ride high enough on the platter so it doesn't fall off. But that's a minor complaint. Maybe I can adjust the pulley? I haven't had a chance to dig into it yet.
I plan on running an AT-150mlx on it, then eventually maybe a Dyna 10x5 or my Goldring 1042 (needs a stylus), or an old Signet that I have and enjoy. The Virtuoso is on the VPI now...that's a very good match, actually.
I'm clamping the record directly to the platter, as it sounds best to me that way. Is everybody using the felt mat?
I still like the Concept but this one was at the right price, from a trusted AKer (stereocouple).
Picture time!
I put my AT-150mlx on the Marantz/Clearaudio TT-15s1. It sounds great on this turntable. It hasn't sounded good on any turntable I've had it on since my old Systemdek, many moons ago. It sounds better here than it did on the Systemdek, too. Incredibly nice arm on this turntable.
Firsth, the 3/4 beauty shot:
Next, head on. Putting it on a laminate plywood board, which sits on iso-pads, helped give it a bit more thump. "Thump" is a very technical term, don't underestimate it.
A fitting preamp, the Marantz SC-11s1, which has a very nice (definitely not an after-thought) built in phono stage:
And finally, proof that VPI and Clearaudio can co-exist. They are indeed different enough to be worthwhile for anybody to check out both of them. And the VPI has the Clearaudio cart on it..so they are tied together now.
I'm listening to the TT-15s1 as I write, and not wanting for anything, however. I really like this turntable. It was going to go in my second system, but the AT-150mlx sounds so good on it, that it's going to live here in the main system as a compliment/partner to the VPI.
I put my AT-150mlx on the Marantz/Clearaudio TT-15s1. It sounds great on this turntable. It hasn't sounded good on any turntable I've had it on since my old Systemdek, many moons ago. It sounds better here than it did on the Systemdek, too. Incredibly nice arm on this turntable.
Firsth, the 3/4 beauty shot:
Next, head on. Putting it on a laminate plywood board, which sits on iso-pads, helped give it a bit more thump. "Thump" is a very technical term, don't underestimate it.
A fitting preamp, the Marantz SC-11s1, which has a very nice (definitely not an after-thought) built in phono stage:
And finally, proof that VPI and Clearaudio can co-exist. They are indeed different enough to be worthwhile for anybody to check out both of them. And the VPI has the Clearaudio cart on it..so they are tied together now.
I'm listening to the TT-15s1 as I write, and not wanting for anything, however. I really like this turntable. It was going to go in my second system, but the AT-150mlx sounds so good on it, that it's going to live here in the main system as a compliment/partner to the VPI.
Tedrick
Infinity-phile
Can't believe I didn't see this thread sooner. I've had a Clearaudio Arum Beta Mk II MM cart for going on 4 years now that I have enjoyed very much. It's currently mounted on a Kenwood KD-500/Infinity Black Widow that's in by bedrom system. I really like the looks of the CA 'tables and would like to own one someday.
I played it with the CA cart for a while, and agree..it really sings. I just think that with that cart on the VPI and the AT-150mlx on this, I end up with two more distinct options. The CA cart on both the VPI and Marantz sounded very similar, both excellent. More low end on the VPI, a bit more air on the Marantz. The AT-150mlx on this table really does something I haven't heard in my rig before, it sounds amazing on this turntable. I woke up early just to hear the combo again before work.
The AT cart simply did not work on the VPI, the arm's just too heavy for it's high compliance and it was completely lifeless. The CA cart on it works very well, though. The Marantz may get it's cart back if I get a Benz for the VPI.
Thanks. I'm diggin' this Marantz/AT-150mlx combination. I never thought that this cart had such subtlety and refinement. This is a really nice cart for this turntable. I tend to see both sides of many issues so this would be my both sides of the VPI/Clearaudio debate. They always seem to come up together, with different camps favoring one or the other.
Number 6
Active Member
Your Marantz has the Clearaudio Satisfy tonearm, which is a pretty good arm. They use that arm on their turntables up to about the $5k price point. It sounds beautiful on my Performance table.
guiller
Toscaninichus Australis
Here there is my Emotion with a Benz Micro Ace cart: I love the sound they produce!
The Nano phono preamp could be visible in the second picture.The turntable base is filled with sand, along the lines of http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/sandblaster_e.html
The Nano phono preamp could be visible in the second picture.The turntable base is filled with sand, along the lines of http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/sandblaster_e.html
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