My Kind of Music - Toronto, High Fidelity Sound, Audio Equipment, Audiophile, Retail

Home Page

La Platine Verdier c/w Moerch DP6 Tone Arm

We at MKOM are offering up for sale the world famous La Platine Turntable with the very desirable Granito Base. This well cared for unit is on consignment belonging to a long standing client of ours. The unit is in pristine condition rated at 9/10 on the Audiogon rating scale. Included is the latest Verdier motor drive mounted on its own platform. Also included are spare maintenance parts (Oil, silk thread etc) along with a spare motor. This is the original design accommodating a single tone arm. Additional tone arms can be added at additional costs.

Asking price will include a brand new Morch DP-6 Gold, 10/10. The name Morch is known worldwide in specialist hifi circles and is synonymous with Quality. This Danish manufacturer has been involved in vinyl reproduction for 25 years, and they currently make two tonearms, the DP6 and the UP4.

La Platine uses the most rudimentary of scientific principles to minimize friction. To banish friction, the bottom half of the turntable's platter is supplemented with a permanent magnet. This magnet is "supported" but another permanent magnet attached to the plinth, with the poles of both magnets facing each other. And as you know, like poles repel, exactly the same principle applied to those futuristic Magnet trains. Voilà!

A central spindle keeps the plinth and platter in alignment. The "levitation" platter ensures ultra smooth rotation. An external DC motor, mounted away from the turntables unit, turns the platter via a fine nylon thread (provided generously by the manufacturer). Speed freaks can do either 45 or 33 1/3 rpm on the La Platine. Just slip on your fave LP.

Technics SL1200MK5 Table c/w Audio Mods Tone Arm

Technics micrometer arm
The Technics direct drive turntables have a strong following among the Hi-Fi community and it's become common to fit a Rega arm using an adapter plate. The Audiomods Technics version of the Micrometer arm has a complete dedicated base that drops straight into the Technics 1210 turntable.

FOZGOMETER AZIMUTH RANGE FINDER

To obtain high performance from a modern phonograph system, the tonearm and pickup cartridge must be properly adjusted to within a few thousands of an inch. There are several alignment gauges available to adjust overhang and offset. To adjust cartridge azimuth (Axial Tilt), it has been necessary to use lab quality equipment and a test record. Azimuth may be adjusted using an oscilloscope, AC voltmeter, or computer program. These methods can be expensive and time consuming.

The FOZGOMETER represents a breakthrough for adjusting phono system azimuth. The FOZGOMETER incorporates a "Log Ratio Detector" developed for surround processor steering logic circuits to measure channel separation over a wide range of signal levels down to -70 dB. The readings are virtually independent of overall signal levels, and can be made with a wide range of input signals without effecting accuracy. It is a small portable battery powered unit that is used in conjunction with a test record. It measures channel separation, channel balance, and signal direction quickly and accurately. Readings are taken without touching the meter, leaving your hands free to work with the tonearm. The meter reads channel separation in both directions, and channel balance. The LED's indicate Left, Center, and Right signal (test tone) positions.

Volvere SP Turntable

Many of the engineering innovations we have pioneered in our flagship, reference models are equally relevant to all our turntables.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Volvere.

This latest generation incorporates our latest DSP signal-generating power supply, totally removing the vagaries of the mains power signal and allowing precise calibration of motor speed. Introduction of the new twin belt drive system and revised bearing has improved platter dynamics, yet further improving the sound quality.

Conceived as a belt drive, sprung subchassis design, Volvere is designed and built to the same precision engineering standards as the Acutus turntable. Bespoke versions of the unique clamping, stainless steel bearing and suspension systems have been developed and applied to this novel design.

External vibrations are dissipated by the unique AVID variable frequency suspension system, effectively isolating the entire system from extraneous influence yet without the softening of dynamic response often allied to such systems.

Suspension dynamics are further improved in this latest version using revised lateral damping isolation bands and lastly but by no means least, a massive platter.

The result? Vibration caused by the stylus during playback is transmitted to the subchassis directly through the main bearing and not absorbed into the platter. The clarity and depth of the performance under reference listening tests is a testament to the attention to detail bestowed on the design and the manufacture.

Tonearm & Cartridge Alignment
MKOM is unique in providing this service in the Greater Toronto area. As a dealer committed to the best possible analog performance at almost any budget level, we have the tools and the knowledge to apply them for your benefit and long term listening enjoyment.
Whether you purchase a phono cartridge, tonearm, turntable, or some combination of the above and perhaps other components, MKOM provides its exclusive setup and alignment service in your home free of charge as part of providing real value for your investment.

For turntable systems not purchased from us, we offer the same service at the reasonable cost of $125.00 within the GTA. Additional charge of $25.00 may be applicable for areas outside of the GTA. The $125.00 fee may be applied toward future analog purchases including turntables, tonearms, and cartridges, and such purchases include the setup and alignment service. Thus it's a win-win every customer should take advantage of.

What the service includes
Setting overhang and offset angle
Setting tracking force
Adjustment of anti-skating
Measurement of phase error and crosstalk for different azimuth settings
Wow and flutter speed accuracy
Frequency response
Tonearm/cartridge resonances
Harmonic distortion
Tonearm resonances

What differences should you expect
Better imaging
Deeper, wider soundstage
Lower noise and distortion
Clearer high frequencies
More tuneful, better defined bass
Richer tone and harmonics
Reduced record wear
Longer stylus life

An example of what the correct azimuth setting will do for you

The client in this case listens to vinyl only and carefully maintains his records and keeps his equipment in perfect adjustment. Accordingly, the cartridge body was perfectly level, parallel to the record surface.

The graphs above, generated by the software program, show the phase response (upper graph) and crosstalk (lower graph) measurements taken for different azimuth angles (shown on the horizontal axes). The light blue vertical lines highlight the measurements taken at zero degrees azimuth angle, the initial setting, while the yellow vertical line toward the left side of the graphs highlights the measurements taken at the optimum azimuth angle of -1.4 degrees. Because the software program is configured for azimuth angles in 0.5 degree steps, for measurements at the final azimuth setting of -1.4 degrees we "pretended" to the program that the azimuth was at +2.5 degrees -- a region that's not of interest since crosstalk is increasing for positive azimuth angles and phase error is relatively unchanging.

From the graphs you can see the phase error at 0 degrees azimuth was huge: 155 degrees! Where the curves in the upper graph cross at -1.4 degrees azimuth angle, there is zero phase error, which is readily audible to the untrained ear. The crosstalk figures at this azimuth setting reflect improvements up to 7 dB, which again is huge! (a 10 dB difference is twice or half as loud) The ear is more sensitive to phase error than crosstalk, so -1.4 degrees was selected as the optimum azimuth setting.

From the moment the stylus hit the groove, the differences were mind boggling. Everything from top to bottom was clearer, better defined, with dramatically less noise and grain. The client raved about it the improvements and continues to say how it's almost as if he's hearing each record again for the first time. He laughed, saying he never would have deliberately put the cartridge and arm at a funny angle like that, but sure enough he heard the difference right away. Every client has said the same things. We're batting 1.000!

Whether the perfect azimuth setting for your system is as little as a few tenths of a degree from where it is now or even more than what's shown in this example, you'll hear the improvements time and again. Your favorite records will last longer, and so will your stylus.

It's truly the biggest bang for the buck improvement you can make to your system. Your ears will thank you!

For further information, kindly refer to: http://www.adjustplus.de/index.php?lang=english

Artemis Labs SA-1 Turntable

Made in USA by Artemis Labs,
designed by Frank Schroder of Germany

Feed Forward Circuit designed by John Atwood,
former technical editor of The Vacuum Tube Valley journal

"I’d say, in general, that the Artemis Labs SA-1 would be a turntable for discerning music lovers rather than for audiophiles questing for a component that would reveal utter details like the smack of lipstick on a wet pair of lips. Yet I never got a generalized slurry of mood or presentation; instead, the SA-1 delivered an articulate brocade of audio precision, each note there to be recognized, both in its individual gleaming and also its intricate interweave with the entire musical tapestry.

The opposite of analytic, it was all about flow, solidity, coherence, and timing, rather than flattering the fantasy of measurable micrometers of detail.

In talking with Sean Ta of Artemis Labs, I joked that, to maintain my credibility as an audio reviewer, I was looking very hard for negatives and drawbacks to write about. So far, I hadn’t come up with any.

The SA-1 won me over. The charming simplicity of its look, the complete ease of its operation, and the accuracy and fabulous tonality of its sound -- all came together to make for entirely pleasurable, unfussy musical experiences."

- Garrett Hongo, UltraAudio.com

From the mind of Frank Schroder, maker of some of the most highly sought after tonearms by analog enthusiasts in the world today. Everyone also knows it will take years to get a tonearm. In the case of the SA-1 turntable, manufacturing is entrusted to Artemis Labs from Southern California, USA, and lead-time is only approximately 3 weeks, not 3 years or more!

"If you are into bling and wish to impress your friends with a 1,000 lb chrome covered turntable that requires the manufacturer to install it on your site, the SA-1 is not for you. If you want to spend your time listening to music rather than fiddling with your turntable, you need to give the SA-1 a listen."

To my ears, the SA-1 is as quiet as a direct drive. It has excellent speed stability. It doesn't take up a lot of space in your listening room, which for those of us with smaller listening rooms is important.

The SA-1 is very easy to set up and once set up you can forget about it.

And most importantly, the SA-1 allows the emotional content of the music to come through to you."

- Roger Gordon, Positive Feedback

The Artemis Labs SA-1 turntable is a unique design among modern turntables, and the SA-1 turntable performs way beyond its price, designed to surpass contenders in the USD 20,000 region. And our experience (and yours) have proven that higher prices indeed do not automatically equate to significantly superior sonic quality, although there are a few exceptions.

The new SA-1 turntable from by Artemis Labs

Designed by Frank Schroder

with Feed Forward Circuit designed by John Atwood,
former technical editor of The Vacuum Tube Valley journal.

The whole analog world knows who is Frank Schroder, maker of one of the most highly sought after tonearms by experts in the world today. Everyone also knows it will take years to get one ... So how can Frank manage ? Artemis Labs from Southern California, USA manufactures the table, and lead-time is only approximately 3 weeks !

The SA-1 turntable is a unique design among modern turntables. The development of this turntable stems from Mr. Schroder's years of analog experience.

From our conversations with Frank, he is enthusiastic and confident that the SA-1 turntable, in the same vein as his tonearms, performs way beyond its price, to surpass contenders in the USD 20,000 region and beyond. And our experience (and yours) have proven that higher prices indeed do not automatically equate to significantly superior sonic quality, although there are a few exceptions.

MKOM comments on the SA-1 turntable and PL-1 phono stage combo:

We have set up the Artemis Labs SA-1 turntable for audition ... and it has been a wonderful encounter, the SA-1 is sonically amazing ! Very high-end sonically without the very high price.

Frank Schroeder certainly knows his analog, and he can be proud of this sublime music apparatus, it meets his goal of performance belonging to the top tier at a sane price.

Unassuming and unpretentious in appearance, its simple looks are deceiving, underneath is a turntable of great musical substance.

Introduced in 2008, and initially targeted at 100 pieces of SA-1 turntables to be manufactured per year, that number has long been surpassed, as more music enthusiasts worldwide discover this musical gem.

What makes it even more remarkable is that we only hooked up a cost effective but great tonearm and cartridge on it, after which we will mount the new Artemis tonearm designed by Mr. Schroeder.

We mounted our all-time favorite and high-performance Schroeder DPS arm with the Transfiguration Phoenix cartridge, both of which we are thoroughly familiar with.

Going through our 65db version of Artemis Labs PL-1 tube phono stage (which we have become familiar with through a Oracle Delphi V and a Wilson Benesch ACT 1 TT) designed by John Atwood, former technical editor of The Vacuum Tube Valley journal, the setup is wonderfully transparent and full-bodied, with outstanding bass heft and definition, delightfully tactile, with good timing.

Wonderfully transparent yet full-bodied, music leaps out and makes one wonder if other turntables may be too damped, percussion backup instruments for example soaring above the mix with great separation, clarity, and fidelity.

Deliciously dynamic, one would certainly be forgiven if it was mistaken as a direct-drive design. Utterly effortless, this is what strikes visitors who have already listened, when they chanced upon us playing kick-ass dynamic music.

Outstanding, it made us reach out for long-unplayed records on the shelves and relish in the sonic wonders the setup conveyed.

It's hard to put into words, but we obviously love this combination, and it will only get even better. Feel free to drop by and listen ...

True Value For Money !

Artemis Labs SA-1 Turntable Features :

Some of the features that set this turntable apart from other designs past and present are listed below. Notice too the attention to detail.

• Simplest maintenance and setup, no oil to be applied by user on the SA-1 turntable

• Oil is sealed inside bearing mechanism, with no need to change

• Turntable comes in one piece - just screw in the footers, mount platter, put belt ...

• Massive, 3 lb bearing is of the non-inverted type, utilizing a large diameter, case hardened spindle and unusually long self lubricating phosphor bronze bushings. The clearance is kept very small, but the defined surface "roughness" of the spindle maintains an extremely stable oil film and creates drag at the same time.

• SA-1 turntable's body is made of bamboo and ebony wood, with appropriate damping in between

• Platter damped with proprietary paper/felt inlay, allowing for the use of different platter-record interfaces

• 15 lb platter anodized aircraft grade aluminum, turned to an extremely tight tolerance in all directions
• SA-1 turntable's platter thickness maintained from center to the outer rim to avoid variations in the mechanical impedance "seen" by the cartridge

• The SA-1 turntable is driven by an extremely high quality Swiss DC motor for a combination of high torque and smooth rotation, transferring power via 1/4 magnetic tape to the outer rim of the platter.

Unlike other turntable featuring a form of tape or belt drive, the tape is routed past a tensioning lever/pulley to reduce both slippage to zero and minimize the side thrust on the platter greatly. Residual motor vibrations cannot reach the platter directly, but are absorbed by the suspended pulley.

• Different platter-record interfaces (one at a time)

Included

Optional

• For countries with humid climates, the shiny side of the tape is recommended to be placed facing inside (i.e. touching the platter), and vice versa for non-humid climates.

• Accepts 9" to 10" long tonearms, with an armboard that can rotate for easier setup. Armboard is made of the same material as the platter. Of course, one is free to fabricate their own armboard with their own choice of material.

• The SA-1 turntable comes with steel cones as footers. Stillpoints as shown in the photo are optional

• Spindle machined with the bottom part diameter smaller than the top. This is to prevent records from touching the spindle, for more optimized record playback

• An optional damper (placed on top of the record) is also available. Hole size is larger than the spindle, again for optimized playback.

• Good connection interface to power supply

• Well-built power supply. Speed potentiometer adjusted through screws, with option for variable speed control too.

One customer asked why not a speed adjustment toggle similar to another turntable's ? Well, the SA-1 turntable's and others with the same method allow finer speed adjustments for more critical speed setting. The other method is more convenient, but also more crude in speed adjustments.

• Robust packaging

• To maintain absolute speed, there is no sensor based feedback loop, instead the current drawn by the motor is monitored and kept steady through a clever feed forward circuit designed by Mr. John Atwood, former technical editor of the "Vacuum Tube Valley" publication. Wow and flutter is well below audibility, certainly on par with the best direct drive designs. The turntable can be set to both 33 rpm and 45 rpm, both individually adjustable via set screws in the power supply.

Audiomods

Total rebuilds of the Rega tonearm. Hand made to order featuring ceramic bearings and custom silver wiring. Built on an arm yoke and base machined from solid, these arms are the ultimate development of the Rega armtube casting.

Thorens TD 550

"There's no doubt (...) that the new Thorens TD 550 turntable is one of the very best at the price, offering a commandingly stable rendition of the music with smoothness, sweetness and insight in equal measure. It is also beautiful built, sumptuously finished and surprisingly easy to set up. As such it's a worthy modern flagship for this illustrious company."

Oracle Audio

The Delphi is a remarkably handsome work of art. It represents a significant improvement over its predecessors. The new MKV is engineered to a level that the industry is invited to emulate. Responsible for Oracle's reputation and prestige, the Delphi further demonstrates its ability to defend the leading edge position for another decade, well into the New Millennium.

"The engineering involved in the Oracle is as unique as its styling and the constructional standards are in the Mercedes class - the best !"
- Hi Fi Answers, England.

The Delphi is a remarkably handsome work of art. Clearly a refinement over its predecessors, the new Mk V is engineered to a level that the industry is invited to emulate.

"The sound of the latest Oracle Mk IV is nothing more and nothing less that a refinement of its predecessors. For those of you who have not yet heard this gorgeous creation, it makes non-fatiguing, wholly musical sounds, the likes of which enable40-hours-or-more-per-week listeners like myself to exist without suffering fatigue."
- Hi-Fi News & Record Reviews, England.

This is what they said then... We at Oracle know that the MK V represents a significant improvement over its predecessors including the Mk IV.

Origin Live

Origin Live aims to enrich your musical enjoyment through offering the highest grade products to a standard that outperforms your expectations. The new generation of turntables from Origin Live are the result of continuous development that have pushed back the boundaries on sound quality by significant leaps and bounds.

We believe, as do many experts that vinyl records still represent the ultimate format for sound quality and will continue to do so for many years in spite of all the new "super" formats. The ultimate format deserves the ultimate player and this is what we have dedicated ourselves to achieve at very modest sums. Not only is vinyl the best format available but you may have a decent collection of priceless records that you wish to appreciate to their full. These are a few of the reasons for the enormous investment that has been made in producing these decks. We trust that you will be surprised in the best possible way once you hear them.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit the manufacturer's site: http://www.originlive.com

Thorens

For the past 100 years, Thorens has been one of the leading turntable manufacturers in the world. Very well known masterpieces with worldwide recognition have been produced by Thorens in the past. All of them with legendary reliability. Thorens is quality made in Germany for decades.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit the manufacturer's site: http://www.thorens.com

Transcriptors

Engineer/Designer David Gammon was born 1933, Coventry England. David's turntable design concept was inspired by old clocks and watches from the 17th and 18th century. David had often asked this question many times over, why put something of engineering elegance into a black case or even worst, into a wooden case, that looked as if it had been made down in somebody's garden shed. In fact Transcriptor started the trend to expose all the components so that they could be viewed from all angles. Manufactured from aluminium and acrylic to very high tolerances, tested, the end result always being a highly polished, highly accurate turntable. Designed and built with the skill of an 18th century clock maker, the turntables made for a very satisfying sight indeed.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit the manufacturer's site: http://www.transcriptors.co.uk

Wilson Benesch Ltd.

The Wilson Benesch turntable is a suspended sub-chassis design, the main structural component of which is carbon fiber. Seven springs are involved in the suspension which is capable of being finely adjusted in order to control precisely each degree of movement.The main structural component of the Wilson Benesch sub-chassis is carbon fiber; a remarkable material that is ideal for audio structures as it can attain a modulus of stiffness five times that of steel, yet is half the weight of aluminum.
The drive train, also of critical importance is treated with the same attention to detail. The quartz referenced power supply for instance features an electronic clutch mechanism which operates on switch on and during the speed change cycle to minimize loading on the suspension system and belt. The motor used is a high quality hysteresis type chosen for it's performance rather than price and is fitted to the plinth via it's own complex suspension system designed to minimize the transmission of spurious energy either from the motor or from the environment to the platter. The power supply unit also provides a raw DC supply to the plinth to power the Stage One head amplifier.

The plinths are crafted from a variety of solid hard woods which form an attractive contrast to the black anodized aluminum top plate, back plate and power supply. Arm boards and platters are similarly anodized to provide a scratch resistant life long product. It is for this reason that glass was chosen as the most suitable material for the lid which is of 5mm laminated construction.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit the manufacturer's site: http://www.wilson-benesch.com

Bluenote

Bluenote Turntables are manufactured in Florence Italy of the very finest materials including machine worked alluminium, brass,bronze, stainless steel, all to improve sonic performances. Their design results in the maximum dampening of vibration and rumble. When Bluenote tonearms and cartridges, are used the result is a perfectly matched system.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit the manufacturer's site: http://www.bluenote.it

Phono Cartridges

Pro-Ject Audio Systems - Sumiko Cartridges

For over thirty years we have been driven by a collective passion for making the best sound possible in both music and film sound formats. We have done so while striving to bring the best looking designs to our customers' homes. Our current expansion into the high-performance front projection video and the lifestyle audio category perfectly complements our current music and film sound component offerings. SUMIKO will continue to approach these new market segments in the same disciplined way we have done for all these years.

The Sumiko website is intended to offer a glimpse of our total product offerings. The fabulous sight and sounds we provide, along with unparalleled support, is only eclipsed by the PASSION we will incite.

Van den Hul

A.J. van den Hul B.V. based in the Netherlands (Europe) is a company that since its founding in 1980 has made it its objective to improve the qualitative aspects of phono transduction and musical signal transfer in the most broad sense by applying unique solutions and state-of-the-art technology according to cartridge and cable designer A.J. van den Hul’s profound experience and philosophies.

Our high quality product range covers moving coil (MC) and moving magnet (MM) phono cartridges as well as a broad range of audio cable and wire products serving consumer, professional and industrial applications.

Our phrase “The Link between Technique and Emotion” attempts to illustrate our product designs main aim to support the enjoyment of the emotional qualities of music.

Van den Hul
The WHITE BEAUTY
Special-X HO, Phono Cartridge

Description:

Our top model custom hand built phono cartridge, featuring matched crystal copper coils and 2.25 mV/channel output.

The WHITE BEAUTY Special-X HO is a resolution improved High Output version of the GRASSHOPPER IV GLA, which refinements were only possible to be created after having switched to the entirely metal free and extremely revealing The THIRD ® loudspeaker cable in Mr. van den Hul’s audio system.
The WHITE BEAUTY Special-X HO’s refined body is made of white Polycarbonate with about the same construction as the GRASSHOPPER IV GLA.
The WHITE BEAUTY Special-X HO sets new sonic standards in analog reproduction.
Listening impressions are like being in the concert hall with a very precise projection of the instruments, the acoustics and even the conductor in space. The music as a whole sounds extremely realistic and very convincing with a lot of authority, especially in the bass and lower midrange; the high frequencies are very pure and extremely nice structured.

The differences with the GRASSHOPPER IV GLA are:
Improved magnetic layout, -construction and -properties.
A reduced cantilever length.
Due to points 1 and 2 the resolution is higher.
The suspension uses a very special damping rubber.
There is more “space” between the musical instruments and vocals.
The output is increased from 0.65 mV/ch. to 2.25 mV/ch. by using multilayer Matched Crystal Copper coils on a cross-shaped armature.
Body-headshell mount options:

All “BEAUTY” versions are available in a body with either two or four headshell screw mounting holes. For mounting in Graham arms choosing our 4 screw version is highly recommended!
More information on the preceding GRASSHOPPER IV:

The design philosophy of the GRASSHOPPER IV GLA (our top model phono cartridge) as well as its technical innovations, its use in various equipment, its set-up and our special customer services regarding this REFERENCE CARTRIDGE are described in this article written by cartridge designer A.J. van den Hul.
Special customer demands/specifications:

Thanks to the many variations in materials available, it is always possible to build a unit to match the personal demands of the customer.
With these personalized cartridges the wooden container can mention the name of the customer it has been specially built for.
This option is exclusively available for The GRASSHOPPER III series, The GRASSHOPPER IV, The GRASSHOPPER “BEAUTY”, The CONDOR and The COLIBRI versions.
The customer demands/specifications that can be taken into account when building a personalized GRASSHOPPER III, IV, GRASSHOPPER “BEAUTY”, CONDOR or COLIBRI for instance are:
The tone-arm used, the preamp and load impedance used, a particular brand of records to be played, the type of music generally played (jazz being more dynamic and classical more spacious and detailed) and other personal/sound preferences.
Production time:

The production time for a WHITE BEAUTY Special-X HO cartridge after ordering is about two weeks. Please call My Kind of Music for delivery time.

ORTOFON - Denmark - Cartridges & Stylii

Ortofon was founded in 1918 by two Danish engineers, Axel Petersen and Arnold Poulsen. These two pioneers had one very clear objective in mind - to put sound onto film, and with this, they established the Electrical Fonofilms Company A/S, which later on was renamed Ortofon A/S. A few years later, in the Palace Theatre, Copenhagen, they were able to present the first fully-synchronized sound films and in so doing, created a world sensation.

Ortofon was also the first company to produce an outdoor sound film recording. The founders took out several patents and issued licences to film companies the world over for their "System Petersen og Poulsen", which is even to this day the basis for film with optical sound.

Until the second world war, Ortofon's growth was based entirely on the sound film. However, during the war and immediately afterwards, production was re-organized to include record cutting and reproducing equipment. The first Moving Coil cutterhead was produced as early as 1945, and the Moving Coil principle was then further developed to enable production of, first, mono cartridges and, later, also stereo cartridges.

During this busy period of growth, equipment was also being developed for broadcasting networks and recording studios. It was not until later that the Company decided to specialize solely in the development and production of cartridges. Unique experience at both ends of the recording sequence results in unsurpassed performence from every Ortofon cartridge.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit this site: http://www.ortofon.com

Ortofon MC 5000 Reference MC Phono Cartridge

The black ceramic body, sintered at approximately 1,200 degrees Celsius, is a rigid structure that eliminates resonances in the audible range.

Mounted on a sapphire cantilever, Ortofon’s Nude Replicant diamond is cut to match the sapphire which cut the record groove as closely as possible.

MC 5000 is a highly accurate, analytical and neutral transducer.

All available information is retrieved from the grooves and music is crisply reproduced with palpable presence that converts your living room into a concert hall.

A reference-grade audio system is required to reveal these qualities.

Because output is relatively low, a high-performance MC transformer or MC preamplifier should be used. Recommended load: 20 – 100 Ohms.

Benz Micro - Switzerland

For years Benz-Micro has been known worldwide to produce some of the most desirable and musical phono cartridges in the world.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit this site: http://www.musicalsurroundings.com/benz.html

Clearaudio

Clearaudio offers some of the most "open-sounding" moving magnet cartridges currently available. Clearaudio Moving Magnet Phono Cartridges are precision products that are held to the most stringent quality control standards. The patented assembly process is based on the newest technical advances. Through this process, we hand select materials that are held to the tightest tolerances. The mounting plate of the Alpha, Beta and Beta S cartridges are made of a special resonance free lead alloy material. The Virtuoso Wood uses a special "Fernambuk" wood mounting plate that is only available in the Bavarian Black Forest. Clearaudio Moving Magnet phono cartridges distinguish themselves in a long lifespan, and a replaceable cantilever. An extremely linear frequency response, and an exceptional dynamic response insure a very uniform soundstage. Clearaudio MM cartridges are compatible with virtually all tonearms.

The full range of Moving Coil cartridges that offer some of the best dynamics in the business. Only Clearaudio Moving-Coil (MC) cartridges have a complete symmetrical design: mechanically, magnetically and electrically - achieved by Clearaudio Tolerance Field Technology.

Almost immeasurable by any method other than the listening test (the most critical), Clearaudio found that the actual cartridge housing material can in fact be the final and most critical element in achieving ultimate resolution and inner detail. The result of this research - the Clearaudio-RF-Technic. Clearaudio cartridges achieve their exceptional performance with innovative design and advanced materials. All cartridges share the some basic layout featuring Clearaudio's patented Series Coil System, with coils mounted symmetrically in front and behind the cantilever Pivot.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit this site: http://www.musicalsurroundings.com/clearaudio/mc.html

Wilson Benesch

The Wilson Benesch cartridge range is distinctly different from all other cartridges in the world. Whilst conventional materials technology can be seen as the norm, in the Wilson Benesch range the principle structures are all manufactured from solid carbon fibre.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit this Manufacturer's site: www.wilson-benesch.com/analog.html

Phono Stages

BPS Solid State Battery Phono Stage

The reduced size of the Nagra BPS phono preamplifier is the immediate result of using completely solid-state technology, less costly to implement than for the valve version.

The BPS electronics consumes so little that it operates on a single 9-volt battery with a life expectancy of about 100 hours. It is thus possible to renounce the usual Nagra very-low-noise external power supply that is complex and expensive to manufacture.

The Nagra BPS enjoys an attractive positioning thanks to a simplified approach as regards functions. Nagra however retained the popular load adaptation found on the VPS model, which allows to obtain, with small plug-in modules, the desired matching between the phono preamp and the specific cartridge used on the turntable arm.
The equipment supports either moving-coils (MC) or moving-magnet cartridges (MM) by means of appropriate switching.

Assembled on a single motherboard, the electronics use exclusively discrete and military-type components (JAN standard). The amplification is provided by selected and matched bipolar transistors. The capacitors on the signal path are of audiophile quality and the precision resistors are MELF (Metal Electrode Leadless Face). Versatile, simple and easy to use, it is intended to work with the best modern turntable units.

Nagra BPS - Stereophile Jun 2009 - PDF Click to Download

Rossner & Sohn - Canofer Phono Amplifier

For our Canofer we exclusively applied the best components of well-known German and Suisse manufacturers like Mundorf, ELMA and WBT.

The connectors Nextgen by WBT take care of a perfect integration to your phono equipment. Mundorf tin-foil-condensers create vital signals without loss of sound.

The board's concrete dual-mono-structure and the perfectly attuned hand-selected transistors and components are adjusted to your MM- or MC-system with absolute precision by noise-free ELMA-switches. A special suspension-mechanism completely decouples board and enclosure. The board is totally shed and extra shielded to eliminate all sonic and electromagnetic faults.

For MM-systems there are 300, for MC-systems 1836 possible settings you surely will find the right one for your system.

Foundation Research V5

The V5 phono preamplifier is a single-ended triod tube design Produced to exacting specifications. A great deal of attention is given to precision parts selection in order to achieve exceptional channel matching. The result is a presentation of great dimensionality, separation and focus. Once experienced, the sonic virtues of the V5 are undeniable.

Graham Slee

Phono Preamplifier development has virtually stood still since the 1960s.

Hi-fi folklore and whimsical notions seem to have taken over from science in an endless regurgitation of ancient designs which only serve to spread confusion in an eagerly receptive market place.

The saying "a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing" was never more apt than it is with vinyl, except few manufacturers heed those words, preferring to meddle at your expense. After all, it is obvious that a dinner plate transformer here and a Teflon board there are bound to lead to the best phono stage since sliced bread. Think again!

Without a solid reference we will all end up chasing each others tales into a land of confusion where we will be lucky if anything works at all, never mind works well. And thus if we are not careful the day of the second death of vinyl will come with haste.

However, a solid reference is available right now: The Era Gold REFLEX phono preamplifier

EAR 834P Phonobox Signature (834P-MM/MC)

Moving magnet and moving coil valve phono preamplifier.
When first launched, now over five years ago, it was the only valve phono stage you could buy with facilities for both good quality Moving Coil (MC) and Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges. In addition, for a small premium the unit could be purchased with an in-built volume control, allowing direct connection to a power-amplifier.

Available at My Kind of Music. Visit manufacturer's site for more details at:

Black:

http://www.ear-yoshino.com/productdetails.asp?page=7&id=19

Chrome:

http://www.ear-yoshino.com/productdetails.asp?page=8&id=20

Analogue Accessories

Core Racks

Core Racks represent Cambre’s devotion to quality and style in Audio Video furniture. The shelf dimensions are longer and wider allowing premium components to fit. Core Racks are also constructed using the highest quality MDF with hand picked veneers ensuring unique and artistic wood grains on every shelf.

The shelf’s are engineered with ‘Acoustic Dampening Grooves’ (ADG). ADG’s provide a neutral platform in which components can truly perform at their best. ADG’s on the undersides of the shelf allow airborn external vibrations to be dissipated before they can reach the electronic components on the shelf.

Slatedeck

Specialising in vinyl replay as we believe the analogue playback system still outperforms the digital formats.

Here you can see an example from our "Slatedeck"© range of Welsh Slate Plinths providing what most would consider the pinnacle of turntable supports for the classic Garrard 301 turntable.

For a history of Garrard click here: http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/featureshtml/garrardhistory.html

Clearaudio

Clearaudio offers a complete line of analogue accessories such as the Matrix record cleaning machine offering unsurpassed performance in a very attractive package.
Clearaudio offers a full line of isolation products to help keep your system performing at its best including Magix, and acrylic cones. Also chose from a stylus pressure gauge, recordcleaning brush, stability headshell and headshell leads, the clever and quadro clamps, bearing grease, and thread reducers.

Available through My Kind of Music; for more information visit this site: http://www.musicalsurroundings.com/clearaudio/accessories.html

ZEROSTAT - Clean Your Vinyl Records

The Zerostat Antistatic Gun is an antistatic "generator" which has numerous applications in any microscopy laboratory. Just squeeze the "trigger" of the Zerostat and a steady stream of ions is released. The "magic" comes from two powerful piezoelectric crystals and a patented compression trigger. Originally developed for removing dust from "vinyl" or before that, normal "phonograph records."