Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

[Bowmoreman]

“Yes, SME M2 Series tonearms are available again in the United States and Canada. This decision was announced in July 2023.
Explanation
SME previously only sold tonearms with their turntables.
The decision to stop selling individual tonearms angered some audiophiles.
SME reversed the decision and began selling the M2 Series tonearms again, but with a higher price.”

They are out there but other tone arms interest me more.

Understand completely, at $2550 for the 309, that is - IMHO - already too much. That said, I wonder if any body of work has been done to study which arms work best on fully suspended TT designs, and which work best on rigid/mass platforms? I should ask my son the Mechanical Engineer if he’s any ponders on the topic.

And, of course if the “entry” 309M2 is $2550 or above that, then the IV and V are going to be ridiculously priced, opening up a world of interesting candidates at similar price points. I was also always a LONGTIME fan of Len Conte’s designs for arms and tables; he’s local. Back in the days, his stuff wasn’t as stratospherically priced as it is now. His passing was a loss indeed.

Thanks to some influence here, grabbed some Laphroaig 10 tonight, since they didnt have any Cask Strength available. Looking for other peaty Scotch recommendations, other than Ardbeg/Lagavulin, from the think tank here. Cheers!

See my Handle… <grin>… Bhunnahabhain(sp?) is also quite good. Laphroig and Bowmore are always in stock hereabouts…

 

[Les Strat]

Lol! I submit that Folkvangr is awesome in any color. Except maybe pink, but only @Ripper2860 would want that.

I must admit it looks great in black @bcowen

I wanted silver so that it matched other gear in the rack.

 

[adydula]

Somethings never grow old!!! LOL!

https://open.qobuz.com/album/ya8cb5y3cwtza

Favorite: Your Wildest Dreams !
https://open.qobuz.com/track/47373393

 

[Paladin79]

Understand completely, at $2550 for the 309, that is - IMHO - already too much. That said, I wonder if any body of work has been done to study which arms work best on fully suspended TT designs, and which work best on rigid/mass platforms? I should ask my son the Mechanical Engineer if he’s any ponders on the topic.

And, of course if the “entry” 309M2 is $2550 or above that, then the IV and V are going to be ridiculously priced, opening up a world of interesting candidates at similar price points. I was also always a LONGTIME fan of Len Conte’s designs for arms and tables; he’s local. Back in the days, his stuff wasn’t as stratospherically priced as it is now. His passing was a loss indeed.

See my Handle… <grin>… Bhunnahabhain(sp?) is also quite good. Laphroig and Bowmore are always in stock hereabouts…

I ruled out SME and I will be getting with local friends to discuss options and to see which tables are available for me to hear. They speak highly of Nottingham, Linn, Dr. Freickert, and VPI so I hope to hear those. No word on SOTA so far. Then there are various arms and cartridges of course and some brands have limitations. We also need to decide on a table or tables to use to hear phono preamps. Amps and speakers are already decided from what I am being told. Hopefully the Stjarna is out by mid March so we can give it a proper assessment.

 

[bevanc]

Thanks to some influence here, grabbed some Laphroaig 10 tonight, since they didnt have any Cask Strength available. Looking for other peaty Scotch recommendations, other than Ardbeg/Lagavulin, from the think tank here. Cheers!

Caol Ila is very nice, as is Bunnahabhain. If you want something really peaty, Octomore is a monster. A little too much for me to be honest.

 

[DavidSerig]

Has there been any thought of a Gunnr with a 5 1/4 inch pc case form factor?

 

[adydula]

Saw these guys live many years ago...a really nice laid back listen...they have tons of stuff out there..
https://open.qobuz.com/track/59320208

https://open.qobuz.com/album/w0bpo9o1fjsxb

 

[rocketron]

I ruled out SME and I will be getting with local friends to discuss options and to see which tables are available for me to hear. They speak highly of Nottingham, Linn, Dr. Freickert, and VPI so I hope to hear those. No word on SOTA so far. Then there are various arms and cartridges of course and some brands have limitations. We also need to decide on a table or tables to use to hear phono preamps. Amps and speakers are already decided from what I am being told. Hopefully the Stjarna is out by mid March so we can give it a proper assessment.

Have you had a look at The Wand Tone Arm ?
Available from Design Build Listen.

 

[Paladin79]

Have you had a look at The Wand Tone Arm ?
Available from Design Build Listen.

I have heard of them but not seen one.

 

[OldRoadToad]

I'm in!!!

Lagavulin?

ORT

 

[rocketron]

I have heard of them but not seen one.

I have used several on modded Technics turntables.
I would class them as a bargain for what they offer.
Favourite cartridges used with them include Nagaoka Mp 200 500
Denon 103r modded
All time favourite Technics EPS-310 MC T4p.

 

[Paladin79]

I have used several on modded Technics turntables.
I would class them as a bargain for what they offer.
Favourite cartridges used with them include Nagaoka Mp 200 500
Denon 103r modded
All time favourite Technics EPS-310 .

From the info I found they do like to use 12” arms and that can be a plus but then there can be cartridge limitations.

Now that all of my LP’s are clean I will finish a Thorens mod and then get busy sampling end game tables.

 

[rocketron]

From the info I found they do like to use 12” arms and that can be a plus but then there can be cartridge limitations.

Yes there can be limits but some time are ears over rules the maths

 

[OldRoadToad]

My suggestion fails on a couple of levels (not sure it is available anymore with only 140 units produced, and it costs more than $8k) but based purely on aesthetic considerations and assumed excellent performance, I cannot stop lusting after the Thorens TD 124 DD 140th Anniversary model. It is unbearably gorgeous.

If that is determined by both clergy and scholars alike (and it surely must be) a part of the experience that awaits us in Heaven, then who among us can resist eternity? Certainly not I.

We now return control of your computer and Schiit Stack to you, until next time at this same time, which can be anytime, when the Control Voice will take you to... The ORTer Limits...

ORT

 

[Paladin79]

Yes there can be limits but some time are ears over rules the maths

Precisely, there is little I buy for long term use that I have not sampled especially if over a few thousand $$.