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Well we know this cart. is not for the average Joe. For the money one would expect everything a cart is capable of. Is it ? I'll never know unless I read the review. It would be interesting to know how the Goldfinger compares directly to say a Lyra Titan or Strain Gauge from Soundsmith. . Using two exactly the same arms and TT. Is it the best to be had out there ? When is a review forthcoming ?charles
Not really because you can't compare in real time. I tried that and found that two identical tables with identical arms, cartridges and tonearm cables is much more useful, because then you can change one variable and listen side by side in real time. I've got a handful of albums from MoFi, Music Matters, etc that I have two copies of that are only one or two pressing numbers apart so I can spin the same record both places at the same time. Much more useful than a table with two arms.Both the ARC REF Phono2SE and Pass XP-25 have dual inputs that can be configured identically.The table with two arms is a lot more fun on an audiophile level, because then you can have two cartridges with completely different tonal characters, or a Stereo and Mono setup.
Not really because you can't compare in real time.
And that is what we do. That's why I have a pair of AVID Acutus Ref tables and a pair of SME V arms. It's the only way to really get a handle on things. Which is exactly what we did with the Atlas/Titan/Kleos review. When they were set up side by side, everything identical, the diff was easy to hear. A table with two arms is great, but you can't go back and forth in real time. It's easy for your memory to play tricks on you!
The credibility of a review depends on a large degree, on the experience and expertise of the reviewer. This is especially true with completely subjective reviewing. Having a single "reference" set-up (as above), may be useful to hear differences between similar Lyra cartridges, but in an ultimate sense, is revealing differences with that particular set-up. When you jump to comparing carts with very dissimilar physical characteristics, such a comparison will usually favor one over the other. I don't know if that's the case here, but that's the point. To assume differences are universal, is a mistake. It is entirely possible that a different set-up, one of equal or greater quality, could yield very different results. In the past I criticized a couple of Mikey Fremer's reviews because I knew he missed the mark due to inappropriate set-ups. This was with a couple of reviews around 25 yrs ago. I don't think that is the case today. The reason I mentioned the SPU in a previous post, was because of cart weight and VTF, not a qualitative comparison. Like a Denon 103 with a beefed up body, I suspect there may be very spicific arm mass considerations? Goldfinger seems most unusual weighing in at 17g and having a cu of 15. Most heavyweight carts have a lower cu. I don't think the review is out yet, so this isn't a direct criticism. Like the $60K Caliburn table that Steve Hoffman loves and Tone doesn't, YMMV.neo
my goal is to help our readers make some sense of it.
And, as I've repeated so many times before, the best review is meant to pique your interest and hopefully get you to put something on your short list to examine for yourself and draw the final conclusion. I know this is especially tough with cartridges. Conrad Mas at AVID has joked many times that I have more AVID product in my listening room than any of his dealers do.That's why I keep a dozen turntables, about 15 tonearms and a plethora of cartridges and phono stages around. It often takes more than one standard setup to get great sound, and my goal is to help our readers make some sense of it.
That's why I love reading your mag. In fact, my only criticism is I want more reviews of analog related stuff, now that I am knee deep in it! Thanks for your help in my setup as always.Anand.
