Your enthusiasm is contagious and noted, Toob. I gotta see if the mounting plate, really more of an arm, on my TT is compatible with the Kuzma. Both arms are 9 incher's, I believe, so maybe I'm good. Then I gotta reconcile adding another gain stage for the 17D if I do that instead of the HO 20x.
I know, I know.....
I must seem like a broken record....or worse yet, a shill for Kuzma....but I'm really not!
It's just that I have the utmost respect for it, and that comes from ownership and direct comparisons to other good arms. I simply like to share good finds with the community here.
I just think an arm of this caliber for $1200 is tremendous value. It lists for $2800 to $3800, depending on the wiring option. And the VTA riser he is including is another several hundred $!
But it is unsold for 3 months!.....why am I alone in this thought?!
Have my ears gone tin all of a sudden?
Nah! Methinks simply a case of low brand recognition here in the states, and not being on the "fan boy" fave list.
Mounting:
I think Kuzma is standard Linn / Rega mount, so it should drop right into your current armboard....assuming the mounting distance is correct.
Here are the specs for the armboard:
* required diameter for Kuzma arm pillar collar.........30 mm
* 3 equidistant bolt holes, diameter to center of holes......48 mm
* diameter of bolt holes...........6 mm
Mounting distance........ 212 mm
overhang ..................... 18 mm
effective length.......... 230mm
You already know I like the Dyna 20X-H. Another reasonably priced hi output cart I own and recommend is the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood. It is excellent.
But if you insist on LOMC and need more gain, think about swapping your PS-1 for the Vista. I'd be surprised if you lost anything at all in the process.
But with sooo many gain settings on your PS-1 you already have tons of cartridge options in the .5 to 4.0mV range. Many excellent ones are below $1k. If funds are too tight right now to do everything, I would not even worry about going to super low output presently. I would just upgrade the arm and get a nice cartridge that works with your PS-1. Down the road, as funds allow, you can "upgrade" to lo output.
Trust me, the Stogi Ref is so good you will enjoy whatever cart you get now. And it will put you in good shape for future upgrades. In my estimation, it is a world class arm and a great fundamental building block that will just get better as you upgrade around it.
