Mr. Fremer. Just want to express my gratitude for your many dedicated years to audio and recording. Always, and I mean always, like having a favorite teacher, it is highly appreciated. Your at your best as you. Thank you
First the Silence Audio TT-1 now this incredible bargain of a tonearm in the Korf Audio TA-AF9 with a flexure bearing. Wiki says flexure bearing require no lubricant. A lot of technology for what, $3500. Not to mention it looks a treat. Again, insane. Mikey, the 10" arm needs an in house review.
That’s easy! The American importer/distributor invited me to see the new one at The offsite Marriott show. It’s a time waster but I went! An older turntable was there. He had forgotten to tell me the manufacturer changed his mind and showed the new one at the main convention center in a static display! I never saw it but I forgave the importer of course. Everyone screws up!
Regarding the Korf tonearm, two observations: 1) while the term “frictionless bearing” is used in the engineering vernacular to describe low friction devices, a frictionless bearing does not exist, except in a world where the laws of physics do not apply. I think the term as used in a marketing context here is a bit dishonest. 2) One has to wonder if a less expensive arm, for example the rega RB 880 at one-third the cost of this arm, will be sonically distinguishable from this arm in a blind compare with the same cart and system parameters and components equal. I submit a majority of a such a panel will not be able to discern a difference in a majority of trials. On the other hand, it must be acknowledged that at $3.500 this arm is still a bargain next to other exotic arms that can sell for multiples of that amount. But all in all, diminishing returns sets in rapidly when trying to justify prices higher than a well made, well engineered, “mass market” tonearm like the RB 880, in my opinion.
when you have ball-race type bearings, you have multiple paths through which vibrations and resonances travel and mirror back. How that type of bearing compares to this or to single point gimbal bearings would make for an interesting blind test but I'm pretty sure there are audible differences..
Rarefied air, i need to catch my breath. Conversely, anybody who cannot afford one of them cannot afford two. Uberlight, i will not put a usb powered light next to my analog music rig. For that price it should have a medical grade nonlinear power supply. Does it? I would really like to get the Indian Music LP, more info on that and the others to follow. PLEASE
Ya. Id say thats super obvious. Most people don’t even have HiFi 2 channel so not only would they not know. They also don’t care. A Moot Point if you will.
Mr. Fremer.
Just want to express my gratitude for your many dedicated years to audio and recording.
Always, and I mean always, like having a favorite teacher, it is highly appreciated. Your at your best as you.
Thank you
Thanks for the Korf feature Mikey...I bought the 11" for my Garrard...nice to see Alex in the flesh!
Brilliant stuff Mikey. Love all the knowledge in analogue that you get out of people. You know a lot of people.
Thank you for a great Munich experience. I feel like a got a good handle on what is new in the analogue community
Michael, very nicely done.
Bonus coverage? Fantastic!! 🎉
First the Silence Audio TT-1 now this incredible bargain of a tonearm in the Korf Audio TA-AF9 with a flexure bearing. Wiki says flexure bearing require no lubricant. A lot of technology for what, $3500. Not to mention it looks a treat. Again, insane. Mikey, the 10" arm needs an in house review.
Very nicely done Michael, as always. I am curious as to why the coverage of the new Pear turntable was so limited? Thanks
That’s easy! The American importer/distributor invited me to see the new one at The offsite Marriott show. It’s a time waster but I went! An older turntable was there. He had forgotten to tell me the manufacturer changed his mind and showed the new one at the main convention center in a static display! I never saw it but I forgave the importer of course. Everyone screws up!
Great coverage Michael, superb mini interviews, and good video, and sound ; many thanks for your hard work !
Many thanks for the wonderful coverage.
I've always been much impressed by Nagra, thanks for covering them!
Regarding the Korf tonearm, two observations: 1) while the term “frictionless bearing” is used in the engineering vernacular to describe low friction devices, a frictionless bearing does not exist, except in a world where the laws of physics do not apply. I think the term as used in a marketing context here is a bit dishonest. 2) One has to wonder if a less expensive arm, for example the rega RB 880 at one-third the cost of this arm, will be sonically distinguishable from this arm in a blind compare with the same cart and system parameters and components equal. I submit a majority of a such a panel will not be able to discern a difference in a majority of trials. On the other hand, it must be acknowledged that at $3.500 this arm is still a bargain next to other exotic arms that can sell for multiples of that amount. But all in all, diminishing returns sets in rapidly when trying to justify prices higher than a well made, well engineered, “mass market” tonearm like the RB 880, in my opinion.
when you have ball-race type bearings, you have multiple paths through which vibrations and resonances travel and mirror back. How that type of bearing compares to this or to single point gimbal bearings would make for an interesting blind test but I'm pretty sure there are audible differences..
Sounding good Mr. Fremer.
I see these parts and think of my sub $1000 system. What’s available is truly amazing! I won’t ever own it but it’s fun to at least see it exists.
Please love your system, A Gan-Fet behind Tubes is Future sounds absolutely beautiful and will soon be under $2k
great coverage
Sign me up for the Indian album. Now just need the name of the album!
we don not yet know any of the details...
Rarefied air, i need to catch my breath.
Conversely, anybody who cannot afford one of them cannot afford two.
Uberlight, i will not put a usb powered light next to my analog music rig. For that price it should have a medical grade nonlinear power supply. Does it?
I would really like to get the Indian Music LP, more info on that and the others to follow. PLEASE
👍👍👍👍👍👌✌️🙏
@3:25 Didn't know Tom Jones had a twin! Then again maybe he doesn't either!😂😂
I wonder why there’s still turntabelists productions without 78rpm settings. Sadly Korf doesn’t have it.
I hear vinyl is dead - silent?
hahaha
I believe the newish EMT turntable will play 78s they were demonstrating at AXPONA, see the video
I'm an audiophile, so I know a lot of these brands, but the average Joe would be clueless about any of these companies.
Self-proclaimed audiophile 😊
Majority brands won't consider
So.
Ya. Id say thats super obvious. Most people don’t even have HiFi 2 channel so not only would they not know. They also don’t care. A Moot Point if you will.
Very enjoyable Michael, thanks for the hard work. 🫡