Anyone After An Alphason Arm?

[satanfriendly]

I don't know what they fetch these days but it will definitely be in the hundreds

A local respected dealer recently sold one for £700, so people obvioulsy value and want them.

[JaS]

A local respected dealer recently sold one for £700, so people obvioulsy value and want them.

Ouch! I'd want a deck attached to the arm for that price - a nice low mileage PT TOO or a Voyd the Voyd would be nice

Regards,
JaS

[willb]

Re: HR100s

Although I've never been lucky enough to use one myself, a lot of people (users & dealers) rated them very highly.

I remember seeing Mike at the Bristol show in 1991 (my first visit), and he couldn't afford a proper room, so set up in a "space" in the entrance hall, just below Linn's mega set-up on the terrace! No prizes for which one was better

A couple of years later, a local dealer had some TT's from another guy who had recently closed (retired I think). The guys in the shop would try and get anyone who showed an interest in the Alphason Sonata to "pick it up" - well it's only a suspended deck isn't it?

"!!** me, that's a beast, what's it made of?"

Something resembling cast iron by the look of it (sub-chassis), and the arms were titanium, which was not common at all then, and it's not easy to work with either.... The fact that it's an "S" shaped arm is the only thing that's "old fashioned" about it IMHO. The cheaper arms (OPAL?) also came in MCS versions and were also very good.

Wish I could afford one!

Must go - Murray's breaking back!

[DJO]

Yes but a RS 1 arm costs only 1000 $, it was used by Yé Yamamura for his Requiem TT and here we have a winner.

[satanfriendly]

A winner of what?

RS 1 arm costs only 1000 $, it was used by Yé Yamamura for his Requiem TT

Most TT related objects made by Yamamura were 'one offs' and the Requiem is doubtful it ever really existed outside of prototype. I can't say the RS1 has ever been mentioned as an all time great before.

Give me an Alphason anyday thanks

[DJO]

Because it's made in UK ?

[satanfriendly]

Because it's made in UK ?

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I don't care where items are made as long as they are quality. The Alphason fits that bracket nicely. I also happen to use an Italian sourced arm.

[DJO]

Yes but why is it so good after all those years and many new designs ? I'm searching for an explanation.

[JaS]

Yes but why is it so good after all those years and many new designs ? I'm searching for an explanation.

Who knows? Maybe the 80's was a golden age for tonearm design? Or maybe not much progress has been made outside of the real high end stuff since then? There are many 20-30 year old tonearm designs still in production, for example the SME IV and V, Hadcock, Moerch, Rega, Roksan Tabriz, Linn Akito, Jelcos etc and if Alphason had continued making the HR100S I'm sure there would still be a market for it? As it is, it's a fine sounding arm with limited supply so the used prices reflect this.

FWIW there are a couple of reviews in the library comparing it to arms of the time, but nothing beats hearing one

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3189
http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=38042

And here's another from HiFi World
http://www.n.mackie.btinternet.co.uk/do ... erarms.txt

"It's beautifully refined and considered nature will run rings around an Ittok or a Syrinx in terms of detail and focus. Midband is extremely neutral and clean, lending instruments a mastertape-like solidity. Soundstaging is well proportioned, with fine spatial detailing and depth perspective. Tonal quality is good, with a smooth neutrality right across the frequency spectrum and no obvious colorations. Bass is punchy and well proportioned, never sounding leaden like a Zeta or 'lite' like the Grace. In so many ways, the Alphason is a real class act. The problem is that it isn't so fluent at music making. Vocals lack power and projection, rhythms are deconstructed rather than played, and dynamics aren't particularly impactful. Everything on the record is there in your listening room, but it never really sparks the imagination or gets the foot "tapping."

Regards,
JaS

[ProfTournesol]

Yes but why is it so good after all those years and many new designs ? I'm searching for an explanation.

Why is a Pink Triangle still so good after all these years? If you have a design that works well, then it will be hard to beat at any time unless there's a major advance in theoretical understanding or materials. Has there been a major advance in tonearm design? I think the advances really are in 'engineering quality for the dollar (pound)' so that what was 'top quality' trickles down over time. It sounds like the Alphason arm was uncommonly well engineered for it's time, much like an SME.

[rolleye]

contrary to most peoples opinions about the Alphason HR100s, I couldn't get on with it at all, it just didn't have what i was looking for and in the end I went for a Helius Orion 3 which is what i still have on the Anni today.......
and I still think the above combo is better than the Export Vector/FXR II i have and i've still not found anything else i prefer.....just my 2 penneth

Maybe the 80's was a golden age for tonearm design? Or maybe not much progress has been made outside of the real high end stuff since then?

it was and there hasn't....imo of course

[tim_bissell]

Interesting; the Helius Orion was around the same price, maybe slightly more, as that of the Alphason in the review; I have a recently serviced Mk. II on my (ex abandonflip) PT Too, and it sounds excellent there.
Cost of the second-hand Orion, plus a service and silver litz rewire by Helius was around £400, so if you want a classic 80s arm, maybe more fragile than the Alphason, an Orion could be a bargain.

-- Tim

P.S. the PT Too is beautifully set up, I'm glad I got it, but peeved I didn't go for his Anni when I had the chance!

[rolleye]

you need an Anni Tim, they are just sooooo good, but make sure all is well with it before you part with your cash, I've heard of one or two horror stories recently ie knackered bearing, faulty psu and unusually a twisted sub-chassis!!

At £400 including arm, servicing and re-wire your Orion was a bargain imo

[rob polley]

Yes but why is it so good after all those years and many new designs ? I'm searching for an explanation.

Why is a Pink Triangle still so good after all these years? If you have a design that works well, then it will be hard to beat at any time unless there's a major advance in theoretical understanding or materials. Has there been a major advance in tonearm design? I think the advances really are in 'engineering quality for the dollar (pound)' so that what was 'top quality' trickles down over time. It sounds like the Alphason arm was uncommonly well engineered for it's time, much like an SME.

The Export is a brilliant deck, I know as I have had one for many years. Nothing gets that soundstage for the money - especially CDs or Linn. I had it for a while with a borrowed SME IV / Shure VST combo and it was superb. At the time I couldn't afford it, which was a pity as I would now have to pay twice the amount (so still can't afford it).
But I have a daft problem. This will appear to be a stupid question, but here goes. I'm putting back my original Roksan Tabriz / Denon DL 304 on my Export, after a few years trying to get an old SME to work (some bad tinkering). It doesn't work - so I put the Tabriz back while I look for another arm, all fine, but I can't find the place you screw the earth lead. The SME had it on the base of the arm, but where to put it on the PT? The only place I can see is the lead grip on the back, but I'm not sure that will work, it's wood, does that matter - I'm a simpleton re electrics I know. I can't remember where it went, can anyone help. I've downloaded the instructions for arm and turntable, can find but nothing on this.
I'd appreciate the knowledge I know you have - somewhere.
Please don't advise me to not tinker in the first place if I don't know what I'm doing, I've learnt that.
In the past I would have asked the PT dealer, but can't find a dealer who's willing or able to help. I may have to ask Arthur who built the deck, but that's the last resort.
Ta - Rob