FR 64s and EMY XSD15

[Curling3]

Does anyone have experience of the FR64S and the EMT XSD 15. I have heard that the FR64 prefers low compliance cartridges and the EMt at 15 may be a bit high?

[Groove-T]

What you heard is right.

If you go for the XSD 15, the EMT tonearm is very good match.
I have them both. ( For sale)

For the 64 S you need something like the DL 103.
I also have the FR 64 S working with a Magic Diamond, excellent, but this one is very costly. (Not for sale)

[Curling3]

Many thanks for getting back so quickly. My reason for enquiring about the EMT XSD is that I also have a SME 3012 arm and I wanted something that would work well on both. My deck is a EMT 930. I think I am probably better going for an Ortofon SPU and will check these out.

[Groove-T]

3012 is pretty good, but not for the XSD.
I have also the 930 with the FR64 S and the Micro Magic *Magic Diamond*.

This is it, my friend!


The SPU is good, but has a different connector....

[brianco]

There was an extra heavy counterweight for the 64S arm....it allows the weight to be placed nearer the bearings than does the standard weight, and thereby extends the range of cartridges which can be used. It should then work well with the EMT cartridge. You can also reduce mass slightly by using a lighter headshell for more normal fitting cartridges. I used an old SPU/e for a while in this arm with great success by removing the Thorens plastic headshell and using two decent parallel bar spacers to keep the cartridge parallel in the non-housing style FR headshell - I cannot remember the FR model; no though. ( It has a nasty bump above the fastening lugs). This makes the SPU a real contender: much faster and less lush/bloated.