Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Acoustical Systems Arché - SRA Headshell Tone Arms by Stitch

Model:	Arché - SRA Headshell
Category:	Tone Arms
Suggested Retail Price:	$ 495,--
Description:	Adjustable SRA Headshell
Manufacturer URL:	Acoustical Systems
Model Picture:	View

Review by Stitch on January 19, 2013 at 06:09:37
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for the Arché - SRA Headshell

I tried a lot of head-shells the last years, some were expensive and nothing special (most, burned money is always the wrong investment), the ones which survived were Orsonic 101s (good price, good damping, useable with all cartridges from adjustments) and Ikeda RS (super rigid, excellent energy transfer), in combination with Orsonic / Oyaide silver leads.
Something new got my attention:
A Headshell with an internal mechanism to adjust SRA without the need to move the Arm up and down (but when you own one of those you can also do that). The adjusting angle is 4° (from the insert, 90°-94°), this is enough to get any cartridge in the best sounding position. Overhang is 12mm (suitable for longer carts which have problems with the wiring at the rear with some Headshells), Azimut can be adjusted in the area of 2,5° each side.
It is not the only the SRA angle which is important for some audiophiles, more important (for me) is the position of the diamond and its polishing, which is responsible for maximimum information in the side walls of the groove. So, all you have to do is, level the Arm, mount it, adjust it to your favorite Null Point, set VTF, and give it a run.
When you want to try a different angle, you can use a screw driver to change SRA in the Headshell and listen again. Sooner or later you will find a position you will prefer to all others. Then it is done, clamp the front side of the Headshell and all is fixed.
When you own several carts, you can buy these inlays separate (Regular height or 2mm thicker for tiny cartridges). The advantage is, you don‘t need to buy a complete new HS for each cartridge, just replace the inlays with your premounted cart and it is done.
To change the insert and thus use several car- tridge in a state of “pre-adjusted” mode is very easy. Changing the inserts is a matter of less than 1 minute. Extra inserts can be ordered at any time from stock.

There aren't the cheap, awful sounding Aluminum screws delivered you find everywhere from other manufacturers, these are are brass. Can you hear the difference? I do.
But the next icing on that cake is the Performance, even when you don‘t touch the SRA mechanism. I used for that a cartridge which is easy to go for any Arm and I didn‘t expect any serious sonic differences compared to my Orsonic 101 (that is one of the better designs) but life showed me again, Brain and Knowledge counts. The used material, the demanded specifications and tolerances give a superior signal transfer to your Arm (here it is FR-64s), there is a complete new chapter in detail seperation to hear, sharp dynamic edges and a different speed from slow to fast, from silent to loud, a different experience in control of low level Information also.
Well, and that can be easily heard with a Plastic Body Cartridge.

When using a cart which was designed to a vibration transfer via its Body into the Headshell (Lyra Titan, Olympos for example, or others with metal body), this will be even more audible. With a cantilever-less design Ikeda 9 it is simply unbelievable (superior energy transfer into the connected Arm, the better that one is, the more Details you will hear)

There are different colors available

- satin silver finish
- satin black finish
- satin rhodium finish
- satin nickel finish
- satin fine gold finish (18 ct gold plated) Polished finish is available on special order.

The Divinity

Decca SXL 2136 La Boite a Jou Joux Printemps
Not the typical sonic blockbuster but it is the type of subtle and delicate music that is perfect for a quiet night. The subtle details have their own, unique kind of magic. Ultra-Transparent. One of the great recordings.

London CS 6006 Espana
From the very first moment you can hear a Performance which is spectacular with the Cadence, with stunning mid and low bass. There is a clarity and impact which is outstanding. Imaging is unusually good, the soundstage is wide linked with appropriate depth.

London CS 6046 Nights in the Garden of Spain
The better the units are the more you can hear the subtle interplay between guitar and orchestra. The Solist is not wrapped into the orchestra, his playing has its own volume and strength.
Clarity, warmth, dynamics are keywords for these records

London CS 6205
short description: SOUNDSTAGE / AMBIENCE / PRESENCE

Lyrita SRCS 109 Arnold - English Dances
Very problematic record, with Phono- / Linestages which miss the sonic target by a mile it is simply awful, really horrible, when the System is really done right, it is a killer Performance. The first time when my cup of tea went cold while listening was with a Lamm chain (LL2.1, LP2, M1.2R) and the Cadence / Coherence II pass with flying colors...

RCA LSC 2400 - Ballet Music from the Opera
The Verdi selections continue with the Triumphal March, also from Aida. It receives a spectacular performance that almost convinces me of its musical worth. The antiphonal trumpets are recorded very well, especially their boulevard-wide vibrato. Its flavour is magnificent in its gaudiness and emphasizes the grand nature of the opera. The string tone is vibrant, the tactile sense of bow on string sounding rich and very sensual. Macro and micro dynamics are represented truthfully, with percussion instruments adding to the wonderful overall effect. Placement of instruments is pinpoint within the large soundstage, and unison woodwinds and upper strings are separated easily by space and timbre.

Mercury SR 90212 Chabrier Espana
That was the first session in their new recording hall in Detroit. The abilities from Paray shine here at his best. There is an „easy going“ through the complex Performance which is very hard to find. The first notes of Espana, the opening, is among the most impressive moments you can get from a record. When we talk about the Golden Era of Analog, that one is a part of it.

What you will hear immediately is an effortless sonic presentation with a very open soundstage, natural tonal color with an extremely inner speed. That is based on its top specs and chosen material. Not the usual copy from something you find today and that in done cheap with a big markup, that one here is worth the money.

Reviewed with following Cartridges:
Fidelity Research FR-1 MK3F
Ikeda 9 EM
Lyra Helikon Mono
Lyra Olympos SL

Box:
- 3 metric hex wrench,
- 2 sets M2.5 brass screws and nuts,
- 1 polyrubber and 1 copper isolation ring,
- a pictured manual and a 6 month warranty.

Also available via Amazon Germany
Manual is available via download

Product Weakness:	None
Product Strengths:	Clever, useful Design

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Lamm ML2.1
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Lamm LP2s (70dB gain)
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Micro Seiki 5000 modified, FR-66s
Speakers: Reference 3A
Cables/Interconnects: Audioquest Sky
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Decca SXL / RCA Living Stereo
Room Comments/Treatments: Done
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition

Amplifier:	Lamm ML2.1
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Lamm LP2s (70dB gain)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Micro Seiki 5000 modified, FR-66s
Speakers:	Reference 3A
Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest Sky
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Decca SXL / RCA Living Stereo
Room Comments/Treatments:	Done
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition