Guest Hensa Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) Not sure if anyone is familiar with this new headshell, the Nasotec Swing. The concept seems so simple, I can't believe it hasn't been done before or has it? From their marketing: "This ‘Swing Headshell’ has a very soft and flexible joint designed to make a cartridge always align with the tangent of the groove circle. In addition, the joint machined precisely has small miniature bearing inside and makes the very flexible and sensitive swings. Therefore, the stylus keeps delicate and unbiased groove tracking. The sound has no strained but dynamic, high resolution, firm bass and low vinyl noise." http://www.highendcity.com/swing-headshell/ Not cheap for a headshell, but might be worth a crack - @, @@andyr, @@jaspert - any thoughts? Edited April 5, 2016 by Hensa
Chigurh Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 Interesting idea.I wonder why it has mounting slots though. If the stylus basically auto-tracks, the overhang would not be critical. You would think non-adjustable mounting holes for the screws would be more suitable.
metal beat Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 hmmm, Interesting Looks like someone at Mono and Stereo will use one soon. http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/01/nasotec-swing-headshell-arrived.html this video does not fill me with confidence btw, its above the lp surface https://youtu.be/-Sc7UgQNkfc
andyr Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 Mmmm, I think it's a flawed concept - as the 'soft and flexible' joint means that the cart is no longer rigidly attached to the headshell and arm, like it is in the normal situation. Andy 2
Guest Hensa Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 I guess the proof might be in the listening - I'll be interested to see some reviews. Andy, I thought the concept with this was along similar lines to the Thales tonearms where the headshell was able to pivot horizontally to align with the groove. It might be a shift in 'normal' thinking to the extent that perhaps the cartridge being isolated from the rest of the tonearm could be a better approach than the rigid coupling we're now familiar with?
Saxon Hall Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 The Youtube video is not really an incentive to buy one. I would like to see a demo before I pass any sort of judgement on the merits or otherwise
andyr Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) I guess the proof might be in the listening - I'll be interested to see some reviews. Absolutely right - as with everything, it's the listening that counts. (Me, I don't care if it's blind, half blind ... or sighted listening - as long as there are several people doing the listening. ) Andy, ... It might be a shift in 'normal' thinking to the extent that perhaps the cartridge being isolated from the rest of the tonearm could be a better approach than the rigid coupling we're now familiar with? Possibly. I've always followed the theory that the cart needs to be rigidly attached to the arm - which is itself rigidly attached to the armboard or plinth ... so vibrations generated in the cart by its travel through the groove, are dissipated. That's certainly what the (Froggie) designer of the Naim Aro thought - he didn't even put slots in the headshell for the cart bolts! (IMO that just solves one problem - rigidity - at the expense of another ... as you can't readily align a non-Linn cart (ie. one which has a different bolt-hole-to-stylus distance to a Linn cart), so you move away from optimal alignment, with a non-Linn cart.) Andy Edited February 28, 2016 by andyr
rocky500 Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) Someone could shoot off an email on behalf of a few of us to demo the headshell? Get one in and send it around to whoever wants to try it on SNA. If it is as good as they say, then they should get many orders from us guys who try it. I would put my hand up to try it. I saw this on the webpage linked in the first post by Hensa. * We offer free samples for the test and evaluation if there are good basis to believe. Welcome from the magazines, the forum groups and the prospective dealers. mail to: nasotec@nasotec.com Edited February 28, 2016 by rocky500
David.M Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 I guess the proof might be in the listening - I'll be interested to see some reviews. Andy, I thought the concept with this was along similar lines to the Thales tonearms where the headshell was able to pivot horizontally to align with the groove. It might be a shift in 'normal' thinking to the extent that perhaps the cartridge being isolated from the rest of the tonearm could be a better approach than the rigid coupling we're now familiar with? The Thales Simplicity headshell's pivot point is directly above the stylus (& why the cart is fitted with the headshell placed in a 'sight unit') and it's angle in relation to the groove is dictated by where across the LP it is tracking (there is zero play in the bearings). If my understanding is correct, the Nasotec headshell relies on stylus drag to make it tangent to the groove, you would think that any lateral forces caused by less than perfect anti-skate (at any point across the LP) or off-centre pressings will be a problem, possibly warps also. 1
Guest Hensa Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 Someone could shoot off an email on behalf of a few of us to demo the headshell? Get one in and send it around to whoever wants to try it on SNA. If it is as good as they say, then they should get many orders from us guys who try it. I would put my hand up to try it. I saw this on the webpage linked in the first post by Hensa. * We offer free samples for the test and evaluation if there are good basis to believe. Welcome from the magazines, the forum groups and the prospective dealers. mail to: nasotec@nasotec.com Good thinking Rocky! Request sent to Nasotec with a link to this thread so hopefully they will be interested in sending over a test unit which we can then circulate among interested members.
Guest Hensa Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) As a follow-up, Nasotec have replied that are happy to send over a sample headshell for me to test and report on through SNA. I've advised that I would also circulate the headshell to some others that might be interested for their own testing. @@rocky500, I take it you're a starter? If anyone else is keen to give this a crack, let me know through this thread and I'll try and knock up a schedule. Probably would want to limit it to around 5 or 6 testers initially with each tester to be responsible for postage to the next in line. Mods, if I need to cover off anything else (as this would be a review of sorts) please advise - I'd be happy to start a new thread specifically about the testing of the headshell, if that would be preferred. Just to add by way of edit, they also advised that a very similar process is just about to kick-off on a German audio forum. Edited February 29, 2016 by Hensa
rocky500 Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) Yes I am very keen to try one. Whenever I have looked up ways to line up my cartridge in a 9" tonearm in diiferent tuntables there appears to be a compromise for how the stylus will track the whole record. It will never be "square" the whole way through. I suppose a 12" tonearm would minimize this a bit more too. The advantage of a longer tonearm. Looking forward to giving it a wirl. Hoping the inside and outside tracks will sound better with this headshell? I am using a Jelco SA-750D tonearm with SME type connection if that makes any difference? Edited February 29, 2016 by rocky500
metal beat Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 @@Hensa Hi Greg I am more than happy to try out the headshell. I can try it out on my cheap Pioneer PLX-1000 as well as the more expensive Exclusive tables. Just need to work out what cartridge to trash Of most importance is for the headshell company to provide the cartridge specs we need to adhere to as well clear setup/alignment instructions. Cheers
jaspert Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 I would be interested in trying this funky head shell with some of my MM cartridges. Good work Hensa.
Guest Hensa Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) Hi Shane, I think we can be a little more optimistic than that[emoji3]! Still, perhaps not a Lyra for testing!I've asked the question about setup and they responded that setup should be as per a standard headshell using a protractor - so Loefgren for me.The weight of the headshell is about 10.7g.I plan to test it on the Sony direct drive and as I have two OM40 carts, I'll use one on the Nasotec and the other on the Sony carbon clad headshell (SH-160 - 12.5g). As the only thing needing adjustment between tests will be VTF, I should be able to switch quickly between them.You're more than welcome to drop round and have a listen as well!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited February 29, 2016 by Hensa
Guest Hensa Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 OK, so far: Shane and I in Sydney, Jaspert in Melbourne and Rob in Perth. Any others wanting to trial this headshell in their system, let me know! I'll let you know when it arrives and we can go from there.
Guest Muon Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Not me for the test. But I am very interested in the outcome of this, as I trust the opinions of those in the test. I'll follow my first thread in...well ever
andyr Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 I would be interested in trying this funky head shell with some of my MM cartridges. Good work Hensa. I would be interested in trying this funky head shell with some of my MM cartridges. Good work Hensa. *****! Use one of your high-priced LOMCs!! Andy
Guest Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) OK, so far: Shane and I in Sydney, Jaspert in Melbourne and Rob in Perth. Any others wanting to trial this headshell in their system, let me know! I'll let you know when it arrives and we can go from there. Yea, I can see the merit in it, have plenty of carts and I think the right adapter on my tone arm, when it's done a round the Mainland lob it over the ditch to Tassie. Cheers Edit, yep, have the right adaptor, same as picture and VAT on the fly adjustment Edited February 29, 2016 by Guest
Guest Hensa Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 125dBmonster added to the circuit! @, your opinion would also be valued, so let me know if you change your mind!
Guest Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Interesting, can actually see how it keeps the same stylus angle for the whole arc of the arm I wonder if it will make the last track on a record sound better ?
Guest Muon Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 125dBmonster added to the circuit! @, your opinion would also be valued, so let me know if you change your mind! Wait and see if there are any others here interested, if you don't get the numbers you need then I'll take one for the team also
Guest Hensa Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Wait and see if there are any others here interested, if you don't get the numbers you need then I'll take one for the team also No worries, I've got you penciled in but not signed in blood! I'm looking forward to testing this on the Telarc 1812 Overture which is a great test of tracking prowess!
Guest Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) Testing it would be fun Player here is a MICRO Seiki MR611, old but honest. Stock MA 101 Tonearm, sounding well with a Clearaudio cart. Edited February 29, 2016 by Guest
Guest Muon Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 I'm wondering if I don't hear an issue now, how much difference it could make. BUT, it wouldn't be the first time I didn't hear something objectionable until it was gone
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