How good is Ekstatik?

[sktn77a]

If you look on the web you can see scanning electron microscope photos of the stylus in the groove. They will show you how incredibly tiny the wiggles in the grooves are and how little of the (already very small) diamond actually touches the vinyl. When you see this it starts making sense how any small vibration reaching the record from outside will disturb the ability of the stylus to be shoved around by just the groove. Vibrations from the turntable main bearing, which has the difficult task of allowing a smooth, non-varying circular movement of the platter with no movement in other directions (wobble, uneven rotation, up and down motion, etc.). Vibrations from the motor which has to transfer consistent power to the platter without transferring any self-created wobble or vibrations.

I recall an interview with Julian Vereker on US radio in the early 80s in which he likened the LP12/Ittok/Asak to a telephone pole a mile long with a log splitter on the end and a record groove a couple of inches wide. He was emphasizing the quality of a rigid coupling between the three. Of course, he conveniently omitted the "lossy" connection between the LP12 armboard and the subchassis, effectively negating all the theory............

 

[ToonLP]

Doing it’s thing on a wonderful album to test its strengths.

 

[Ron.P]

Doing it’s thing on a wonderful album to test its strengths.

As a guitar player, I was/am flummoxed by Tommy's skills. Then I saw the movie "Men In Black" and it all made sense.....

 

[ToonLP]

As a guitar player, I was/am flummoxed by Tommy's skills. Then I saw the movie "Men In Black" and it all made sense.....

One of only 5 guitarists in history to be awarded the Certified Guitar Player (CGP) accolade.

 

[ToonLP]

I’m 31 hours into the monster cartridge that is Ekstatik now and it just gets better and better and better.

Conventional wisdom points to a run in period of 50-70 hours so, if true, I still have more improvements to come. Yikes - that’s definitely something big to look forward to.

A wonderful cartridge mated to the Ekos SE (and so it should be too)

 

[pirov]

I’m 31 hours into the monster cartridge that is Ekstatik now and it just gets better and better and better.

Conventional wisdom points to a run in period of 50-70 hours so, if true, I still have more improvements to come. Yikes - that’s definitely something big to look forward to.

A wonderful cartridge mated to the Ekos SE (and so it should be too)

Glad you are enjoying your Ekstatik. I did wonder how much the one I had on home-dem might further improve, as it had only done around 20 hours when I began the trial.

I'm still waiting delivery of my Etna SL, ordered nine weeks ago.

bt, what's that stylus timer thingy?

 

[airV]

bt, what's that stylus timer thingy?

perhaps this one

https://www.stylustimer.com/

 

[NL.]

Glad you are enjoying your Ekstatik. I did wonder how much the one I had on home-dem might further improve, as it had only done around 20 hours when I began the trial.

Mine improved significantly after 100h. Heights become less emphasized. At the beginning I was amazed with the level of details, resolution, “air between instruments” etc. But soon after, high resolution started to annoy me. Now, after cca 200h it’s much more musical and better balanced, more natural. I also don’t have any problems with skipping, which I had from start. I spoke with Linn guys at the Munich hi-end show about that not so brilliant experience, Gordon from Linn told me Ekstatik suspension needs at least 80h to burn in - to become more elastic. My old Krystal was a different beast, more Lyra like sound, more relaxed and soft.

 

[saxo]

En effet, pour diverses raisons, certaines cartouches neuves méritent plus d'heures de rodage. Je me souviens que lorsque j'ai remplacé Akiva par Kandid, j'étais déçu ; un ami a fait le même constat. Le nouveau Kandid était plus sec et plus net avec des basses plus faibles, l'Akiva sonnait plus mélodique. Petit à petit, Kandid s'adoucit et dépasse Akiva après 80/100 heures. Je pense que cela peut être pour Exstatik.

 

[DB1328]

Mine improved significantly after 100h. Heights become less emphasized. At the beginning I was amazed with the level of details, resolution, “air between instruments” etc. But soon after, high resolution started to annoy me. Now, after cca 200h it’s much more musical and better balanced, more natural. I also don’t have any problems with skipping, which I had from start. I spoke with Linn guys at the Munich hi-end show about that not so brilliant experience, Gordon from Linn told me Ekstatik suspension needs at least 80h to burn in - to become more elastic. My old Krystal was a different beast, more Lyra like sound, more relaxed and soft.

If there is something like a Lyra sound, how can a Krystal from Armour/Goldring can do this?

 

[Ben Webster]

En effet, pour diverses raisons, certaines cartouches neuves méritent plus d'heures de rodage. Je me souviens que lorsque j'ai remplacé Akiva par Kandid, j'étais déçu ; un ami a fait le même constat. Le nouveau Kandid était plus sec et plus net avec des basses plus faibles, l'Akiva sonnait plus mélodique. Petit à petit, Kandid s'adoucit et dépasse Akiva après 80/100 heures. Je pense que cela peut être pour Exstatik.

It would be very nice if you use English (or a kind of like I do ) like all the other members do.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[NL.]

If there is something like a Lyra sound, how can a Krystal from Armour/Goldring can do this?

Ok, if you insist - let it be than just more “relaxed and soft”

 

[Mr Kandid]

Some other forums moderate and delete not posting in the forum native language.
Best to ignore this kind of rudeness.

 

[saxo]

Ce serait très bien si vous utilisiez l'anglais (ou une sorte d'anglais comme moi ) comme tous les autres membres de la police.
Merci d'avance.

Je suis désolé si la traduction Deepl ne convient pas.

 

[Ben Webster]

Je suis désolé si la traduction Deepl ne convient pas.

Hi Saxo,

I‘m not sure if you are aware, that all your postings are in French language. So may be your Deepl does not work in the other direction.

Even your quotes are in French.

 

[Chris 1970]

It would be very nice if you use English (or a kind of like I do ) like all the other members do.
Many thanks in advance.

Ben, what do you have against la France?
Hum?

 

[13th Duke of Wymbourne]

'Ne convient pas' reminds of 'Let's parlez Franglais' from Punch magazine.

 

[akamatsu]

How good is Ekstatik? It's so good and resolves so well that non French speakers can understand French music fluently.

I think that's what this thread is trying to tell me.

 

[Ben Webster]

Ben, what do you have against la France?
Hum?

Nothing! I like French music and also Greek singers.

Highly recommended:

 

[Ben Webster]

@Chris 1970 #16 „Erra Settembre“ is a good piece to decide between fibre and copper. Looking for your feedback.

But it seems, we‘re a little bit off topic.