A question of sKale?

[Cymbiosis Expert Linn Retailer]

(2012-04-21 10:05)rosie Wrote:  You know, I think there are only about 3 people on this forum who have actually had a listen to the sKale. For now all we can do is talk about what it looks like. Until one of the 3 offers an opinion . We also ,only have 4 photos to go by and they are of a pre production product.
So lets talk about what it looks like. Well finished, not so good from behind but who is. Looks quite big. I bet it looks better in black. I would love to see a black one on an Ittok complementing its black headshell. And a black one on an Ekos.

Regards rosie

I can offer an opinion as I have a little time to write this evening, but it is just an initial opinion, and this thread is just about news and telling you what you might like to check out at your local dealer if you so wish...........

As I said in my first post, my listening session on Tuesday last, was fairly brief at about half an hour. I used a system, a Naim system with Kudos loudspeakers that was left in the demo room following a demo earlier in the day.

The LP12 used was Radikal, Urika with Keel and Ekos Se running an Akiva. The first LP/track I chose was Shelby Lynne's Just a Little Loving.

I'm sure most of you know it... If not? Then you should go an buy it IMHO

Anyway, the first track starts off quietly and slowly and builds up from there until she starts to sing etc..... My initial impressions were: With the sKale the sound was more together, more purposeful, I felt I could follow the bass lines better and they went deeper. There appeared to be greater resolution of the music – More detail of individual instruments, and yet there appeared to be no loss of tune either. Rather the reverse IMHO with this brief encounter!

A also played some Faithless and again concluded the same, chatted to the guys and then had to pack up as the urge to get going and down to Heathrow was getting ever greater for me.... I had a close shave in the USA recently in Chicago at O’Hare and I wasn’t going to risk the same with our own beloved London Heathrow and the M25!

My second listening opportunity came yesterday when building and installing an LP12 for a very serious audiophile. Again, the specification was the same excepting the Urika for now, as this will come later when appropriate space and access to the CJ pre amp is possible, as there were already three other phono stages and three other turntables running in this system. The mono power amps (who's name escapes me ATM) were very capable and feeding a pair of JM Alto Utopias.

So, for the listening session we used a very serious Allnic phono stage, highly respected in this part of the world, and it was loaded to 100 Ohms. The LP12 had hard original feet fitted and was situated next to the main system for the evaluation on a Mana stand. The T-Kable was grey one as the client has owned the Se for some time and originally we’d planned to use the Urika. The Radikal and LP12 were brand new and as such, not run in.

However, this did not compromise the comparison too much as the LP12 was immediately showing all the musical traits we love and in spades, through this mighty, but unfamiliar (to me) system. I should point out that the deck had been matted and this was very easy to do and to hear.

Anyway, we played various Jazz and other albums from the client’s collection and then we settled down to do some counterweight A/B’s using a very fine Dave Grusin album...................... Again, what was apparent was the musical flow and the greater resolution using the sKale. Prior to these tests, the Akiva’s tracking force was set to the same force of 1.75g previously judged to be optimum, using the rotary dial in the normal way and then checked using my own calibrated Clearaudio stylus scales.

Now then whilst I am unfamiliar with this system here in Singapore, I can tell you that the LP12 sounded mighty and it’s fair to say that my observations on the differences in sound between the counterweights remained the same as I had initially concluded earlier in the week when back in the UK.

So, in summary I believe it’s a good development. It’s a sympathetic development relative to the Se and you guys if you are curious, should try and get a listen to it. It’s your ears,your choice, your money.

KR

Peter

P.S. Yes my client has ordered one.