Finally a Gimbal FatBoy in my friend’s HR-X

[930turbo]

Hi guys ,

Finally a buddy of mine & I had found the time to install a FatBoy to our mutual friend’s HR-X. We thought installation would be straight forward but we had difficulty in unlicking the nut that held the bearing cup of the Unipivot JMW 12.7 . Using a hammer and a nail we were able to unbolt the nut . This is how the nut looks like , & it needed a special tool to unlock the bolt

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Another problem we encounteted , was the inability of the of the rubber pad of the cueing mechanism to touch the belly of the FatBoy . No amount of adjusting the position / height of the cueing mechanism to touch the belly of the New arm . Thanks to the VPI forum we found the solution to the problem . We attached a small rubber pad and glued it in the underbelly of the FatBoy . Here is a sample picture were the rubber pad is located .

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After we adjusted the VTF , alignment. then azimuth . We had a little difficulty in adjusting azimuth but w/ the help of a Fogzometer we were able to achieve identical reading / output .
Finally we were able to listen to it and it sounds fantastic . It was a night & day difference compared to the stainless steel JMW 12.7 . My friend was very happy w/ the FatBoy and he says is worth every penny . For now his other table the Kronos / Kuzma 4 point 11’ / Clearaudio Goldfinger V2 is relegated to the dustbin .

930

[Brf]

Nice write up! BTW, you can use a set curved needle nosed pliers to undo the bearing nut. You just insert the pliers' tips into the holes and turn.

[930turbo]

Hi Brf (997C4S)

Thanks for the nice words , unfortunately we did not have that tool on hand and we were desperate to install the FatBoy . I cant believe how big the improvement the FatBoy Gimbal brought to my friend’s system . The mid range sounds so alive as if the singer is in your room . A palpable image and such a bigger soundstage . A blacker background and a tight deep bass . Here are some pictures of my friend’s HR-X w/ the new tone arm .

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Here is the turntable relegated in the meantime in the dustbin slayed by the HR-X

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Picture of his power amps and speakers . He is also an ARC diehard ( REF 750SE , REF PHONO 10 , REF 10 Linestage ) His speakers are the Sonus Faber Aida’s

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Best regard ,

930

[Brf]

Wow, just wow!!

It relegated a Kronos Pro with a Kuzma arm to the curb! Very impressive!

[930turbo]

Wow, just wow!!

It relegated a Kronos Pro with a Kuzma arm to the curb! Very impressive!

I dont know how the HR-X did it but it did . My hats off to VPI .

[MMMC]

Wow, just wow!!

It relegated a Kronos Pro with a Kuzma arm to the curb! Very impressive!

I dont know how the HR-X did it but it did . My hats off to VPI .

Hello 930,

A few questions for you.

What factors prompted the change from the unipivot arm to the gimbal arm?
What cartridge is mounted on the Fatboy, and is it the same one that was in the unipivot arm you replaced?
Do you attribute the improvements in sonics of the HRX soley to the Fatboy, and specificly to the change to the gimbal design?

I do plan to eventually move to a 12 inch Fatboy arm, but a unipivot, which I was thinking hopefully would be a drop on replacement for my current 3D 12 inch uni-pivot, and if I eat the trade in value and keep it, would give me a second arm, as pretty much a drop on swap with a second cartridge. (Excuse the very LONG sentence)
Do you feel the gimbal design of the Fatboy is the explanation for the sonic upgrade that retired your friends Kronos / Kuzma 4 point 11’ to the dustbin ?

Thanks
MMMC

[930turbo]

Wow, just wow!!

It relegated a Kronos Pro with a Kuzma arm to the curb! Very impressive!

I dont know how the HR-X did it but it did . My hats off to VPI .

Hello 930,

A few questions for you.

What factors prompted the change from the unipivot arm to the gimbal arm?
What cartridge is mounted on the Fatboy, and is it the same one that was in the unipivot arm you replaced?
Do you attribute the improvements in sonics of the HRX soley to the Fatboy, and specificly to the change to the gimbal design?

It was Harry W. who suggested that I choose the gimbal rather than the unipivot when one is using a Lyra Cartridge . He told me he had extensive listening sessions and he said Lyra cartridges is a better match w/ a Gimbal bearing FatBoy . Lyra Etna Cartridge Standard . The improvements of the sonics could be attributed to the Fatboy Gimbal . Because it was the only the tonearm JMW 12.7 stainless steel that was replaced . Same cartridge & turntable . I think the matching of the Lyra Etna w/ the Gimbal Fatboy was the reason for the huge sonic improvement. If ever you decide to upgrade to a Fatboy try to email Harry W. and tell him what kind of cartridge , kind of turntable .
I have not listened to a regular 3D .

Hope this helps,

930

[MMMC]

Hello 930,

A few questions for you.

What factors prompted the change from the unipivot arm to the gimbal arm?
What cartridge is mounted on the Fatboy, and is it the same one that was in the unipivot arm you replaced?
Do you attribute the improvements in sonics of the HRX soley to the Fatboy, and specificly to the change to the gimbal design?

It was Harry W. who suggested that I choose the gimbal rather than the unipivot when one is using a Lyra Cartridge . He told me he had extensive listening sessions and he said Lyra cartridges is a better match w/ a Gimbal bearing FatBoy . Lyra Etna Cartridge Standard . The improvements of the sonics could be attributed to the Fatboy Gimbal . Because it was the only the tonearm JMW 12.7 stainless steel that was replaced . Same cartridge & turntable . I think the matching of the Lyra Etna w/ the Gimbal Fatboy was the reason for the huge sonic improvement. If ever you decide to upgrade to a Fatboy try to email Harry W. and tell him what kind of cartridge , kind of turntable .
I have not listened to a regular 3D .

Hope this helps,

930

Thanks 930 for your input.
I have not accumulated the funds to pull off the upgrade yet, but I will definitely seek Harry's input before I make that upgrade. My cartridge is a ZYX Universe II, which I'm not sure Harry mounts in any of his tables, but still sure he would have a much better assessment than myself. I'll simply have to cool my jets because I have also wanted to implement rim drive on my HR-X, so the cost/benefit of each must be weighed carefully before making either move.

MMMC

[930turbo]

Hi ,

Thank’s for your reply , I would be inclined to get the FatBoy Gimbal Bearing if I decide to stay w/ Lyra.

930

[Harry]

Nice job 930, looks great on the HR-X. As you know, the HR-X is so good it will expand its horizon every time you change something on it to make it better.
I tell HR-X owners all the time to stay with what they have and just change the arm, there is no better turntable on the market in real terms.

HW