Analog Gear News

In a July 2nd story, we announced four new costly arms from SAT(Swedish Analog Technologies): two models each available in 9" and 12" versions. The least expensive of the four, the LM-09 was reviewed in the just shipped October, 2018 Stereophile (photo is of CF1-09 on left, and LM-09 on the right).

In the review I wrote that files would be posted on AnalogPlanet that would allow you to compare the LM-09 ($25,400) with the original SAT arm, which by the time it went out of production after a run of more than 70 units sold, cost more than $30,000. I wrote in the review that much to my surprise I thought the new less costly arm outperformed the original.

Now I've had a chance to spend time with and review the more expensive CF1-09 ($48,000). I know some of you probably think this is just the craziest, stupidest pricing you've ever heard of, without understanding what's involved in the design and manufacturing of these limited edition products (etc.). I can't argue with you other than to write that the people who bought the original arm—at least the ones I've heard from—all thanked me for helping to convince them to buy the original arm (I bought my review sample at a reviewer discount but it was still well into five figures).

Without giving away the as yet unpublished review of the CF1-09, I've decided to post here the same record three times. It's a 96/24 transfer of the title track to Davy Spillane's album Atlantic Bridge (TARA 3019) that I really wish someone would reissue. It features Bela Fleck on 5 string banjo and Jerry Douglas on Dobro, plus other well known Irish musicians. Spillane plays Ulleann pipes. The track depicts the connection between Irish music and American folk and Bluegrass and how Irish music and musicians who emigrated to America helped bring that about.

Here are three files, all recorded using Ortofon's Century MC cartridge reviewed in last month's Stereophile, the 3 SAT arms (original, LM and CF) all mounted on the Continuum Caliburn turntable and the CH Precision P1/X1 phono preamplifier. The A/D converter was the Lynx HiLo, an excellent pro-audio piece. If you are listening on computer speaker level gear, I'm not sure you'll hear much of a difference but even with that stuff these files should sound incredible. Not saying which file is which arm.

I hope you enjoy the tune! And the sound. Though the files are labeled "1", "2", and "3", that does't mean "1" is the original and "3" is the most costly, though that might be the track order!

There's a fourth and fifth file too: the fourth is the same track using the same Ortofon cartridge but on turntable "X" and arm "X"—good products but I think you'll heard a big difference between that file and the other three. There's also a recording of The Lovin' Spoonful's song "Full Measure" from Hums of The Lovin' Spoonful, which was engineered by Roy Halee. That was transferred using the CF-1 with the Lyra Atlas SL cartridge. It's the final track on the side, proving that 9" is all you need (when it comes to arms, otherwise it's way more than needed).

File "1"

File "2"

File "3"

File "4"

File "5"