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The Lifter as I understand it, is specifically for the Aro. It’s a massive improvement I believe on the Aromatic tonearm Lifter which Naim made for a short while.
The PU7 has its own lift/lower mechanism.

The Aromatic would get my vote for Naim’s Worst Ever Product, if there were ever to be a contest. It looks comically bad, and wasn’t offered for sale for long.

I can’t believe that it was designed by Guy Lamotte, the French genius at Naim for a short while, who designed the ARO itself and (I think) Naim’s legendary FL-1 prototype electrostatic loudspeaker, which couldn’t be built by imperfect human beings. I also have a vague recollection that M Lamotte designed something else that Naim put into production, but I can’t remember what it was.

As several folks have asked for comments on the Cymbiosis/AO Lifter and I have one I thought I’d put in my five Cents’ worth.
Peter fitted mine last year, it’s based on a Rega lift and requires drilling if the deck has a Kore or Keel. I think I paid £125 all in and have been very pleased with it. It’s smooth and accurate but does require a firm hand on the lever for the arm to stay up, more so than on my previous Roksan tonearm and it looks great.

I think that the Aromatic was only offered somewhat reluctantly by Naim mainly down to pressure from dealers who feared they would never sell an arm without some kind of lift lower device. Naim themselves would argue strongly against its use, not least because they felt that any lift/lower device made the arm sound worse, and also because the Aromatic had a nasty habit of sometimes acting like a trebuchet…

FWIW, I think they all ended up in a cupboard and were quietly disposed of.

Guy also worked on the tuner.

What is your favourite naim product Richard

Putting you on the spot :grinning:

Maybe a few I guess ?

Apologies wrong thread but never mind

Guy Lamotte designed the 01 Tuner. Back in those early days there was talk on an AM tuner which didn’t ge anyt further than just that. Not sure if GM was involved in that as well.
We are going back to the 1980s! A long time ago.

A tough one Bevo. As you, say, I’m on the spot (and probably in the wrong thread), but it could any one of a number of pieces; NAC552, SL2s, NAIT, ARO, NAP110, NAP250…

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Thanks for that, Richard. I assume that M Lamotte went off to do other things outside the hifi industry.

The idea that the Aromatic could catapult the ARO is a scary one.

You are absolutely right @Dreadatthecontrols
Weight is not important these days

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Have a listen to a Karat 17DX if your able, I love the Karat’s have had several from 17D2 Mk11’s, D3’s and now the DX.
I recently demo’d at length and at home the DV XX2 II, Linn Krystal and Karat 17DX.
The XX2 II wasnt to my taste. The Krystal just gave me a headache.
For some reason the DV Karat’s seem to get overlooked in the DV range, in my experience they are fantastic carts and work very well on an LP12, Ive had all my Karats on an Ekos 2 and more recently Ekos SE/1.
I now have my Karat 17D3 into a Superline HCDR which in terms of cost and source first heirachy may seem a bit like putting the cart before the horse, however its revealing what a very capable cart it is with the Superline.

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What the hell, Im going to have another cream bun :+1:

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Do remember to put jam on it too.

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Many thanks for the info @Dreadatthecontrols I will try and include this in my auditioning.

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Would have to be 180 grammes of Jam :cupcake::cake::birthday::cookie::doughnut::ice_cream::shaved_ice:

We can all choose cartridges to suit our personal taste, and I happen to like the Dynavectors.

I started off with a 17D2, then traded up to an XX2MkII. I have just recently traded up again to a Te Kaitora Rua, but I haven’t been able to listen to it yet.

Thankfully, they each fit perfectly in the ARO’s non adjustable headshell, and all are beautifully finished. And, yes, I know that the looks don’t have any bearing on the sound, but it’s good that they each look as good as they do.

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Out of curiosity, what about the Krystal gave you a headache?

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Was the 17DX not available when you upgraded to the XX2 II (From an old 17D2 or was it 17D2 MkII)
Theres only about £50 difference between a 17DX and XX2 II. The performance of the Karat range has improved significantly with each new version and the DX is fantastic to my ears.
There both very different sounding cartridges but with only a £50 difference worth hearing both where possible.

I found it a bit over the top and uncouth sounding at times, very fatiguing.
The Karat DX is fast, dynamic and musical, similar in some ways to the Krystal but with better refinement, a sweeter, more natural and a less forced presentation.

On the other hand I found the XX2 II to go too far the other way, offering a very subjectively big sound but with a very warm and rosey presentation that I found distracting, a bit too “HiFi”

Trying to explain sound is all very subjective, putting it another way with both the XX2 II and Krystal I was aware I was listening to cartridges, with the Karat 17DX I am listening to the music.

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