Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Schroder Model 2 Tone Arms by MICHAELMICKJ7@aol.com

Model:	Model 2
Category:	Tone Arms
Suggested Retail Price:	2000 Euros
Description:	Pertinax version with reference magnets and Incognito wiring.
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by MICHAELMICKJ7@aol.com on August 12, 2005 at 14:20:39
IP Address: 195.93.21.71

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for the Model 2

Before I write this review I must state that I am an audiopphile novice and have not had much experience in setting arms up.Previously I have had a Rega RB300 on a Rega Planar 3 and an Origin Live modded RB250 on the Gyrodec.Please excuse some of the terminology I may use which does not meet audiophile criteria.I am writing this review primarily for the benefit of Gyrodec owners many of whom I know through postings have considered the Schroder arms.
This review is for a Model 2 Pertinax Version with reference magnets.
It is a new model which a metal arm pivot, and a screw into the back of the arm which allows fine adjustment of VTF, although I try to get VTF as accurate as possible without using this.
It is however very handy to be able to unscrew the brass screw out a little to reduce VTF slightly and I suppose this could be done for each record depending on the recording.
I have had this arm now for approximately 6 weeks. I live in the UK but ordered it Wittman Hi-Fi in Stuttgart Germany by telephone.Matthias on the asylum told me about HiFi Studio Wittman.It was much cheaper to order from them than to order from the UK dealer.Oliver Wittman proved to be very helpful as did Frank Schroder himself.
I upgraded from an Origin Live modded RB250.I was considering the Michell Technoarm which was substantially cheaper but I wanted something which would last a lifetime and I didn't want to order something only to upgrade in a few years.Many asylum inmates recommended the Schroder and I eventually took their advice.I also considered the SME's both of them, but I'd heard they could tend towards being analytical in presentation,something for which the Gyrodec is often accused and for which I can tend to agree with.
I had some concerns before ordering:
1/ Being a unpivot it would lack bass weight or bass definition.
2/ The top of the arm pivot would not allow room for my dustcover to be lowered.
3/ Ordering via the telephone from a distant country.
4/ Actually mounting the arm on the Gyrodec.
I received the arm in a padded box and was initially a little disappointed on firt site.You don't get any fancy packaging.The only thing it comes with is a Schroder cartridge al;ignement protractor which is very good and some allen keys to make adjustments.There was no manual.
The arm though beautiful seems quite delicate.
I asked my Dad to help me mount the pivot base which involves screwing three holes into the armboard of the gyrodec.This proved quite difficult in terms of lining it up as the hole in the gyro armboard has been slightly countersunk so the screws through the Schroder base plate are very near to the edge of the hole.I lined the holes up using my eyes only.If it went too far over you could see the edge of the Gyro counter sunk hole.Very minutes adjustments were needed but this proved to be a very accurate way to attch the base plate.Once lined up it was just a case of clamping it to drill base without moving it.In the manaul I downloaded from a Schroder dealer website it said you be up to 1mm out and then overhang could be adjusted to compensate.
As I discovered you can actually adjust the height of the dustcover on the Gyro by using the screws at the back of the hinges.This gives enough room and I have the VTA quite high at the moment.
I ordered the arm from Oliver Wittmann at the beggining of April and received the arm in the middle of June.He is the main DPS dealer in Germany and hence the speed for delivery.
I found for a novice, all adjustments of VTF, VTA, anti skating and azimuth very easy to perform on the Schroder.This is something I love about the arm especially after having had the Rega and the pain of having to slide the counterweight and which would never stay in exact postion you wanted it to.Although the Schroder uses the same technique in adjusting VTF the counterweight and the back of the arm are such a fine fit that the counterweight moves so smoothly along that you would think there was oil on the back of the arm.
(By the night before I mounted the arm I was looking at it and I turned the small cog used to adjust the damping or distance between the magents and I unscrewed it too far resulting in the tiny screw falling out.I spent about half an hour getting it back in.I thought I was going to have to return the arm to Germany but to my relief I eventually succeeded using a pair of tweezers.
I have my cartridge set to 2.10 grms VTF. The VTA is slightly up a the pivot end of the arm.
The Schroder works well with the Gyrodec and I have been able to adjust the springs to make the suspension bounce as freely as I had it, when using the OL RB250.In other words the Schroder works very well on a suspended deck which may suprise some people.
Now to the sound:
I'm a reggae fan amongst other things.About a third of my record collection consists of reagge albums.Therefore I like a bit of bass, not overblown bass but the basslines in reggae are usually the most tuneful thing in the song so it must be authoritive and tuneful.
I was concerned about a few things I'd read about the Schroder being bass light or the bass was indistinct.However other inamtes told me the bass was fine.From the minute I put first record on(I admit I didn't spend much time adjustint VTF VTA etc as I couldn't wait to hear it),I was really pleased with the bass.It wasn't as tight as on the OL RB250 but it was weightier,warmer and for me more realistic.The bass on the Schroder underpins the music and gives the music more emotion. I think the warmth of the bass compliments the analytical nature of the gyrodec.
The midrange is fantastic. Voices were already good with the OL RB250 in my system but the Schroder seems to give them more solidity or a more natural feel.I'm not a big classical fan so don't hear strings very often maybe in the odd Beatle album etc so I can't really say whether the Schroder makes a good fist of things in relation to them.However, brass instruments such as saxaphone,trumpet and trombones seem to be more natural and "breathy".These instruments often used to sound weedy or shrill but with Schroder they have a lovely mellow feel to them.
Drums and percussion instruments are especially good.I've played a few Sanatan albums and they sound dynamic,forceful and realistic.
The HF is also great.I was quite used to the forward presentation of the OL RB250.The RB250 gives a very dynamic presentation but so does the Schroder it is just a more relaxed presentation.The sound from my system is now darker than it was but much more enjoyable.Some Lp's I had were almost unbearable to listen to but the Schroder has alleviated this problem.
Summing up the sound it is difficult to say this or that about the LF,the Mids or the HF as the music seems to be more intertwined or wholesome.You can pick out the bass lines or any individual instruments as you could with the OL RB250 but the instruments are not in your face.I listen to Dub records quite a bit and these records are basically recorded with a view to the listener being under the influence of pot.Not that I partake these days.Sounds used to come out at me like a proverbial hammer,a steel one at that.Now the sounds flow around you and are a subtle nuiance within the music which is the way they are intended to be.Music just has more substance to it and as a result more emotion.
Music which is thin or bright leaves me cold and in the real world music is never like this.
One thing I've found is that the Schroder,as with any cartridge and most turntables is adjustable and you can adjust the sound to suit your tastes.
I have the highest optimal weight setting on my cartridge,the suspension on the T/T is quite loose and the Schroder VTA is slightly higher at the back resulting in a warmer or weightier sound. One thing I do know is that the Schroder suits the Gyrodec very well the slightly warm feel of the Schroder as opposed to the analytical nature of the gyrodec.

Product Weakness: No manual.
Product Strengths: Natural sound. Ease of use, adjustments for VTA,VTF,azimuth,damping are easy to perform and to hear.Looks. good.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Musical Fidelity A3cr
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Musical Fidelity A3cr
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Gyrodec/Graham Slee Era Gold MV/Dynavector DV20x HO.
Speakers:	PMC FB1+
Cables/Interconnects:	JPS superconductor FX i/cs, LAT SS800 bi-wire.
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	reggae, Santana, Keane,Coldplay,Blues,Soul.
Room Size (LxWxH):	17 x 10 x 8.5
Room Comments/Treatments:	soft furnishings,canvas wall painings, blinds.
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 weeks
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	No manual.
Product Strengths:	Natural sound. Ease of use, adjustments for VTA,VTF,azimuth,damping are easy to perform and to hear.Looks. good.