The MORSIANI Turntable

There are designers who start from mechanics and others who start from listening. Carlo Morsiani belongs to a rarer category: those who seek a technical solution only after understanding its sonic consequences.

His turntable was not created to impress with exotic materials or spectacular engineering. Rather, it is the result of a long-standing investigation into the relationship between platter, tonearm, and cartridge, driven by a simple objective: preserving as much information as possible from the groove.

Reading Morsiani's writings and interviews, one idea emerges clearly. The tonearm is the key element in analog playback. If the stylus is unable to follow the groove correctly, no motor system, bearing, or platter design can recover what has already been lost. It is a philosophy that may seem unconventional, yet it explains the remarkable coherence of the entire project.

After many years of ownership, what I continue to appreciate most about my Morsiani turntable is precisely this sense of balance. It does not impose a recognizable sonic signature on the music. Instead, it provides a stable, quiet, and predictable platform, allowing the cartridge and the record itself to determine the final result.

This is not a turntable designed to impress during a brief demonstration. It rewards careful setup and long-term listening. The more time one spends with it, the more apparent the logic behind every design choice becomes.

Perhaps this is the greatest achievement of Carlo Morsiani's work: creating a turntable that places engineering entirely at the service of music, without chasing trends or relying on

unnecessary complexity.

IKEDA SOUND LABS IT 407 tonearm

Designed and built by the old Isamu Ikeda. Way back in 1967, Ikeda-san founded Fidelity Research, a celebrated Japanese firm that left its mark on the analog world with its tonearms (FR series), cartridges (FR-1 and MC-202) and step up. By 1986 he had founded Ikeda Sound Labs, specializing in low-compliance moving-coil cartridges and high-mass, transcription-length tonearms.

The Ikeda 407 is GREAT with the high mass, low compliance cartridges, like Ortofon SPU and the EMT TSD15SFL; with this combination you can obtain a magical sound, emotionally involving and very tactile. A FUN way to listen to music with a GREAT performer.

Specifications

Ikeda IT-407CR1 (Long Arm)

Type: Dynamic balance

Overall length: 388mm

Effective length: 307mm

Overhang: 12mm

Tracking error: +2°～　- 0°35'

Stylus force range: 0g ～ 5g (in 0.5g step)

Mounting hole diameter: 31mm

Arm height adjustment range: 25mm - 60mm

Max. arm board thickness: 35mm

Cartridge/Headshell balance range: 6g - 38.5g

Headshell weight: 17.2g

 

 

Mono in Mono: PIERRE CLEMENT L7B Mono Cartridge

As most audiophiles know TRUE MONO cartridges are built only to pick up signals of the record in the horizontal plane.

Mono pressings sound more lively, have depth perception and less noise.

Is also faschinating to experience the excellence of mono recordings in the manner that they were meant to be heard and enjoyed at that time.

Among the many mono cartridges which I have had, this Pierre Clement is one of my favourites.

Pimp up your Thorens TD124

Some pics of the amagnetic platter for my beloved 124!

SAEC WE-308N (1978, JPY 38,000) Static Tonearm

The SAEC WE-308 is designed to offer the new reference standard of tone arm engineering for the serious audiophile. The Audio Engineering's remarkable approach toward the perfection of disc sound is crystallized in the WE-308's unique construction, the Double Knife Edge.
The Double Knife Edge had two blades in the past. Currently, it was made to include four blades up and down providing a structure in which the edge support is held firmly from both sides and from the top. Since these four blades are ground to form a straight line, they practically constitute a high strength pivoting body with the straight line as turning axis and with no mechanical free play. 
SAEC knife edge blade has a diameter of less than 0,02mm and is ultra-precise. This finish precision sets SAEC apart from other makers. The edge is first ground to 0,05mm by a machine and then to 0,02mm by a skilled human hand.
This newer construction covers up disadvantages of conventional knife edge type tone arms.
The Double Knife Edge provides the lowest friction level and highest sensitive movement of the tone arm ever achieved.
Therefore, the WE-308 with any advanced cartridge tracks the record groove with less distortion than ever and reproduces clear directionality, pinpoint placement of instruments and phenomenal cleanness of the disc sound.
The SAEC WE-308 itself is a precision-balanced arm. The three-axis of the arm is meticulously balanced so it practically results in no loss of sensitivity.
Fine adjustments of the tracking force are automatically carried out as the arm tracks to the inner grooves of a record. This special device, along with the light weight and lowest resonance "ultimate" headshell, provides more faithful reproduction of sound. On the most inner groove, for example, it oes a remarkable job with 20% more tracking force that results in clear and open high frequency response information.

Specifications: 

Effective length: 240,0mm

Overhang: 5,0mm

Offset angle: 12,5

Effective mass: >12,0g

Cartridge weight range: 5,0g – 11,0g

Height range: 45,5mm – 62,5mm

Mounting hole: 27,0mm

For more info take a look here.

WIZARD

In the center of Udine, there's a secret place, a hidden treasure that goes by the name "Wizard" - Goran's store. 

This name, so magical and mysterious, seems to promise something extraordinary, and it doesn't disappoint at all! Here, music reigns supreme, enveloping visitors in a sonic embrace that enchants and captivates hearts. 

But it's not just the music that makes this place shine: it's a true crossroads of kindred spirits, where friends come together and enthusiasts meet to share their passion for music and more. 

Goran's knowledge and passion for music blend to create a unique atmosphere, where every suggestion becomes a journey through notes and rhythms, guided by his experience and passion. It's like having a personal music mentor ready to open the doors to infinite musical beauty. 

And as Goran offers his precious advice, the store fills with enthusiasts, where new friendships are made and musical tales and secrets are exchanged, creating an unbreakable bond among those who share the same passion. 

If you are passing through Udine, don't miss it!

QUAD II mono amplifier

These valve amplifiers are a living legend, proof that sometimes the old things are still good. Looking at the design, it's clear that the Quad II is not here to impress you with weird shapes. 

With their metal chassis and valves sticking up like a row of soldiers (2 x EF86, 2 x KT66 and 1 GZ32) , they seem to say, "We don't need to look good; we already know we're fantastic."

But the real magic happens when you plug them in and press the power button. Despite to a faint hum as the valves, like an old engine waking up from a slumber, when the music starts to flow, it's almost a mystical experience. The Quad II amplifiers have a warm and enveloping sound that makes you feel like you've stepped back into the 1950s, when listening to the radio was a family event.

And don't be fooled by their retro appearance because the Quad II can hold their own against many modern amplifiers. Despite the age they offer a top-of-the-class performance without ever been clouded or cloesed: infact bass is deep and smooth, the highs are clear without being harsh.

In short, if you're an audio enthusiast looking for an amplifier with a story to tell, the Quad II is a fantastic choice. Once you've listened to them, you'll understand why they've become legendary…stay tuned 😉