In late 2023, Serge Rogozyansky of Karmadon posted his exquisitely crafted Ortofon-inspired 12" tonearm on Facebook. Being an aficionado of bespoked pieces, I was smitten! When I mentioned it to Tish, her immediate reaction was, "You already have too many turntables and tonearms!"😉
Due to an upcoming visit to the Philippines, I had to curb my enthusiasm.
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| Garrard 301 + Ortofon RMG309i + Bokrand AB309 |
Meanwhile...my cousin's Japan-sourced NOS Ortofon RMG309i had spent quite a few months in my man cave while I was building his hifi system. I was haunted by the experience of comparing the RMG309i to my Bokrand AB309 + classic RMG309.
Whether it was mounted on my Thorens TD124 or eventually on his Garrard 301 (pictured above), the Japanese RMG309i reissue was just better in extracting information from the grooves via my mostly spherical stylus equipped phono cartridges!
After we returned from our trip, I sent Serge a PM with an intent to order. A couple of weeks later, he sent pictures of the finished tonearm. It was ready to be boxed up for shipping upon my approval. Only then did he send a US$1200 PayPal invoice. After acknowledging receipt, he promptly sent tracking information and within 10 days the package arrived from Ukraine!🇺🇦
Before going any further...
Please note the following:
If your interest hasn't diminished, please proceed! 😊
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| Garrard 301 + Ortofon RMG309 + KARMADON 311 |
Initially, I installed the KARMADON 311 at the back of my Garrard 301 plinth in place of the SME 3012 so I could make direct comparisons with my RMG309. Although Serge would've gladly supplied it with a normal 5-pin DIN tonearm connector, I specified longer flying leads so I could solder directly to the RCA jacks. Regardless, a 5-pin DIN male connector came with the kit, which I used in my final installation.
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| KARMADON 311 (side view) |
This dynamically balanced tonearm is functionally the same as the Ortofon RMG309 (or RF297) except for the lack of tracking force calibration markings.
Contrary to current trends (not necessarily limited to just the audio hobby😉), I don't practice the above set up routine like a religious fanatic. I'm more agnostic - if the cartridge + headshell weight is within a few grams of each other, I don't bother to rebalance. I merely add (ccw) or subtract (cw) VTF via the spring adjuster.
If you want to temporarily stray from the distinctive sound of dynamic balance (more below), the tonearm can also be set up in static balance mode by removing the spring assembly and sliding the counterweight to apply VTF. This will only work with an SPU or a cartridge + headshell weight combination of at least 25 grams, because the CW is heavy.
I obtained an SME 3012 after my Sound Practices homebrewer article was published in the late 90s. It didn't have the bass slam and focus of my Fidelity Research FR64fx. What it had in spades over the Fidelity Research was an enticing midrange and effortless presentation of micro dynamics with very rich and airy upper harmonics. The FR64fx had the upper hand in macro dynamics and resolution of detail. IMHO and experience, this is a trademark of high end gimbal bearing + dynamic balance tonearm designs, which I also verified later on with the SME V. To my ears, the typical presentation from this type of tonearm reminds me of a well engineered push-pull pentode amplifiers linearized via global negative feedback.
Shortly thereafter, I lucked out on an Ortofon RMG309 (+ Thorens TD124) deal. The RMG309 was obviously designed for the SPU and I enjoyed this combination a lot more than the SPU + FR64fx pairing. So I built a larger plinth for my Garrard 301 to accommodate the RMG309 + the SME 3012, which proved to be a better match for my collection of Denon DL103s. This set up has served me well for over two decades!
Before Alfred Bokrand became controversial, I wholeheartedly endorsed his AB309 and AS309 tonearms. These were solid and offered great value especially with the money back guarantee assurance from eBay. Sonically, the Bokrands sound halfway between the Ortofon RMG309 and SME 3012 and worked very well with SPUs and Denon DL103s. However, IME, the high mass and static balance design prevented medium to higher compliance phono cartridges, especially those that track below 2 grams, like the Fulton RS-1 (Entrè EC15), GAS Sleeping Beauty and Goldbug Clement II, from performing at their fullest potential.
As mentioned earlier, I had ample time to listen to and examine my cousin's Ortofon RMG309i. Although I could not detect any play at all, the bearings didn't feel as tight as those fitted to the Bokrand AS/AB309, Fidelity Research FR64fx or SME V. The RMG309i also had a close tolerance feel compared to my old RMG309. Empirically, I theorized that aside from the classic dynamic balance design and close tolerance construction, the bearing quality and type contributed to why I liked the 309i sound better.
Based purely on the aforementioned FB pictures and my gut feeling, I ordered Serge's KARMADON 311 hoping that it would be mechanically at par with the RMG309i. It did not disappoint! The tonearm feels feathery and frictionless to the touch with a jewel-like precision in its movement! This is fully reflected in the sound, which I normally associate with my single-ended directly heated triode amps sans feedback!
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| KARMADON 311 |
The craftsmanship and meticulous hand machining that went into the construction of the K-311 reminded me of the days I spent hanging out at violin shops in NYC in the 80s. Aside from explaining how the arching and graduation of the plates affect sound quality and projection, my luthier friends pointed out the artistry and skill of Italian violin makers in how they carved the scroll, outer/inner bouts and f-holes. They were even proud to leave tool marks!
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| JE Labs Garrard 301 + KARMADON 311 + SME 3012 |
Although I no longer have the RMG309i for direct comparison, I can safely say that the K-311 also allows my SPUs to realize their maximum potential. While retaining the allure of the SME 3012’s harmonic richness, I hear better focus and low frequency definition from my DL103s via the K-311 than from the Bokrand. It works admirably with my Supex SD900 MKIV!
After being refreshed at the VAS Audio cartridge spa, I've been fortunate to enjoy MC cartridges from the collection of a good friend of mine - a Hana SL, Koetsu Onyx and Miyabi - tracking at 2 grams. Due to its longer counterweight stub + open ended counterweight, I also managed to get the K-311 to track gracefully at 1.7 grams with the Fulton RS-1 (aka Entrè EC15 with conical stylus). This is a feat that couldn't be achieved with the short-stubbed RMG309 (or 309i). So aside from offering RMG309i performance, the K-311 has the edge on versatility!
The KARMADON 311 is now the main tonearm in my Garrard 301 set up!🥂🎶
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