Announcement

**badboss429** · 10-15-2016, 09:00 AM

Hi Mike, I am seriously considering upgrading my beloved Transfiguration Orpheus with a GF Statement, I am most anxious to receive your updates, especially as it compares to your Anna reference cartridge. Thanks!

**JackD201** · 10-15-2016, 10:09 AM

High output indeed has its own charms. GFS for me is a departure from the old CA sound and a departure for the better. I started with a Sigma Hammerhead and two V1 variants. IMO they hit the mark with the GFS. Congratulations Mike. It's a bit finicky especially with a unipivot arm but once the Azimuth is dialed in, no etch. Its bombast is a good contrast to the Anna's finesse, not that the GFS doesn't have that. Presentations I think are different enough to easily warrant owning both. I predict it will stay in your rotation for a long time.

**Mike Lavigne** · 10-15-2016, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by JackD201 View Post

High output indeed has its own charms. GFS for me is a departure from the old CA sound and a departure for the better. I started with a Sigma Hammerhead and two V1 variants. IMO they hit the mark with the GFS. Congratulations Mike. It's a bit finicky especially with a unipivot arm but once the Azimuth is dialed in, no etch. Its bombast is a good contrast to the Anna's finesse, not that the GFS doesn't have that. Presentations I think are different enough to easily warrant owning both. I predict it will stay in your rotation for a long time.

thanks Jack. no conclusions.......about 5 hours so far. but 'mega-energy' for sure, the music just leaps from the grooves. glad my dart phono is so flexible. owned a CA Insider Gold back in the late 90's for a year.....this one is much more than that.

**JCOConnell** · 10-15-2016, 02:35 PM

what arm do you use it with?

**Mike Lavigne** · 10-15-2016, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by JCOConnell View Post

what arm do you use it with?

I use 2 separate 12" Durand Telos tonearms; one is the stock Telos with the composite arm wand, the other is the Telos Sapphire.

currently the Goldfinger Statement is on the stock Telos and my Ortofon MC Anna is on the Telos Sapphire.

my darTZeel NHB-18NS battey powered preamp has 2 identical phono stages. each of the arms is plugged into one of those.

**JCOConnell** · 10-15-2016, 03:02 PM

I only asked because its gonna take one hell of a tonearm to be able to extract every last drop of sound from the GFS

**MylesBAstor** · 10-15-2016, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by JCOConnell View Post

I only asked because its gonna take one hell of a tonearm to be able to extract every last drop of sound from the GFS

I think Mike's arms are more than up to the task.

And system.

**MylesBAstor** · 10-15-2016, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by Mike Lavigne View Post

today I received a new Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement cartridge. I've had my much loved Ortofon MC Anna for 4 years now and decided to see what might either (1) show me a different musical viewpoint, or (2) take things to another level of musical bliss, or (3) a little or a lot of both.

tonight I did a 95% set up on it and I've been listening for 90 minutes. so far I've heard nothing to conflict with the considerable positive vibe I've heard and read about it .

Congratulations on the new acquisition. The CA GF is in my book one of the top two cartridges out there. From what I hear the GFS is very different from the earlier Goldies. The GFS sounded amazing in the Magico room at RMAF in the BB arm on the Kronos. Plus you never have to apologize for output.

Only think that ever off putted me about it was it's tracking force. I'll be very interested in your reaction to the GF's midrange!

**Dre_J** · 10-15-2016, 09:51 PM

Originally posted by Mike Lavigne View Post

today I received a new Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement cartridge. I've had my much loved Ortofon MC Anna for 4 years now and decided to see what might either (1) show me a different musical viewpoint, or (2) take things to another level of musical bliss, or (3) a little or a lot of both.

tonight I did a 95% set up on it and I've been listening for 90 minutes. so far I've heard nothing to conflict with the considerable positive vibe I've heard and read about it .

I've had one of these Goldfinger Statements around here for years. They can be impressive performers when setup is honed. If it works for you, you will enjoy the cartridge.

As we communicated, careful setup isn't lost on this one.

Hope you are enjoying the cartridge. I've rotated into my system on a regular basis from time to time.

Dre

**badboss429** · 11-01-2016, 03:57 PM

Hi Mike, sitting here on the edge of my chair waiting to receive further updates on the GF Statement. How many hours and are you still pleased with what your hearing? Any areas that stand out or perhaps concern you compared to your Anna? Thanks

**Mike Lavigne** · 11-01-2016, 07:56 PM

Badboss429,

at about 65-70 hours so far. moved it to the Telos Sapphire from the Standard Telos at about 50 hours.

I'm in new territory and have to say that the GF Statement is stellar. I'm hearing detail resolved beyond previous experience. the focus and ease is something to behold. these issues are beyond my Anna.

I've had a number of visitors and none have left less than taken with the GFS.

I'm told that the bass and body does not fully come in until around 100 hours, so that is likely in a week or so. right now I prefer it's overall bass performance to the Anna in articulation and texture but the Anna has a bit more overall bass energy. or another way to put it would be that the Anna rounds things more and so it has that fullness compared to more information. but also the GF Statement's bass has varied during break-in so we have to wait for the final picture. and since things are changing getting VTA and VTF exactly right is a moving target. right now I'm tracking 2.88 grams and the rear very slightly down.

what is interesting is the varied feedback from GFS users as far as where they view the GFS. I suspect that it's more than just a matter of set-up. I think that not every arm is up to dealing with the 16 grams of weight of the GFS and also not every phono is ideal for .6mv of output. I'm guessing my extremely robustly built and heavy base Durand Telos Sapphire and dart phono with a 57db output choice allows for the GFS to really strut it's stuff without limitations. understand that this cartridge is designed and built to be optimized for the big bad Clearaudio linear tracking arm.....so it likely is more challenging than most to mate with the right arm.

**Guest** · 11-01-2016, 10:52 PM

Very nice photos.

Hope you'll report again after the 100+ hour mark.

**badboss429** · 11-02-2016, 09:36 AM

Mike, great to receive the updated details, it doesn't appear that the Anna will be returning anytime soon. Based on your past and present experience with many state of the art phono cartridges, would you say that the GF Statement is the best you've heard in your system? I also just purchased the Statement which will be installed on the Walker Black Diamond, from what I understand from Lloyd Walker, these two are a marriage made in heaven.

**MylesBAstor** · 11-02-2016, 11:57 PM

Originally posted by Dre_J View Post

I've had one of these Goldfinger Statements around here for years. They can be impressive performers when setup is honed. If it works for you, you will enjoy the cartridge.

As we communicated, careful setup isn't lost on this one.

Hope you are enjoying the cartridge. I've rotated into my system on a regular basis from time to time.

Dre

Wow I was just researching the Statement and it's been out for three years? Where have I been?

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