Turntables, Arms & Cartridges

Despite its far-reaching OEM activities, Skyanalog is a new name for us to ponder and test, but if the REF is any indication of the range as a whole then the high-end MC scene is about to get a shot in the arm. Talking of which, the 10g REF is better suited to low/medium effective mass tonearms because its symmetrical 20cu dynamic compliance is slightly 'softer' than the specified 15cu. This makes a little more sense in the light of the REF's low 1.0-1.4g recommended tracking force range which is still sufficient for it to sail through the +15dB groove (re. 0dB at 315Hz/5cm/sec) at <0.3% THD, and navigate the top +18dB modulation at ~2.5% THD. In practice then, the REF meets its specified 70µm tracking ability on both left and right channels.

Output is a little lower than the rated 0.35mV at 304µV (re. 1kHz/5cm/sec into 100ohm), but the channel balance is superbly tight at 0.09dB and channel separation quite amazing at 35dB midband, holding on to 22dB/20kHz. The micro-ridge diamond is precisely aligned - VTA is 22o at a 1.35g downforce - and this, together with the equally precise alignment of its suspension and coils plays into the REF's near-universal symmetry. The latter is reflected in its L/R tracking, its tight channel balance and the absolute mirroring of response and distortion between lateral [L+R, black trace on Graphs 1 and 2] and vertical cuts [L-R, red traces]. Bandwidth is very wide but the response is bright, especially with that +9dB peak at 17kHz caused, in all likelihood, by a mode in the long sapphire cantilever [see boxout, p54]. Distortion follows suit, peaking at 10% at 8-9kHz where the 2nd harmonic is boosted by the response peak (-8dB re. 5cm/sec) but is a lower ~4% with stereo cuts [dashed grey trace, Graph 2]. PM

Above: Freq. resp. curves (–8dB re. 5cm/sec) lateral (L+R, black) vs. vertical (L–R, red) vs. stereo (dashed)

Above: Lateral (L+R, black), vertical (L-R, red), stereo (dashed) tracing and generator distortion (2nd-4th harms) vs. freq. from 20Hz-20kHz (-8dB re. 5cm/sec)