Jan Allaerts Phono Cartridges

Jan Allaerts - Table Of Contents:

• Introduction

• Photographs

• Reviews Excerpts / Comments

• Technical Specifications

• Customer Systems - some pictures

Jan Allaerts - Introduction

Only a small number of these cartridges are created every year and each one is manufactured as a precision instrument, housed in gold enclosures and presented in jewel boxes.

Rare jewels in the cartridge world, simply among the best.  Exquisitely hand-crafted in Belgium by Jan Allaerts.

Warranty: 5 years on all parts, except for cantilever and tip.

Availability: Because all Allaerts cartridges are hand made exclusively by Jan himself and are always in demand there is a waiting list for certain models, approx. 3 to 4 months.  For example, only 70 pieces of the MC1B model are manufactured per year.  Definitely no mass-production quantities, but one gets a high-performance and  lovingly handcrafted product, meticulously manufactured.

For more information and reviews, Click Me! to visit Jan Allaerts' website.

  * Background photography by Jake Levin, USA

Jan Allaerts MC1B on a Naim Aro tonearm

Jan Allaerts Formula 1, in its red box

Jan Allaerts MC2 Finish, also in its red box

Jan Allaerts MC1B on a Scheu Classic tonearm, mounted on a Scheu Premier MK2 turntable

A Jan Allaerts MC1B mounted on a Scheu Tacco tonearm.

First-Rate !

Photo from HiFi+ Magazine

A Jan Allaerts MC1B mounted on a Frank SchrÖder Reference tonearm.

Exquisite !

A Jan Allaerts cartridge mounted on a Simon Yorke Series 7 turntable

* Photo from Simon Yorke website

"It made a positive impression from the out, delivering alarming bass power alongside broad dynamic and tonal variety from The Aphex Twin's robust Windowlicker. Moving onto something more subtle, Shostakovich's String Quartet No 8 revealed the cartridge's ability to reveal timbre, string tone and presence which it did with considerable aplomb."

"This Allaerts cartridge proved impossible to criticize: either I'm losing my faculties (no comments please) or there aren't enough new cartridges getting reviewed these days. Or this is a very, very good cartridge. I imagine there are models that might equal it, but would be most surprised if there were any that could beat it at the price. If you're in the market for a serious needle, get on the waiting list now."
 

Click Me!  for the full review.

"If attention to detail, precision, and mechanical integrity are the hallmarks of how the Allaerts cartridges are built then it also sums up perfectly how this cartridge sounds"

"Supporting  melodies that were either only hinted at or not there at all, make their appearance and redefine the musical emphasis and therefore the performance.  Palestrina's Lassus contains a wealth of complex vocal layering that, whilst evident when listening through the Clearaudio Insider and the van den Hul Grasshopper, take on a very different presentation with the Allaerts.  Here, the Sopranos, Altos, and Tenors are delineated in such a way as to lay bare their tonal relationships, whilst the various choirs participating in the polyphony create a layering that is only hinted at through other cartridges."

"This cartridge enfolds a singer like Aretha Franklin or Ute Lemper into the music as if she is as organic to it as the rhythmic bass lines.  There is a unity and integrity about such a presentation, which, can at times, make you question the frequency balance and presentation of other cartridges."

Click Me! for the full review.

Vinyl Asylum

Forum

Customer Feedback

Some testimonials from the Vinyl Asylum forum: (you need to go through the follow-ups as well)

... Anyone tried comparing to Koetsus, Clearaudios, vdHul ?
 

Allaerts cartridges: what is latest experience and opinion
 

Thanks: Anyone have Allaerts cartridge?
 

Jan Allaerts cartridges: Anyone else compared them?
 

How do they stack up to the Lyras, Clearaudios, and Transfig's of the world ?

That should give an idea on Jan Allaerts cartridges ...

* The technical data specified above are dependent on the actual arm used in the equipment