THE BEST!
A new
tonearm, a "better" cartridge and the transparent finish change
drastically the sound of a turntable. The new, improved version of
the Scheu Premier is here to set new standards.
We were first introduced to the Scheu Analogue Premier II about a year
ago in the "dedicated to vinyl" issue of September-October 2002. It won
our admiration because it offered the highest level of quality at a
relatively low cost. This time the whole package costs about 900 € more
but with definitely better results. Aesthetically speaking, there hasn't
been one person who didn't drop their jaw when they looked at it, but
the most important thing is that it sounds like a much better turntable.
The Premier II Clear, that's its full name, is a beautiful turntable
(with an excellent finish, naturally) that's exactly the same with the
previous Premier but instead of the black finish we have a transparent
acrylic plinth that makes it look completely different and, with the aid
of the leadshot that shows through, it looks more eccentric and more
dynamic. The motor unit has a better finish and now the speed adjustment
pots are metallic.
The tonearm is a completely new design. It is also a unipivot, but this
is where the similarities with the Classic tonearm end. The Cantus is
mainly made of clear acrylic. The armbase is exactly the same with the
one used for the Tacco, the top of the line Scheu tonearm, and the arm
is a single piece of acrylic with the headshell being a part of the arm
and not an attachment, thus making it very sturdy.
The 6mm thick
tonearm with its grid-like design minimizes the colorations that we
usually encounter in tube-like tonearm designs. It also contains a thin
carbon tube from which the cartridge wires run through, making much
easier to use than the Classic.
More
importantly, it is now impossible for the Cantus to drop from its place,
something that could happen with the Classic. Believe me, I had an
experience like that and I almost had a heart attack before I discovered
that nothing happened to the stylus.
The cartridge
wiring runs straight from the cartridge to the phono stage, even though
I think that this might cause some hum with MM cartridges because the
wires are not shielded. Those who use MC cartridges won't have a problem
whatsoever.
The Cantus is an excellent and very simple design. It is also easy to
adjust. You can adjust the antiskating by turning counterclockwise a
cleverly placed metallic tube that holds the cartridge wires. I still
have to make a comment though regarding the size of the screw used for
VTA adjustment (the height of the tonearm): I would prefer it to have
the larger size of the one used in the Classic because the one on the
Cantus is very small and it might get destroyed easily by improper use
of the alien screwdriver or by regular use. The previous one was bigger
and had more leeway.
The second comment I have to make is the lack of an attachment to rest
the cartridge wires on. When they come out of the tube they fall on the
side and sometimes they may affect the move of the arm. Of course this
can be solved by the user, but it would be better for the manufacturer
to provide the solution.
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So, is it the
tonearm that makes all the difference?
I don't think that the clear finish of the turntable and the better
finish of the motor unit are responsible for the huge differences in the
sound of the Premier compared to the sound of the same turntable with
the Classic (and the high output, less costly Scheu cartridge).
The previous
setup had left me very satisfied with its sound quality, but now I can
say with certainty that the new Premier II/Cantus combo plays in the
same league with the big (and expensive) setups in the market. It may
fall behind in some minor points compared to the very expensive
turntables, but it sounds so good that it makes you wonder if you
need to spend the many thousands of euros required to buy one of those
mega turntables. Of course there are those who are willing to pay
thousands more for those minor points.
The speed stability is a definite characteristic of the Scheu turntable,
but its two strongest points are its rhythm and energy. This new
version offers a sound so full and true in timbre that the listener
keeps thinking that he is listening to a combo that costs far more than
the asking price.
There is no
rumble, no hum, and no mistracking, even through the most difficult
passages. Of course, don't be fooled to think that this turntable will
be forgiving to a bad pressing or a mediocre recording, because this is
not the designer's philosophy. The music will flow through pure and
undistorted even more so than last year's combo, and this is exactly
what one expects from a top of the line turntable.
Setting up the Premier remains the same, of course, as with the previous
model. Make sure it is placed horizontally using the three big base
screws and the spirit level supplied (in the cartridge box), and make
sure that the thread you use has the right tension to avoid wow &
flutter.
It requires
very little effort but the results are rewarding since the speed remains
stable this way. The MC Silver works best at a 100 Ohm load and is far
more tolerant in load changes than other more picky MCs. It goes without
saying that you should be very careful when handling the "naked"
cartridge.
Finally, I need to stress a point regarding the sound of the Scheu
Analogue turntable. It sounds so solid that makes other turntables
sound lifeless and shallow. When you listen to the Premier
II/Cantus/MC Silver combo, the music is presented as having "meat" and
"bones". You can sense the presence of the musicians instead of simply
listening to a thin representation of the recorded event, as I have
experienced with many mid-priced turntables.
Therefore...
... it comes naturally for me to say that the Premier II/Cantus/MC
Silver is one of the best turntables I've ever listened to. This is
not a conclusion I came to by simply calculating all the factors, as it
usually happens when reviewing high-end equipment. This turntable does
not simply reproduce music events. Instead, it offers a whole musical
feast, something that very few turntables can do (and most of them at
much higher prices). What an excellent design!
Thanasis Moraitis
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Scheu Analog