I’ve contacted Micha Huber directly and in few weeks, the Thales Simplicity II tonearm arrived.
THE SIMPLICITY II
HIGHLIGHTS
TTF-TECHNOLOGY
THE MUSIC
Some products reveal their real nature upon first few notes and minutes of the playback. Some unveil their potency in a more subtle way and over many repeated playbacks. Thales Simplicity II tonearm didn’t need a prolonged evaluation to manifest its real potential and to show its real authority.
I’ve quickly deciphered how Simplicity II more than deserve the reference music material. One of the first records I’ve pulled out was outstanding Electric Recording Company limited edition of iconic Music for Viola & Cello, played by Herbert Downes and Jacqueline Du. This mesmerizing £500.00 black disc embodies an analog triumph of its own and serves the music for what it is and what it supposed to be. A powerful and radiant message!
Even within etudes, the Thales Simplicity II tonearm had exhibited veritable density. Inspiringly and in the absence of dynamic overload, that can be too quickly a key factor with many tonearms. In high-end audio analog setup, every part is substantial and bound to the synergy, yet I’ve discovered a big step up in performance when Simplicity II was combined with my Audio Union Döhmann Helix 1 reference turntable.
Both micro and macro details have reached new highs. The same extent of quality had followed musical flow and formation of the notes. There are numerous factors, that are closely connected with the leitmotif of high-performance analog reproduction and speed belongs to the more important ones. With Simplicity II in action, the tempi was on forte, forging the impressive shifts of attacks and sudden dynamic changes. To say, that Thales tonearm was a step up out the ordinary would be an understatement. Simplicity II encapsulated the detailed and open presentation, without any typical sign of stridency.
Especially with Herbert Downes and Jacqueline Du Simplicity II had exhibited all the virtues of upper echelon analog setup really. The sheer energy, beguile tone and enthralling three-dimensionality! Thales Simplicity Tonearm II lay down far more attributes, that I was honestly expecting. It also provided surprisingly immersive music representation and leading edge scenic sense!
One of the records, that never cease to impress my friends or visitors is Shelly Manne & Jack Marshall – Sounds Unheard Of! (Analogue Productions – APR 3009). This is the very record, that has moved even most hard-core digital fans. There is something about this reissue, that capture the guitar and drums/percussion in an utterly realistic way. Just for the sake of comparing with the original release, I’ve purchased the original mono version (Contemporary Records – M5006) and the Chad Kassem’s vinyl is one of the records, where I’m preferring the reissue to the original. Anyhow…
I’m used to the denseness and realism of this Shelly Manne & Jack Marshall timeless interplay yet, with Thales Simplicity II the drama and factualness became even more eloquent. The same grandiose impact was fatherly exhibited with another Analog Productions release – Janis Ian – Breaking Silence (APP 027-45). The 45 RPM exemplary recorded version delivers a powerful, and high-flown transcription of this well known “audiophile” album.
The electrifying impact was even further elaborated with Simplicity II. As if few, not so thin layers were removed, allowing heck a lot of spatial cues and pieces of information to come forth.
Escaping the typical studio nods with my favorite Hochdeutsch direct intake, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gerald Moore – Franz Schubert: Lieder (Deutsche Grammophon – 2740 187) interplay of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gerald Moore is more than just zestful. As if they’re attuned to the Schubert. I like and love the sheer balanced simplicity of this record. As simplistic as the “Lider” might appear, there are so many finer aspects to unravel. Thales Simplicity II has kept the harmonic balance and upsurged the amount of sonic information. Vocal and piano notes overlapped more naturally, forming much better harmonic proximity.
Across many more of the records, Thales Simplicity II tonearm simply acted highly efficacious, inclined to the better music presentation and not most importantly not getting in the way of music transcription. The very (positive) nature of Simplicity II also never changed regarding of genres.
SUM UP
My prolonged time with Thales Simplicity II tonearm brought an aurally enlightening experience, that had over the time evolved into a refreshingly surprising analog adventure. Each and every reference record become even more interesting and involving.
I can understand more intimately, what so many people were trying to tell me about Simplicity II’s captivating virtues. There is something very powerful hiding in a Micha Huber’s exploration of the micro-mechanical universe, resulting in the analog playback, that expanded the familiar musical material experience much further, beyond the typical norms.
It also took a bit more time than expected to finalize the review, as something very special had happened along the way; the arrival of the Top Wing Blue Dragon Cartridge from The Land Of The Rising Sun… This cartridge has opened up new challenges by pushing analog playback quite further into the unexplored sonic expanse. Most importantly, these two analog gems locked with unexpected.great synergy and it was more than worthy to profoundly evaluate them combined.
For many people, it might be hard to decipher the real deals among so many products being offered and it’s even more complex and bewildering with the rocket high prices. This particular combination; the Blue Dragon – Thales Simplicity II lock and load instantly. You’ll need the proper phono stage, that can handle 0.2mV, but once set at the reasonable investment they can really create a very special analog encounter.
In Roman mythology god Janus presides over everything that is put into to the motion, is of transitional nature, and is connected with endings. With his two faces, he gazes back into the past and firmly looks into the future. This is exactly how Simplicity II I felt about Simplicity II operating momentum. Thales tonearm embraces the rich analog heritage and aggrandizes the bold new world of ultra-refined analog micro-machines…
In our niche industry we’re often seeking for the close connections and analogies, that can relate to the Haute Horlogerie. Many of the audiophiles/music lovers are also watch aficionados and they want to connect with the certain mechanical qualities of an ultra-refined manufacturing. Perhaps the tonearm is the best example, that can relate to this particular agent and there might be no better example than Thales Simplicity II. It’s made in Switzerland by skilled and dedicated people, finish and executing is top class and most importantly it’s performing above the usual expectations. Time can be conveyed in many ways, yet music reproduction it’s even more subtle, of different qualities and transcend the usual realms. Thales Simplicity II tonearm encapsulates the very best virtues of delicate mechanical engineering in the very service of the music.
For what it represents and for the level of information (on micro and macro level), that can be deciphered from the black discs and liquefied into the seamless music portraying Thales Simplicity II tonearm deserves the prise and highlight. I’m wholeheartedly awarding this unique analog product with Mono and Stereo Upper Echelon Product Award!