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Post by jandl100 on Sept 26, 2016 7:57:59 GMT
Ah, well, if it has to be blue that could be a challenge. Ignoring a possible blue requirement, a left field but genuine suggestion is to get one of these amp/DACs ...  www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201371632848?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITGenuine audiophile sound - hi rez, clear and open sounding. And it has remote-controllable tone controls so you can dial in the tonality you want. I've got one as the centre piece of my 2nd system and it is a stonking piece of kit. It has an analog input, but you'd need a separate phono stage. And it costs £88. |
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 26, 2016 18:28:46 GMT
I've had budget and top of the range Nagaokas - they're not bright in the least. In fact if anything they have a slightly rolled off-treble, with a superb midband. If I was a betting man I suspect the EL84 is the root of your bass issues. If you want to stick with tubes, to get more bass grip and punch I would try either a meatier tube-amp or try a hybrid. This is why I use a hybrid myself, I like the tube characteristics but need solid state power amp to get better bass grip with my speakers. So would you recommend Nagaoka over Goldring? No because I only know Nagaoka, but as I say they are renowned for their smooth midband which is what you're after ... |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2016 19:46:05 GMT
A Goldring would be a better bet for you in that regard. But I doubt would result in a punchier bass, if that is what you want. Bass would seem more prominent though due to the reduction in treble. Ive had all stereo Goldrings with exception to the latest one. Absolutely my fav is the 'G900IGC' Still have it but sadly a NOS Styli replacement has not shown up yet. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2016 23:28:03 GMT
You might like the Sonus Gold Blue by Sonic Research. DSJR recommended one to me a while ago, it wasn't lively enough for my tastes but it was detailed and capable. A Swedish dealer was selling them NOS for £50ish but I just checked and they are now out of stock. You might be able to find others and later incarnations were blue in colour.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 0:18:38 GMT
much prefer the earlier Block ADC cartridges.
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Post by dsjr on Sept 27, 2016 8:53:49 GMT
You might like the Sonus Gold Blue by Sonic Research. DSJR recommended one to me a while ago, it wasn't lively enough for my tastes but it was detailed and capable. A Swedish dealer was selling them NOS for £50ish but I just checked and they are now out of stock. You might be able to find others and later incarnations were blue in colour. My experience of the 2M Blue aren't positive, as it's a fussy beggar and a bit shrill with it. the 2M Bronze is far better to me and having set one up in an RP earlier this year, I do recommend it in a Rega.
The Sonus range suffers with a massive ehf peak at 25+kHz, which may react badly with some phono stages, making vinyl 'noises' worse than they really are. Into a suitable phono stage, they are rather good - the original Blue which I have had a silver body with dark blue fixings and I recall the Gold Blue had a gold metal body colour and cream fixings. The best of the 'block' ADC's are silly compliance and won't work properly in any Rega tonearm I feel. The ADC27 had a different suspension and I've been meaning to try one on my ADC26, as the same thing in the earlier XLM III did work rather well.
A Denon DL110 will smooth things out a lot, hopefully not too much and I always liked he Goldring 1042 in a Rega deck and RB arm. I wish I knew how a Sumiko Blue Point 2 sounds, as you can still get them here under £200 - expect a huge price rise when stocks need to be replaced...
An opposite of the 2M Blue would be the Rega Exact 2, a full-blooded softie with a nice stylus.
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Post by Guest on Sept 27, 2016 9:06:43 GMT
Thanks to everyone who took the time and trouble to reply and I have sifted through all the information and gone for a low cost option which I hope will help. If it does not then at least I have not spent too much. I have elected to buy a Nagaoka cartridge and see if it does a better job than the 2M blue. This is what I have bought and am waiting for delivery.  www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0051H9RSI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 11:23:49 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 27, 2016 15:19:40 GMT
Yes the MP11 Boron was meant to be a bit of a giant-killer ...
One of my first carts was a 'Stilton' bodied MP10 (nothing to do with cheese!) which served me well for some years.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 15:59:23 GMT
Thanks to everyone who took the time and trouble to reply and I have sifted through all the information and gone for a low cost option which I hope will help. If it does not then at least I have not spent too much. I have elected to buy a Nagaoka cartridge and see if it does a better job than the 2M blue. This is what I have bought and am waiting for delivery. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0051H9RSI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I think that's a very wise choice. As you say, it will tell you pretty quickly whether the 2M Blue is the issue. You won't lose a lot selling the Nagaoka on if it's not right for you and you will have another frame of reference for future experiences. Hearing as much kit as you can at home is a great way to learn what you like |
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Post by ChrisB on Sept 27, 2016 20:45:30 GMT
Glad you have settled on something. Let us know how you get on with it won't you?
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Post by Guest on Sept 28, 2016 14:02:00 GMT
Will do Chris
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Post by Guest on Sept 28, 2016 14:04:43 GMT
Thanks to everyone who took the time and trouble to reply and I have sifted through all the information and gone for a low cost option which I hope will help. If it does not then at least I have not spent too much. I have elected to buy a Nagaoka cartridge and see if it does a better job than the 2M blue. This is what I have bought and am waiting for delivery. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0051H9RSI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I think that's a very wise choice. As you say, it will tell you pretty quickly whether the 2M Blue is the issue. You won't lose a lot selling the Nagaoka on if it's not right for you and you will have another frame of reference for future experiences. Hearing as much kit as you can at home is a great way to learn what you like I agree, I can never truly settle in a dealers showroom and their room is not like mine anyway. I think my room is as 'dead' as one could get as the walls are covered in canvases and the chimney breast is timber clad. |
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Post by Guest on Oct 4, 2016 18:43:32 GMT
 Arrived yesterday and I have been listening to it ever since. Had just the effect I was hoping for, thank you everyone who recommended it. Gone is the splashy treble edgy mid and vague bass. In comes taut bass with real slam, sweet mid and top. Gone is the wide sound stage. In comes the panoramic sound stage. Gone is the Ortofon 2M Blue at well over £100. In comes the Nagaoka MP100 at £65. Thoughts anyone? |
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 4, 2016 19:34:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2016 19:49:47 GMT
Great result and you'll probably come close to recovering the price you paid for the brand new Nagaoka if you sell the Ortofon. Each to his own but Ortofon cartridges have almost always disappointed me. I just avoid the brand entirely now.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2016 21:27:26 GMT
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Post by Guest on Oct 5, 2016 1:56:28 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 5, 2016 5:36:41 GMT
What more could anyone want from a phono cartridge?
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