Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 24, 2018 16:20:06 GMT
Wow, thanks Jules...another one I hadn't heard of...
I'm delaying anything for 8 days as am just about to leave for Portugal in an hour or so. Better weather I hope!
Thanks again; I'll do the research.
R
Edit: That particular unit hasn't been made for 15 years. Good reviews.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 24, 2018 7:23:20 GMT
Stan, any chance of a 5V 'tap' for a RPi (or similar)?
(Will it need an 'audiophile' mains cable + fuse?...just asking...).
R.
(Edit: Just seen-ZappytheViking beat me to it. Apologies).
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 17, 2018 19:37:42 GMT
If one has a valve set-up I wonder if it's more practical to turn them off when not in use as valves only have a finite life and some can be expensive to replace!.
I'm sure with SS it's not so important (but then with Class 'A" it may prove a little expensive).
Some people won't leave iFi power supplies on with the phono amp as they seem to get suspiciously hot.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 15, 2018 22:06:39 GMT
Interesting thread, but I think some posters are confusing cost with quality when discussing equipment in general, a Pi or an old MacMini such as I use, when playing un or losslessly compressed files can sound very good, when playing rubbish MP3s they can sound crap, regardless of how good the system they are feeding. Contra-wise, a superb TT/Arm/Cartridge combo feeding through to a pair of bad speakers not matched to the room, may well give you the best sound possible from that combo, but it will sound rubbish. The point is balance and synergy, whereas "Garbage in, garbage out" will always be true, the system needs to be considered as a synergistic whole, as Aristotle said "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts", who would have thought he was an audiophile 😊. Possibly a follower of Gestalt? I cannot possibly see how one can argue with 'garbage in, garbage out'; it just may not be the whole story.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 15, 2018 21:56:58 GMT
Hi. thanks; another name I'd never heard of. It's £800 though - so above my budget I'm afraid. (So many phono preamps these days!)
Perhaps the Leema is, for me, a better bet.
BW
R
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 15, 2018 18:00:58 GMT
The Allnic is tempting but the gain of the amp seems very low for my AT cartridge (0.3mV). Specs: "There are two unbalanced RCA inputs (one MC input and one MM input), and one set of unbalanced RCA outputs. With the simpler CR RIAA filter there are no impedance adjustment options, but the MC input has four variable gain settings (+22dB, +26dB, +28dB, +32dB (1kHz), while the MM input has a single +38bd gain setting (1 kHz)."
The Cambridge CP2 has a 55dB gain - which I find a little low.
Thanks
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 14, 2018 19:35:34 GMT
Thanks Jules, the Trichord Dino seemed to be THE in-thing a few years ago, so I've always been on the look-out for a good 2nd hand version.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 14, 2018 17:55:59 GMT
Thanks everyone; much appreciated.
I did look earlier at the NVA offering (mustn't mention this too loudly on the AoS forum). Isn't NVA stuff very sensitive to the type of cabling? I can't find a 2nd-hand Croft.
I've played around: changed cables,; increased tracking weight; changed the position of the Cambridge CP2 (it seems sensitive to nearby mains interference), But ..and it's a big 'but', the sound is still inferior to the digital sources (less muddled, slightly better top end etc). I know the two sources will sound different, but I was hoping for an approx. parity.
At least the bass has improved a little.
I'm tempted by the 2nd-hand Leema and by some of the Pro-Ject tube amps..but am very much open to suggestions/advice.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 14, 2018 7:27:41 GMT
A Leema Acoustics Essentials for £320?
Any good?
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 13, 2018 16:44:05 GMT
You've got an extremely capable cart being hampered by an entry level phono stage. I can assure you that you won't be hearing anything like its full potential. Personally I would wait till you can buy something a bit more substantial. Yes, In the back of my mind I had the feeling that I was setting my sights a little low. So perhaps I can change the question...what mid-range mc unit do people recommend? i have joined the G Slee forum so can get a loan of one of theirs. Thanks
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 13, 2018 15:47:24 GMT
No votes for the Rega then? Thanks.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 13, 2018 8:08:24 GMT
HI, I've been re-visiting my LPs since changing my amp to a WD KEL84 valve jobbie. I have an Inspire Apollo deck with an AT33PGT cartridge serving a Cambridge CP2 MC pre-amp.
The sound is good but lacking bass - when compared with listening to the same recording from a digital source (Cambridge CXC: Beresford SEG DAC; Radio Paradise etc).
Any recommendations? (I have checked the cartridge set-up). I was wondering if the Rega Fono would be a better bet as it has more adjustments to match the specific characteristics of the cartridge.
Budget: "restricted".
The G Slee also took my eye but not sure if the low 0.3mV output from the AT would be an ideal match. I know G Slee offer a free loan.
Thanks,
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 2, 2018 21:43:28 GMT
These amps (2nd-hand) seem to be a much more affordable intro to valve/tube amplification.
I have just built a WDKEL84 valve amp and am very pleased with it, however, I'm always on the look-out for 'upgrades'.
The PrimaLuna amps seem to have a good following and appear to have lots of modern and useful features.
However, with my speakers (well-received, relatively expensive, full-range and efficient) -which I'll keep anonymous - has stated the following: "It might be quite difficult to beat the performance of the Sugden for that kind of money, even at previously owned prices, but if you have an opportunity to try before you buy that's that way to go, and to know for sure. The prima Luna might be a good performer for much of the time but can be a little bit flabby at the bottom end and may also stuggle on dense passages.
I'd welcome any comments.
BW
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 2, 2018 10:43:50 GMT
The original (3-pin) lead that came with the pre-amp. It's near-impossible to disconnect the earth on this as everything is sealed, so I used the MRCU screened lead I was already using anyway with the pre-amp and just disconnected the earth at the IEC end - but kept the screening earthed at the mains end.
Matthew didn't mention a PAT test.
Thanks again for your interest.
BW
Richard.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 2, 2018 10:13:19 GMT
Dave, the original lead is 3-pin and yes, the earth is connected from the mains plug to the IEC plug (just tested with my DMM).
After I built the amp I had it tested by Matthew Snell (the very helpful owner of World Designs); all the voltages seemed ok and although I had made a mistake with the wiring of the feedback wire, he deemed it safe to operate. Thanks, Richard
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 2, 2018 8:51:20 GMT
Thanks; understood.
On the WD forum the Uber-Guru (John Caswell) has given it (disconnecting the pre-amp earth ) his blessing, so I'm sticking with that at present.
Thanks again.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Apr 2, 2018 8:48:31 GMT
What valve amplifier are you using ? And if you just have the pre-power interconnect, no inputs plugged in at all, does it hum ? Dave The Schiit Saga preamp feeds a recently made (and very good) WD KEL84 valve amp. No hum now that the Schiit earth lead is disconnected. No hum if all input leads are disconnected. Thanks.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Mar 30, 2018 18:24:49 GMT
A Schiit Saga driving a Quad 306 = no mains hum.
Quad replaced with a valve amp = mains hum
If earth lead from the Saga is removed = no mains hum (Saga is presumably still earthed via interconnect's screens from the amp) (?)
However, many folk have advised replacing the Saga earth.
I've looked at other possibilities: mains lead away from the inputs; screened mains cables etc.
Should I replace the earth? If so, what can I do re the hum?
Thanks.
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Mar 26, 2018 22:08:44 GMT
Thanks Greg; sounds promising then...
|
|
Bonky
Rank: Trio
Posts: 156
|
Post by Bonky on Mar 26, 2018 17:33:36 GMT
LV still recommend the Sugden.
They say that good though the PrimaLuna may be it could sound a bit flabby in the bass and muddied in complex passages...
...unless anyone knows diffferent(ly) of course ...
Thanks
|
|