Boy, and isn't THAT always the case. I have a really great one here, built by a talented person (so we know it 's not me), sounds just magnificent, and, it hums. No matter that the power supply is remote, no matter that it is triple shielded, no matter that there is no measurable ripple in the riaa box, it hums.
Bud
Bud
Oh yes and I have tried at least a thousand different ways to ground the turntable, which is one of those devilish Yamaha, straight line tracking, 350 series devices.
I have even wound up some step up coils and by passed an entire stage of tubes, to no avail and no better sound either. If it just wasn't so good sounding....
Bud
I have even wound up some step up coils and by passed an entire stage of tubes, to no avail and no better sound either. If it just wasn't so good sounding....
Bud
Given that I have not heard an RIAA pre that does not suck in some way or another, I can't answer this honestly
Cheers!
I thought your 6AQ4 circuit looked promising. I've got a new one which will be published shortly that might suck somewhat less...
It's the second best one I've heard so far, but I already even got bored with it!
This was the last one I played with:
http://geek.scorpiorising.ca/GeeK_ZonE/index.php?topic=4097.msg46141#msg46141
I actually want to try a power MOSFET (
) as the input device... these IRF 5/6/710 devices sound pretty good and lowwww capacitance.(Darn you Nelson Pass, you are getting me into SAND!
)Cheers!
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MC or MM?
well all, as I previously stated, there are good types of both (or all three) types out there. Regarding Grados, I do have a limited amount of experience outside of them, but I've spent some time with Ortofons (both MM and MC types), Shures, etc.
And I do have limited experience regarding phono stages. I think my old PSIII is fundamentally correct---some may disagree.
Yes, better styli shapes can produce quieter backgrounds, etc and track better. But at a fundamental level, none of the types mentioned (or the Grados) are perfect. The best we can expect is what we get and how closely a cartridge behaves like the models, and is set up.
Having never experienced a strain guage type, I can't comment on that.
Greg---please allow me to post in the GeeK ZoNE
well all, as I previously stated, there are good types of both (or all three) types out there. Regarding Grados, I do have a limited amount of experience outside of them, but I've spent some time with Ortofons (both MM and MC types), Shures, etc.
And I do have limited experience regarding phono stages. I think my old PSIII is fundamentally correct---some may disagree.
Yes, better styli shapes can produce quieter backgrounds, etc and track better. But at a fundamental level, none of the types mentioned (or the Grados) are perfect. The best we can expect is what we get and how closely a cartridge behaves like the models, and is set up.
Having never experienced a strain guage type, I can't comment on that.
Greg---please allow me to post in the GeeK ZoNE
Great responses all the way guys - and to be honest MMs got a better showing than I thought they would.
The reason I posted the poll in the first place was I got my copy of stereophile in the door and it was their ratings issue.... so as I aimlessly flick through I notice that theres hardly 1 MM cart in the section for carts. Lots of MC ones listed though. So it got me to thinking what was the reason. Was it that theres more money to be made in selling MC carts so more are sent for review etc? Or was it that MC genuinely were better sounding? Do the magazines simply need exotica (almost erotica there!) to add flavour?
So however true any of the above statements are, it does seem that a majority do think that MC sounds better than MM. ~70% vs 30%
BTW, I purposely left the question vague so that things like phonostages etc would all be taken into account. After all, theres no good in having the best MM cart in the world if there are only crap MM phonostages available (I know thats not true but you get my meaning).
More comments welcome!!
Fran
The reason I posted the poll in the first place was I got my copy of stereophile in the door and it was their ratings issue.... so as I aimlessly flick through I notice that theres hardly 1 MM cart in the section for carts. Lots of MC ones listed though. So it got me to thinking what was the reason. Was it that theres more money to be made in selling MC carts so more are sent for review etc? Or was it that MC genuinely were better sounding? Do the magazines simply need exotica (almost erotica there!) to add flavour?
So however true any of the above statements are, it does seem that a majority do think that MC sounds better than MM. ~70% vs 30%
BTW, I purposely left the question vague so that things like phonostages etc would all be taken into account. After all, theres no good in having the best MM cart in the world if there are only crap MM phonostages available (I know thats not true but you get my meaning).
More comments welcome!!
Fran
In the days when Hi-Fi was mainstream, and vinyl was best widespread media, a large body of consumers were looking for competitively priced fit and forget, exchangeable tip cartridges. Manufacturers were fiercly competing in midprice MM, and made advances that never got to be trully discovered by those consumers. They would not really know what all of this we talk about loading, setting up a good TT, proper quality phono etc is. To the contrary, connoiseurs of that era, much more learned than the average High-End luxury consumer of today, knew that MC is superior but takes much more care and money in it and the system. So a legend was born every time the 681EEE just records listening guy on a cheap Lenco feeding a generic phono in some harsh integrated with moaning V cut mids speakers perched on a bookself near ceiling, stepped in to the odd household with a full Linn sporting a Troika, Levinsons, and some panels.
The MMs are much better than we thought but MCs are top, in my experience. Of course back then the panel speaker guy knew that there was a DL103 to recommend to the 681EEE guy, but he would think twice of the rest of kit, care, set up, etc. Today's Hi-End draws on whatever is considered excellent out of hand. And excellency can't be averagely priced. It just does not make sense, does it? MM low fi but MC the only hi end is absurd. They overlap in many categories and compatibility considerations. Above $500 the MC clears the ground gradually.
The MMs are much better than we thought but MCs are top, in my experience. Of course back then the panel speaker guy knew that there was a DL103 to recommend to the 681EEE guy, but he would think twice of the rest of kit, care, set up, etc. Today's Hi-End draws on whatever is considered excellent out of hand. And excellency can't be averagely priced. It just does not make sense, does it? MM low fi but MC the only hi end is absurd. They overlap in many categories and compatibility considerations. Above $500 the MC clears the ground gradually.
I reviewed the issue and there is a Soundsmith MM in Class A and two Clearaudio MM's in Class B. (I'm not defending the magazine!)
Yeah, I know, I know - its not like I'd ever be buying anything in the mag. I got 2 years sub for $27 delivered to my door in Ireland. What can I say, we all need a little porn now and again!
God, how I wish they had continued and made life a bit easier for those of us who suffer for vinyl nervosa.
I concur
I bought the leaded version from mouser a few years back for SYs RLD amp. They are small, but easy enough to work with.
Fran
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