Discrete Opamp Open Design

[bear]

My "blend" control is a push button: Waring, Hamilton Beach, etc...

nvm.

[john curl]

Blend, is flat over frequency, Xtalk is NOT!

[Joachim Gerhard]

I think that this processors i mentioned inverse the channels and then blend them into the other, some with frequency dependent EQ. The argument is that this cancels the acoustic bleeding of right and left ear getting information from the opposite channels too.
Anyway, as much as i tried this it never satisfied me. One was that i could only hear the effect when my head was clamped like in a vice and the other was the rather poor QUALITY of the sound i got so maybe the processors had mediocre electronics. Also the artificial echo generators i bought at the end of the 70th in full rave got switched off after a while. Even multichannel SACD never satisfied me. I can not really describe the feeling but i got disturbed and that disconnected me from the music. Mono is not for me ether, i am definitely a two channel vinyl guy. Maybe because i was raided that way and it feels familiar.

[wayne]

Originally Posted by john curl

Good stereo separation in the electronics is VERY IMPORTANT. Don't be fooled by phono cartridges Joachim.

Very true. I scratch my head over this but not long.

[forr]

I know that phono cartridges with -20dB crosstalk can just sound fine. Some bleeding in the other channel may even enhance the perception of spaciousness.

What I refer to is :

Francinstien

Of course, crosstalk, if needed, should be introduced in a perfectly controlled manner.

[Joachim Gerhard]

Well, i did not say that i WANT a cartridge with bad crosstalk. Recently i compared the Lyra Titan i that manages -30dB with the new Altlas that has up to -40dB in a broad range because the windings are not on the same former any more and the Atlas sounded better.
In nearly EVERY way.

[Joachim Gerhard]

Here is a comparison of measurements. One is the Kleos that has both coils wound on the same square former in 90° and the Atlas that has a cross with 4 arms. 2 coils for each channel.
The improvement in crosstalk is obvious. Still this would be very poor for an amp. Yes, i know, Vinyl has no right to sound as good as it does.

[SY]

Perhaps the 5dB reduction of the horrific peak (and time domain ringing) at 20kHz might be partially responsible for your perception of a better sound?

[Joachim Gerhard]

This cartridges are voiced with a special STAX headphone with extremely low mass.
Mostly critical choir music. There is a cutting and plating loss in the treble and measured more towards the inner side of the grove there is around 3dB loss in the treble too.
I can only tell you that they do not sound spitty at all and yes, extended overtone spectrum differentiates vinyl from CD also i know that vinyl is not very accurate over 10kHz. It may be the simple PRESSENCE of overtones and not the EXACT amount.

[Joachim Gerhard]

As far as i can tell the peaking in the Atlas is 2dB less and not 5dB.