Be Quiet...Listen Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 29 minutes ago, cafe latte said: Nothing wrong with headshells, plenty of arms with headshells test and sound fab. Also more than one way to do a headshell, think sme v thr headshell version I never said anything negative about them. Simply expressed my preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted February 21 Author Share Posted February 21 1 minute ago, Allan said: Please explain explain on another thread please. this thread is for pictures and showing off your wonderful phono stages and cartridges, not debating tonearms and head shells. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Marc Posted February 21 Administrator Share Posted February 21 @metal beat is correct (and I split the last posts that were specifically discussing one brand to a new topic). Please keep this thread for discussions (and photos) of your phono stages. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Be Quiet...Listen Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 I'll go first. 9 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted February 21 Author Share Posted February 21 Beautiful - How is it sounding Travis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Be Quiet...Listen Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Haven't spent as much time as I would have liked. Listening time has been a rarity of late. Well deserving of the hype. The DAC included. Very much welcomed additions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Supex SD900IV cart still working well and continues to impress. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlov Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 My spider sense tells me that I will regret the discovery of this thread My humble Ortofon MC 20 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReliaBill EngR Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 1959. Enjoying the contrasts between these 2 cartridges. Shure M3D vs Empire 108. Both with NOS original styli, 0.7 mil conicals. Empire is black/grey, Shure is black: Below the Empire on the arm: Below, the M3D on the arm: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikhuong Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 (edited) Thales Simplicity 2 Tonearm and X-Quisite CA cartridge acquired from great SNAers here. Took for a while to put a matching set together but the outcome is more than my expectation. Those Swiss-made components have surprised me in-term of musicality and smoothness. Perfect for vocal and jazz but still do classical music respectable. Phono preamp is Thoress Phono Enhancer which is my endgame keeper phono. Edited March 8 by ikhuong 8 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artnet Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 How are you finding the Thoress Phono enhancer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikhuong Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Artnet said: How are you finding the Thoress Phono enhancer? Upgraded from Herron phono, I think I cannot go back. Thoress phono extracts amazing dynamic with considerable high gain that relative low cartridge likes 0.3 mv requires no step-up transformer. the high gain design also helps 300b amp sound a lot more gusty and more powerful without pushing preamp volume to unnecessary high level which increases noise floor. The dynamic and neutral sound of Thoress Enhancer would benefit Classical music most, especially Ochestra performance. comparing to built-in phono stage of Thoress preamp, the enhancer brings system to next level Edited March 8 by ikhuong 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artnet Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 19 minutes ago, ikhuong said: The dynamic and neutral sound of Thoress Enhancer would benefit Classical music most, especially Ochestra performance. comparing to built-in phono stage of Thoress preamp, the enhancer brings system to next level I am going to assume you have tried the FF preamp? Thank you for the comments on the enhancer very encouraging!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Had this for a few months. It’s finally set up today. When my preamp is back from service, I’ll finally be able to use it. 17 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Slack Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Hi Steever, it looks like you would have some trouble with any cart that can’t be moved that far forward of the end of the headshell! cheers Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRolley Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 On 21/2/2024 at 9:22 PM, Be Quiet...Listen said: I'll go first. Drool. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me2also Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 Dynavector DV-30C. I just threw it on my old PEAK/ CEC FR250idler drive. It's only 0.18 mv, but in many ways it sounds spectacular. Instruments of all kinds sound real. Dialling in vocals Im finding a bit challenging but worth it. If things are only 90% mechanically and electronically, I find that upper range vocals seem as though in the background. But once everything is balanced in correctly, they pop out nicely and the whole soundstage is awesome. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me2also Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 On 21/03/2024 at 4:42 PM, Steever said: Had this for a few months. It’s finally set up today. When my preamp is back from service, I’ll finally be able to use it. When you get your phono amp back you could play a little Tom Petty - 'The Waiting is the Hardest Part'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 5 hours ago, Me2also said: Dynavector DV-30C. I just threw it on my old PEAK/ CEC FR250idler drive. It's only 0.18 mv, but in many ways it sounds spectacular. Instruments of all kinds sound real. Interesting cart. What is your phono stage? (I ask because I reckon it probably needs 68 or 69dB gain.) Also, what are you loading it with? I ask because according to these specs which I found: ... given coil resistance is 30 ohms - the optimal loading will be anywhere between 300 Ohms (10x) and 3k Ohms (100x). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussievintage Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 5 hours ago, Me2also said: Dynavector DV-30C. I just threw it on my old PEAK/ CEC FR250idler drive. It's only 0.18 mv, but in many ways it sounds spectacular. Instruments of all kinds sound real. Dialling in vocals Im finding a bit challenging but worth it. If things are only 90% mechanically and electronically, I find that upper range vocals seem as though in the background. But once everything is balanced in correctly, they pop out nicely and the whole soundstage is awesome. I never thought I'd run into someone else with one of those turntables. Here's a pic of mine. I am now running a VM95ML in that SME3009 arm. A fantastic turntable, simple and works. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me2also Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 27 minutes ago, andyr said: Interesting cart. What is your phono stage? (I ask because I reckon it probably needs 68 or 69dB gain.) Also, what are you loading it with? I ask because according to these specs which I found: ... given coil resistance is 30 ohms - the optimal loading will be anywhere between 300 Ohms (10x) and 3k Ohms (100x). Ive got several. ATM just using a SS AQVOX Phono 2 CL. Just running it single ended and seems to have the voltage with everything turned up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 3 minutes ago, Me2also said: ATM just using a SS AQVOX Phono 2 CL. Just running it single ended and seems to have the voltage with everything turned up. The review I found of the AQVOX Phono 2 CL said it offers 68dB gain, using the RCA inputs - which is purrfect! It also seems to offer several loading options - I would suggest (if you're not already using this) trying the highest one available. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me2also Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 On 24/03/2024 at 4:39 PM, andyr said: Interesting cart. What is your phono stage? (I ask because I reckon it probably needs 68 or 69dB gain.) Also, what are you loading it with? I ask because according to these specs which I found: ... given coil resistance is 30 ohms - the optimal loading will be anywhere between 300 Ohms (10x) and 3k Ohms (100x). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me2also Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Funny you should ask such a question, Andy. You know I've got an old Denon PRA 1000 preamp. I believe the preamp part is almost good,, but the MC phono on it is really bloody nice to my old ears. I tried it with the Dynavector today and I actually enjoyed it more than with the AQVOX. I've always wished I know how to cut the preamp out of the path and just use it as an mm/ MC phono amp. Always wanted to try your Paris head amp, And Paris, Texas is one of my all time favorite albums, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 19 minutes ago, Me2also said: Funny you should ask such a question, Andy. You know I've got an old Denon PRA 1000 preamp. I believe the preamp part is almost good,, but the MC phono on it is really bloody nice to my old ears. I tried it with the Dynavector today and I actually enjoyed it more than with the AQVOX. I've always wished I know how to cut the preamp out of the path and just use it as an mm/ MC phono amp. If there's anyone who's familiar with the PRA 1000 up there ... it probably wouldn't be that hard a task. But I suspect the process would be a "one-way ticket"! 19 minutes ago, Me2also said: Always wanted to try your Paris head amp, And Paris, Texas is one of my all time favorite albums, also. I actually have just built one - so have it 'on the shelf' ... if you'd like to audition it. Re. "Paris, Texas" - Hugh Dean (the designer) says that he called his head amp circuit the "Paris" in homage to that very album. However, in actual fact ... it got its name from that other (famous) "Paris"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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