qik_shift Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 All, Just wanted to post some thoughts up on this unit as the notion of handing this unit back to its maker - @andyr soon has made me feel a little sad and frankly I wish I spent more time with this unit a few years back before I bought my PS Audio Stellar Phono. This unit, after 10 mins of warm up time is ready to rumble. Loading options are effectively endless, allowing people to play within the theoretical range of 10x - 100x cartridge internal impedance. I am sure Andy will allow you to trial a number of plugs before you settle on the one that sounds best. It's a rather neutral sounding unit that sounds warm and welcoming when playing silky smooth music, and reveals the detail I listen for on tracks I'm familiar with. Oh and the noise floor on this unit is supremely low - that's a huge testament coming from yours truly who lives not far from a radio tower. The sound stage is beautifully presented. The extension and grip of the highs and lows defy its asking price. I've just played it back to back against my current reference phono stage (Sutherland Big Loco), and while the much more expensive Sutherland did outperform the Muse, it wasn't by the margin I was expecting. All I can say is that this unit deserves much more attention than it gets on SNA. Before anybody spends more than $2k on a phono stage, unless you're going into the seriously big boys league, you would be crazy to not find a way - any way - to get yourself a listen of the MC Muse before you buy anything else. 6 1 1
PKay Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 I had an earlier version on loan a few years ago and I agree it is a very good unit and IMO much better than the PS Audio. I always thought the PS Audio was overrated. The model I had was battery operated and industrial in design. The wooden box that Andy made was Australia Post proof. Well worth an audition.
andyr Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) 47 minutes ago, PKay said: The model I had was battery operated and industrial in design. The wooden (shipping) box that Andy made was Australia Post proof. You would probably still call the latest version "industrial", Peter! Here's a pic of the one Chris has been listening to: This one a. uses a linear PS instead of SLAs and b. has had various circuit adjustments made, to make it sound better than the one you listened to. Quote Well worth an audition. Thank you. It was a real pity that I had made an error with the one I sent up to you - which made it lack bass. I had substituted a lower-value cap at one position in the circuit (in an attempt to save a couple of $$) - and this had an unforeseen effect on the bass. (Now corrected!) Andy Edited July 24, 2021 by andyr 1
PKay Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, andyr said: You would probably still call the latest version "industrial", Peter! Here's a pic of the one Chris has been listening to: This one a. uses a linear PS instead of SLAs and b. has had various circuit adjustments made, to make it sound better than the one you listened to. Thank you. It was a real pity that I had made an error with the one I sent up to you - which made it lack bass. I had substituted a lower-value cap at one position in the circuit (in an attempt to save a couple of $$) - and this had an unforeseen effect on the bass. (Now corrected!) Andy Great to hear Andy. I like the way you use plugs for resistors rather than dip switches. I read that Graham Tricker from Tron prefers them to dip switches as well. Edited July 24, 2021 by PKay
andyr Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 9 hours ago, PKay said: I like the way you use plugs for resistors rather than dip switches. I read that Graham Tricker from Tron prefers them to dip switches as well. Thanks for that piece of info, Peter; good to hear that Tron do it too. (Actually, I stole the idea from the late great Allen Wright, after someone lent me a JLTi. ) 9 hours ago, PKay said: Is the gain variable or fixed? I use a Vishay trim-pot in the 2nd gain stage on each channel. This is done so I can precisely match the output signal level in each channel ... but it also delivers a few dB variability in gain. Andy 1
PKay Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, andyr said: Thanks for that piece of info, Peter; good to hear that Tron do it too. (Actually, I stole the idea from the late great Allen Wright, after someone lent me a JLTi. ) I use a Vishay trim-pot in the 2nd gain stage on each channel. This is done so I can precisely match the output signal level in each channel ... but it also delivers a few dB variability in gain. Andy Herron phono also uses loading plugs. please let me know when the new Muse is doing the Sydney round. Edited July 24, 2021 by PKay
andyr Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 28 minutes ago, PKay said: Herron phono also uses loading plugs. Great to hear. It really is the best way (rather than dip-switches)! 28 minutes ago, PKay said: please let me know when the new Muse is doing the Sydney round. Will do, Peter. Andy 1
Tasebass Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 2 hours ago, PKay said: Herron phono also uses loading plugs. Ditto Naim Superline......as you know... Tase.
Tasebass Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 2 hours ago, andyr said: Will do, Peter. Andy +1 Tase.
andyr Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 6 minutes ago, Tasebass said: Ditto Naim Superline......as you know... Tase. Interesting, Tase. What's the range of loading plug values that's available with a 'Superline'? Andy
Tasebass Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 2 minutes ago, andyr said: Interesting, Tase. What's the range of loading plug values that's available with a 'Superline'? Andy you get a bunch of "standard" plugs.....see if I can get some info... There are Z foil plugs available which can have any value you wish for so I'm led to believe... Tase.
Tasebass Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 All DIN connection. Plugs can be removed on the fly though best to when at rest or nothing playing and associated equipment set at Zero. Tase. 1
andyr Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Tasebass said: All DIN connection. Plugs can be removed on the fly though best to when at rest or nothing playing and associated equipment set at Zero. Tase. Thanks, Tase. I see that 100R / 220R / 500R / 1K is available. But higher (eg. 2K / 3K3 / 4K7? And Naim reckon cap loading plugs are also required for LOMCs? Andy Edited July 25, 2021 by andyr
Tasebass Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 5 minutes ago, andyr said: Thanks, Tase. I see that 100R / 220R / 500R / 1K is available. But higher (eg. 2K / 3K3 / 4K7? And Naim reckon cap loading plugs are also required for LOMCs? Andy Yeah as I said you can order whatever value you want.....or have some one like yourself make one up.... I dont bother with the CAP plug. stuck with the factory setting of 1nf ( I think). I did order a Z foil 470pf one for my Kandid but preferred the 1nf ...same for my XV1S. Tase.
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