A phono stage that just plain works

ohbythebay

ohbythebay

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Well, I was trying the NAD 1130 as a phono stage as it had such rave reviews. As a MM phono stage it is awesome, but the real test, MC.

I have been listening to the new table and new cart...The AT33V cart..and knowing that it is less focused on highs than the OC9, I listened to the mids and bass. They seemed good but the highs seemed a bit rolled off and in truth, the bass a tad boomy. Hmmm..something was amiss. I don't go BACKWARD..not for long anyway.

So I hooked up the prior AT630 SUT to the ART DJ Pre II as it had been before with my DIY table and OC9...bang. The highs were no longer rolled off, mids gorgeous as the 33EV is known for and the bass ?? Tightened right up. The synergy was there.

So in short, again, I have found that what is supposed to be a killer phono stage is beaten by the simple...I think ALOT has to do with the match to the AT630 SUT. They are just made for AT carts to coexist.

As some point I will try the vista, but I am quite happy now so maybe I will leave it be for a bit...:yes:

AT630 SUT (Step Up Transformer)

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Wow..I didn't know it could be used for a truck? LOL...Yes, it is MADE by audio technica to boost MC carts (Step Up transformer) in a noiseless clean way. Now note, it only boosts it to PHONO level, not line level.

So for example, if your receiver had phono input but you have an MC cart, you would uses this to BOOST to the PHONO level. If you need line level than you use this to boost, then you need a regular phono stage to get to LINE level.

So you say, whats the point?

Well for one, the SUT seems perfectly matched to Audio Technica carts. Next, regular phono stages (without MC) are a heck of a lot cheaper and sometimes cleaner than the more expensive MC phono stages. Not to mention, I am having serious issue with "supposed" good quality MM/MC phono stages that my simple solution blows away.

I am truly afraid to shell out BIG bucks on a new phono stage because if I don't get this SOUND, I'll feel like an idiot spending a lot of money on something inferior to what I have now that cost a total of about $110.

The NAD I tried? It worked VERY well as a MM phono stage (and I may just try the SUT to NAD idea) but as an MC phono stage..Nope.

And the NAD had rave, cutting edge reviews for its phono stage. So it is scary to me because I have tried stages people recommended and gone "Really? You like that ?"...and tried ones that reviews had orgasms over (lol) and again said "Really ?"...

So for now the SUT to ART DJ Pre works great. I will try the SUT to the NAD in MM mode and see how that sounds

Another that has worked well for me (but it was custom tailored to my AT carts), the HTMCPS kit...Cost me $100 and about $3.00 in wood to make my own case...Incredible DC powered phono stage.

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Okay, so tried another combo last night that WORKS nice

Turntable to AT630 SUT (takes it to phono level) to the NAD 1130 in MM mode. Very nice. As I had thought, the NAD has a great adjustable phono stage for MM but suffers a bit with rolled off highs on MC.

I have to do some serious listening to see if the ART or the NAD works better in this position.

3rd test will be to hook up just the HTMCPS (unit pictured above) which is a true MC phono stage...:weird:
 
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