Chops' Current System Pics ....
- Thread starter chops
- Start date
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Awesome Charles... looking good!
chops
Active member
- Thread Author
- #405
Thank you, Randy. It's sounding pretty darn good as well. The sound of pure analog coming through these Maggies is something else. Whether it be coming from vinyl or tape, there's just something about analog that just sounds "right". Yes, digital sounds better, but analog sounds more real. It's hard to explain, but I'm sure you probably know what I mean, being that you run dual turntables.
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Hey Charles, most definitely do. I love my digital, but my vinyl just sounds really good, really inviting. The Rega with the MC cartridge is amazing for high end records, but for older, standard albums, or rock albums the Technics with the AT cartridge really sounds good. I love how the McIntosh has both MM and MC phono stages built in and that they sound very good to me!
chops
Active member
- Thread Author
- #408
Purchased a somewhat mint JVC XL-V411 CD player. I say "somewhat" mint because once it arrived via FedEx, the display got knocked crooked, five plastic tabs got broken off, and the motorized volume was making noise, but not moving. I opened it up yesterday, disassembled more than half of it, and got everything straightened out (pun intended) and un-jammed the volume knob. Other than that, the unit is excellent, everything operates, it sounds amazingly good, has a coax output if I want to add a DAC at some point, the remote control looks almost new, and the manual is still sealed in its factory plastic sleeve from 1989.
I also swapped out the APC H15 power conditioner for the much older but totally mint Monster HTS 5000. Reason being that I think the APC might be on its way out. A couple of times in the past week or two, the system connected to it shuts down for a second then comes back on, yet the other half of the system at the front of the room is unaffected, nor is the computer (running Roon Core) and the modem remain on as well in the rear of the room.
I also swapped out the APC H15 power conditioner for the much older but totally mint Monster HTS 5000. Reason being that I think the APC might be on its way out. A couple of times in the past week or two, the system connected to it shuts down for a second then comes back on, yet the other half of the system at the front of the room is unaffected, nor is the computer (running Roon Core) and the modem remain on as well in the rear of the room.
chops
Active member
- Thread Author
- #411
Thank you for the kind words, sir!
Only had time yesterday to mess around with Sumiko some. Currently fighting an uphill battle with some inner groove distortion. Roughly the last two tracks of every album, voices start taking on a fuzzy, static like quality… a.k.a. - IGD. I've encountered this before with other carts and tables, but was always able to eliminate it after a few more alignment tweaks. However, with this cart, I'm having a heck of a time with it.
Other than that, the Sumiko BP3 has a more rounded, fuller sound to it over the 2M Bronze. More bass grunt and speed, excellent midrange body, a silkier top end, and the uncanny ability to pull out finer details in the recordings.
chops
Active member
- Thread Author
- #413
I already mentioned the sound differences in my last post above.
Good ole' Amazon delivery today... Hudson Hifi acrylic mat and gel stylus cleaner.
To my amazement, the acrylic mat is no joke. Bass and lower midrange has tightened up and become cleaner and more defined. Bass also seems to reach a little deeper. Everything else from what I can tell has remained the same with the exception of a bit more open sound stage. All in all, a nice simple upgrade for only 24 bucks, ordered last night and arrived about 2 hours ago.
Also, pretty sure I've pretty much eliminated that stinkin' IGD. Part of it was the cartridge alignment (resorted back to the Technics alignment tool that came with this TT back in '78), and the other part was from some of these old LPs. It's just the way some of them are, or how they've been played in years past with mis-aligned carts from the previous owners. My personal collection of LP's from my father, brothers and myself are all perfectly fine... IGD free.
chops
Active member
- Thread Author
- #415
I much prefer my Nak 582. The only reason I'm not using it currently is because the thing is too darn big and doesn't fit in my rack. I don't know... Maybe I'll put it under the turntable. Or maybe I'll get one of those wall mount shelves for the TT and position it right above the rack with the 582 on the top shelf of the rack.
chops
Active member
- Thread Author
- #417
It was mostly due to the overhang. Trying various alignment protractors, it was just pulling the cartridge further and further out. The Mofi Geo-Disc almost had the cart extended to max. In the end, going back to the Technics recommended 52mm overhang with the use of their provided overhang/alignment tool as well as lowering the VTA a touch, I would have to say that about 95% of the IGD is gone.
I'm not 100% sold on the TT wall mount as it would really only be for allowing me to reinsert the Nakamichi 582 into the system. Our house is built on a concrete slab, so floor isolation isn't an issue. Not to mention, the suspension system on this 45 year old Technics TT still works flawlessly. I can heavily tap anywhere on the rack AND on the plinth of the TT itself with zero "thump-thump" coming through the system at all. One of the many reasons I love this TT still.
chops
Active member
- Thread Author
- #418
Been doing a lot of experimenting lately which has gotten my vinyl system closer to where I want it. The past couple of weeks have included a new record clamp/weight, a new Nasotec swivel headshell, four different cartridges (more importantly the stylus type), and various alignments. The fifth cartridge is arriving tomorrow which will hopefully put an end to my experimenting and/or search as it is technically the best of both worlds (cartridge type and stylus type).
Naturally, the higher quality the stylus, the more detail and stereo separation there is, and with less surface noise and vanishing IGD. The Nasotec headshell cleans everything up that much more. A very clean and solidified sound overall, even more defined stereo separation, and bass that seems more effortless and open. Quite an interesting headshell that I'm glad I discovered.
Nagaoka M-110
Sumiko Blue Point No.3
Ortofon 2M Bronze
Ortofon 2M Black
Naturally, the higher quality the stylus, the more detail and stereo separation there is, and with less surface noise and vanishing IGD. The Nasotec headshell cleans everything up that much more. A very clean and solidified sound overall, even more defined stereo separation, and bass that seems more effortless and open. Quite an interesting headshell that I'm glad I discovered.
Nagaoka M-110
Sumiko Blue Point No.3
Ortofon 2M Bronze
Ortofon 2M Black
Being a digital guy, I don't understand why people bother with analog at all. I'm yet to hear any recording on vinyl that excites me enough to take much notice. Although the new Grandioso T1 does excite me on pure eye candy value alone. And I do like the photographic images of the turntable hardware posted in this topic.