Roy Gregory Compares ARC Ref 10, VTL 7.5 Series III, and CJ GAT Series 2...

joeinid said:
Congratulations on the GAT2.

Regarding the plastic cover of the Ref 10, tests were done and it actually sounds better than the metal cover. I think it started with the Ref 40 and people realized they preferred the sound with the plastic instead of the metal.

I like the look (and sound) of the CJ more anyway.
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Who did the testing to determine the plastic cover sounds better than the metal cover?
 
Quote:

"The remainder of the chassis is black-anodized aluminum, with a cover of transparent polycarbonate polymer, slotted for ventilation. While the top can still be ordered in traditional aluminum, go with the acrylic -- it not only provides a bird’s-eye view of the interior, but, per ARC, it sounds better, presumably due to its antiresonant quality."​


https://www.soundstageultra.com/ind...research-corporation-reference-5-preamplifier


Shall I go on?

Did you ever bother to compare the covers in any of your reviews?
​
 
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joeinid said:
Quote:

"The remainder of the chassis is black-anodized aluminum, with a cover of transparent polycarbonate polymer, slotted for ventilation. While the top can still be ordered in traditional aluminum, go with the acrylic -- it not only provides a bird’s-eye view of the interior, but, per ARC, it sounds better, presumably due to its antiresonant quality."​


https://www.soundstageultra.com/ind...research-corporation-reference-5-preamplifier


Shall I go on?

Did you ever bother to compare the covers in any of your reviews?
​
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Thanks Joe. I wasn’t aware of that.
 
Hello everyone. I finally received my GAT2 fresh from the factory. I swapped out my XLR cables for RCA connections and I’m getting a a loud static/hum. Any ideas.
 
Please make sure that your RCA cables are properly seated. Push them all the way in and if they are locking connectors/barrels (which I don't like), make sure they are fully cinched up and tight. But not so tight that you can not get them off. Check both amp and preamp.

Congratulations on the GAT2.

Redphu said:
Hello everyone. I finally received my GAT2 fresh from the factory. I swapped out my XLR cables for RCA connections and I’m getting a a loud static/hum. Any ideas.
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Joe

Since he never answered the question about the amp he is using he may be using XLR to SE cables and if so have a ground loop which may require lifting the ground on one of the two pieces or running a grounding wire between them.
 
I am using the Krell 403E amp which has both XLR and RCA connections. I failed to mention that this hum/static was also present when I switch to RCA connections on my old Krell Phantom pre but plays fine with XLR connections.

Joe I’ll try securing the RCA as suggested. Thank you.
 
If I had hum/static, it was ALWAYS from locking connector RCAs. I hope that's what is going on here.
 
If the Krell is a fully balanced amp then you may be running into the same issue as Fremer ran into when he tried to run the fully balanced BHK amps with the SE Dart preamp. His only solution was to lift the ground on the amp end. The same thing was happening when you ran SE interconnects with the two Krell pieces.
 
Something else to think about, with Conrad Johnson, everything should be run from one circuit to minimize any chance of mismatched grounds.
 
@ Jack Thanks for chiming in. Can you explain lifting the ground.

I moved the router and modem further away from the preamp and Dac; Im still getting the static hum with only the PAcific Dac and hum is present whether the Pacific is ON or OFF and independent of of source selection and volume.
 
Jack said:
If the Krell is a fully balanced amp then you may be running into the same issue as Fremer ran into when he tried to run the fully balanced BHK amps with the SE Dart preamp. His only solution was to lift the ground on the amp end. The same thing was happening when you ran SE interconnects with the two Krell pieces.
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Excellent information, Jack. Unfortunately the single-ended connections are an afterthought on a lot of amps these days. C-J and some other companies still do it right.

Ken
 
If unplugging the Lampi from the preamp eliminates the hum then as an interim measure you can try using a cheater plug on each of the three pieces one at a time and see if lifting the ground on one of them eliminates the hum. Are they all connected to the same circuit or conditioner?
 
Can you recommend a cheater plug to use? Will the addition of a cheater plug have any effect on sound. Is there a permanent fix?

All the main components are connected into a single power conditioner and the powerconditioner is plugged into a dedicated furutech duplex; nothing else is plugged into the second outlet on the duplex.
 
For the purpose of testing a cheater plug is a cheater plug and they can be picked up at any hardware store and even at most "dollar" stores for less than a buck. They have no effect on the sound except to eliminate a ground loop if you have one. If your line conditioner has a ground lug then just try running a wire from the Lampi to the Line Conditioner if the cheater plug solves the problem. If the system is all plugged into the Line Conditioner which is grounded then lifting the ground on the Lampi is not an issue anyway.
 
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