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Post by amped on May 9, 2019 17:31:53 GMT -5
If you have decided on a MC (which for the love of God I hope you have) Another GREAT cart to consider to get your feet wet in the Denon 103R...It is a VERY forgiving Cart and can be had for half the price of the Hana SL that has a relatively hi output at .25 years ago I used it with the EMO XPS-1 with an "upgraded" power supply and it was a huge jump up from my previous set-up.
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Post by brubacca on May 9, 2019 17:43:07 GMT -5
So I'm most likely to do the stylus @ $80 or Hana EH @ $475.
I have greatly considered the Denon DL-103, actually the Zu Audio modified version at $500.... it was highly recommended for my VPI.
I would need a new PhonoPre (although I have two I looked at, SimAudio Moon 110lp v2 or ProJect TubeBox S V2).
I have rejected the low ouput carts for this round.
I just can't spending $700+ on a table that costs $675. Buying a cart at 70% of the cost of the table also seems to be a bit much, although a couple of dealers said 100% is the max you should spend.(no vested interest there).
Literally in the morning I am thinking stylus and by the afternoon its New Cartridge you only live once time. Its still cheaper than a shrink.
I'm using the Lounge Audio LCR phono pre.. MM only.
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Post by novisnick on May 9, 2019 20:56:49 GMT -5
So I'm most likely to do the stylus @ $80 or Hana EH @ $475. I have greatly considered the Denon DL-103, actually the Zu Audio modified version at $500.... it was highly recommended for my VPI. I would need a new PhonoPre (although I have two I looked at, SimAudio Moon 110lp v2 or ProJect TubeBox S V2). I have rejected the low ouput carts for this round. I just can't spending $700+ on a table that costs $675. Buying a cart at 70% of the cost of the table also seems to be a bit much, although a couple of dealers said 100% is the max you should spend.(no vested interest there). Literally in the morning I am thinking stylus and by the afternoon its New Cartridge you only live once time. Its still cheaper than a shrink. I'm using the Lounge Audio LCR phono pre.. MM only. Ha, we need the same Shrink! LOL Morning I’m looking at a $1,500 cart, afternoon it’s a $1,200. Tone arm and by dinner it’s a new RP 8 plus a new cartridge! If I go MC I’m looking for a phono stage which should be matched to the cartridge! It seem so much easier to have just spent all that on a DAC LOL, Crazy? Who? What? Where? Me? 😲🤔😋 Is it breakfast yet? |
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Post by brubacca on May 10, 2019 5:00:44 GMT -5
So I'm most likely to do the stylus @ $80 or Hana EH @ $475. I have greatly considered the Denon DL-103, actually the Zu Audio modified version at $500.... it was highly recommended for my VPI. I would need a new PhonoPre (although I have two I looked at, SimAudio Moon 110lp v2 or ProJect TubeBox S V2). I have rejected the low ouput carts for this round. I just can't spending $700+ on a table that costs $675. Buying a cart at 70% of the cost of the table also seems to be a bit much, although a couple of dealers said 100% is the max you should spend.(no vested interest there). Literally in the morning I am thinking stylus and by the afternoon its New Cartridge you only live once time. Its still cheaper than a shrink. I'm using the Lounge Audio LCR phono pre.. MM only. Ha, we need the same Shrink! LOL Morning I’m looking at a $1,500 cart, afternoon it’s a $1,200. Tone arm and by dinner it’s a new RP 8 plus a new cartridge! If I go MC I’m looking for a phono stage which should be matched to the cartridge! It seem so much easier to have just spent all that on a DAC LOL, Crazy? Who? What? Where? Me? 😲🤔😋 Is it breakfast yet? Yep, same problem, different life situation. I still have a 11 and 8 year old running around the house. (Although it seems crazy for me that I'm listening to a $60 cartridge on a system with $450 speaker cables). As far as MC cartridge, if you stayed with a high output type you could use your existing MM PhonoPre. |
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Post by novisnick on May 10, 2019 6:22:53 GMT -5
Ha, we need the same Shrink! LOL Morning I’m looking at a $1,500 cart, afternoon it’s a $1,200. Tone arm and by dinner it’s a new RP 8 plus a new cartridge! If I go MC I’m looking for a phono stage which should be matched to the cartridge! It seem so much easier to have just spent all that on a DAC LOL, Crazy? Who? What? Where? Me? 😲🤔😋 Is it breakfast yet? Yep, same problem, different life situation. I still have a 11 and 8 year old running around the house. (Although it seems crazy for me that I'm listening to a $60 cartridge on a system with $450 speaker cables). As far as MC cartridge, if you stayed with a high output type you could use your existing MM PhonoPre. Enjoy that pitter patter! Priceless! Audio gear will come and go, kids are for life! Yes, high output would be the way to go unless I go tone arm first! LOL |
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Post by brubacca on May 29, 2019 18:14:16 GMT -5
Well I had an interesting development with the TT last weekend. I put my Tube integrated (with integral phono) back in the system.
So I wired directly from the TT (rega has a built in cable) to the phono input on the integrated. It sounded much more like I was expecting. Good rythym and timing. My rock albums well sounded like rock albums.
Then I put my SS integrated back in the system (SS amps just control my speakers better). My integrated only has one analog input and I use a switch box to share the input. I decided to go direct from my Phono pre to the integrated with my best interconnect. Well hello. That is the sound I was expecting to get.
I know many scoff at different interconnwcts, but I find a difference. So basically I need a new pair of interconnects (actually two) to see if I can get the switch box back into the system and still enjoy good sound from both sources. The problem being that they are $200 wires. Not crazy, but more that I wanted to spend on the wires for this TT.
So I have a more reasonable set of interconnects inbound to test direct with my TT (and DAC).
So my cartridge search has changed to an interconnect search.
Side note: the $200 interconnects are Coppertone RCA from Black Cat Cable.
If you think $200 is reasonable for an interconnect check them out. Really stunning.
Other side note: the interconnects that were killing my sound were 2 different pairs of Transparent Audio. (Plus a couple others that I will not mention on the open forum)
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Post by dsonyay on May 29, 2019 18:35:55 GMT -5
Maybe get the stylus upgrade and it will reveal more. Not a lot to spend on just stylus upgrade
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Post by brubacca on May 29, 2019 18:54:37 GMT -5
Maybe get the stylus upgrade and it will reveal more. Not a lot to spend on just stylus upgrade Yes, Thats the plan. Cable should be here Friday. I'll go for the stylus next. I am currently looking at some albums to buy. It would seem that the Crash, 20th Anniversary edition on Vinyl is really good. Since I'm not looking at a $500 cartridge I'm thinking I need some new Vinyl! I'll take any suggestions for really good albums on Vinyl, any genre (Except Rap, just not doing that). |
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Post by 26gary26 on May 29, 2019 21:05:43 GMT -5
If your interested At Music Direct they have a Rolling Stones 15 Album set For $390.00 on sale. The albums were recorded at the Abbey Roads studio at !/2 speed from the master tapes. I am really enjoying them. You also get complete Wav files 16 & 24 bit access to every album from their site. They give you a code when you purchase the set to download. Also your albums are numbered, I have set number 175
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Post by novisnick on May 29, 2019 22:32:45 GMT -5
Maybe get the stylus upgrade and it will reveal more. Not a lot to spend on just stylus upgrade Yes, Thats the plan. Cable should be here Friday. I'll go for the stylus next. I am currently looking at some albums to buy. It would seem that the Crash, 20th Anniversary edition on Vinyl is really good. Since I'm not looking at a $500 cartridge I'm thinking I need some new Vinyl! I'll take any suggestions for really good albums on Vinyl, any genre (Except Rap, just not doing that). Good new vinyl is always a great expenditure! 😁 must have, Take Five by Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall Live from Paris are my first two offerings. Have fun! |
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Post by brubacca on May 30, 2019 6:23:42 GMT -5
Yes, Thats the plan. Cable should be here Friday. I'll go for the stylus next. I am currently looking at some albums to buy. It would seem that the Crash, 20th Anniversary edition on Vinyl is really good. Since I'm not looking at a $500 cartridge I'm thinking I need some new Vinyl! I'll take any suggestions for really good albums on Vinyl, any genre (Except Rap, just not doing that). Good new vinyl is always a great expenditure! 😁 must have, Take Five by Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall Live from Paris are my first two offerings. Have fun! Do I get the $55 45 RPM or the $35 33RPM versions? All my vinyl is 33RPM so I'm inclined that way. Wouod there really be a huge difference? Probably not on my modest setup. |
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Post by brubacca on May 30, 2019 6:24:13 GMT -5
If your interested At Music Direct they have a Rolling Stones 15 Album set For $390.00 on sale. The albums were recorded at the Abbey Roads studio at !/2 speed from the master tapes. I am really enjoying them. You also get complete Wav files 16 & 24 bit access to every album from their site. They give you a code when you purchase the set to download. Also your albums are numbered, I have set number 175 That looks like a great set. |
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Post by dsonyay on May 30, 2019 11:28:02 GMT -5
The Blue Note 80th Anniv. reissues are great. Two types- less expensive reissues on 180gr vinyl (analog tapes used where applicable). Low 20.00 range.
And reissues remastered by the Tone Poet in a premium outer cover.. low to mid 30 dollars range.
All have been described as well done.
I have a few of the Tone Poet series. They're great.
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Post by brubacca on May 31, 2019 8:22:29 GMT -5
Definitely have lost my mind.
I ordered the rega white belt, vivid stylus upgrade, DMB Crash and Peter Gabriel So Deluxe box set which has CDs, DVDs and a couple LPs (So is coming from the UK). Plus the upgraded cables for the TT.
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Post by novisnick on May 31, 2019 9:36:24 GMT -5
Definitely have lost my mind. I ordered the rega white belt, vivid stylus upgrade, DMB Crash and Peter Gabriel So Deluxe box set which has CDs, DVDs and a couple LPs (So is coming from the UK). Plus the upgraded cables for the TT. 👍 Just wanted to let everyone know that Rega is coming out with a new belt with a reformulated chemical compound. Supposedly much better! 🤔 we’ll find out when reviews are released. brubacca , have fun! Seems like you’re having a blast! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶 |
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Post by brubacca on Jun 6, 2019 8:33:09 GMT -5
Think this will be my last uodate for awhile and its really to help someone else out in the long run.
I got in the upgraded white belt and vivid line stylus from LP Gear. I immediately installed both (terrible scientific method). My initial impression was:
Much more hifi sound. More detail, air and all those audiophile things. Not as fun to listen too. This was only with a few album sides and I probably should let the stylus wear in. I felt it did lose the Rega flow or PRAT or however you describe it. I put the Carbon stylus back in and got the rythym in the music back. Less detail, but more enjoyable.
So for me I think the setup will be the Carbon Styles with the P2 and upgrade belt.
I'll probably get bored at some point and throw the other stylus in, but currently this is the most I have listened to vinyl since the 80s.
The P2 get passed over a bunch. Overwhelmingly people on the internet will tell you to save up and get a Planar 3. This is not my opinion. The Planar 2 is a fun deck to listen to. You get a lot of fun out of the lowly Carbon cartridge. Its not a detail king by any stretch. Its just fun to listen to. If you are starting out or have a modest vinyl collection I just can't recomend this table enough. Side caveat- If you love your detail and the Ortofon 2m Blue/Red sound then this table is probably not for you.
What really brought the whole thing together For my system was the much better interconnects. The Black Cat Coppertone is excellent as is the Chord Clearway.
So in the end my system is:
Rega Planar 2- Upgrade White Belt
Lounge Audio LCR --> Chord Clearway
Naim UnitiQute --> Analysis Plus Black Oval 12
Monitor Audio RS8.
Its just a fun engaging listen. My other source is a Schiit Gumby.
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Post by novisnick on Jun 6, 2019 9:24:29 GMT -5
brubacca , thanks for including us in your journey. Most enjoyable!
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Post by brubacca on Jun 6, 2019 9:42:41 GMT -5
I had DMB Crash on the othet day and my wife was in the kitchen singing along. That has never happened.
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Post by brubacca on Jan 18, 2020 15:52:30 GMT -5
Well I have changed a lot since this post. I finally bit the bullet and upgraded to a Hana EL cartridge (also earlier to a Lehman Audio Black Cube Statement PreAmp)..
Wow, just wow. The Hana is amazing. I would say my P2 with Hana competes directly my Gumby Digital side of the system.
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Post by dsonyay on Jan 19, 2020 10:17:17 GMT -5
glad it's working for you. Not sure what the tracking force is for the Hana but if it works , it works. Since the P2 can't compensate for anti skate (unless you do the magnet hack) you may not be getting optimal tracking in the groove.. or just track with what the table call for .. not the cartridge.
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