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Post by novisnick on Jan 20, 2022 12:55:51 GMT -5
I’ve enjoyed my Rega Exact II for some time now and it really hasn’t let me down but I’m looking hard at the SoundSmith SMMC 1 with an adapter. I upgraded my phono preamp to a Lehmman Decade (from a wonderful forum member) with moving coil ability. Does anybody have any experience with this cartridge? This is a low mass iron cart. IMO Peter Ledermann is one of the best in the world.  rainbow colored betta fish |
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Post by drtrey3 on Jan 20, 2022 13:37:10 GMT -5
Nice, I recently upgraded TO the exact II and am quite pleased. Have you considered upgrading to another Rega? It meant a lot to me that I would be confident in self-installing with a Rega cartridge. Not second guessing you, just interested in your thought process.
Trey
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Post by audiobill on Jan 23, 2022 13:26:10 GMT -5
Nick, please consider this review I found: “The Dynavector DV20X2L is the low output version of the new 20X2 series of moving coil cartridges. Using trickle-down technology from higher up the family, the XX2, the 20X2L features the same solid aluminium alloy body and magnetic flux damping with softened magnetism. Flux damping was invented by Dr Tominari, of Dynavector, in order to ‘short circuit’ the yoke so that a voltage cannot be created in it, thus improving the linearity of the magnetic flux. The generator is exposed when looking inside from underneath the cartridge, and produces 0.3mV output with 5 ohm coil resistance. This makes it broadly compatible with many step-up transformers and phono preamp MC input stages. The suggested loading is >30 ohms, but as you’ll see later I had no issue with loading it from between 100 and 200 ohms. The cantilever is a hard aluminium pipe and the stylus is now a micro-ridge nude diamond. Tracking force is stated as 1.8 - 2.2g. www.mtc.me.uk/images/DV20X2L.jpgThe cartridge arrived in functional packaging – no wasted cost here on excessive presentation – and is complete with a selection of hex bolts to fit the cartridge’s threaded holes and a stylus brush. A word about the stylus guard: it is completely inadequate and tended to slide off as I was attaching the 20X2L to the headshell, making mounting more stressful than it need be. Please give us a proper stylus guard, Dynavector! Alignment in the headshell slots was straightforward due to the exposed cantilever and the parallel sides of the body. The cartridge weighs 9.2g so I selected the medium counterweight for my DV507-II arm and proceeded to balance everything up. I selected 1.9g tracking force to start with. The 20X2L is priced in direct competition with another of my favourite cartridges, the Audio Technica AT33PTG. Its output of 0.3mV is slightly down on the AT’s 0.5mV and this was confirmed by my requiring three more steps, equating to +3dB, of my Pass Labs preamp volume control when playing the Dynavector. I selected the lo-gain (16x) setting on the CineMag step-up transformers, giving 184 ohm loading, having ascertained that the 20X2L sounded a little flat and lifeless when operated straight into the MC stage of the Whest phono amp. This is in line with all previous MC cartridges I have tried direct into phono stages and confirms my preference for a step-up transformer for low output MC amplification. Fresh out of the box the Dynavector sounded interestingly different from the AT I had previously been using, but I reserved judgement until I had put 20 hours on it. During this process the midrange opened out, the soundstage gained depth and bass weight deepened noticeably. The 20X2L is a dark sounding cartridge. That is to say, music rises from a deep blackness with very low levels of surface noise. So pronounced is this effect that at first I thought there was something wrong. However, everything was there: wonderful extended and detailed treble, wide open midrange and deep and very tight bass. On playing a number of very familiar LPs I noted the following: midrange is highly detailed and natural sounding with a presentation not quite as in-your-face as the AT, but with greater stage depth; treble is incredibly detailed and full of the texture of real sounds, for instance the reproduction of cymbals is exquisite, demonstrating the timbre and shimmer of real metal; bass is deep, tight and provides structure and foundation to the sound, giving sizeable additional weight over the AT. Stereo soundstage is wide and has notable depth, more so I think than I’ve heard in my system before. Dynamic clout is remarkable and I notice especially so in the bass, where slam and impact are very impressive. The Dynavector tracks well enough, audible as a security when playing all kinds of material, giving peace of mind and allowing full enjoyment of the music. There is no end-of-side distortion. Playing the HFS69 test record, it passed bands A, C & D easily and band B (the very high level lateral +15dB track) with some signs of difficulty. There is no tendency for the stylus to collect dust. The DV, because of its dark but rich nature, makes the AT sound ‘shouty’ in comparison. It features superb resolution but delivered in a manner that gives real insight into the music, and brings out many details and sounds not previously noticed. It is this latter property that has given me so much pleasure in re-visiting LPs I thought I knew well. Surface noise is vanishingly low, most probably due to its very fine dynamics and well profiled stylus. In terms of system synergy, the Dynavector has a neutral but powerful voice and should match all highly resolving but neutrally balanced systems whether solid state or valve based. There is no doubt that the Dynavector DV20X2L benefits from their continuous research and technology derived from previous flagship products. It features a sizeable dose of the high end for a very real-world price, giving superb presentation and insight into my precious collection. It does make me wonder what riches are on offer from the XX2 and even more lofty offerings, but I had better exercise restraint. In fact, I think that the DV20X2L could hold its own in much higher priced company and I can think of no better compliment for it. Highly recommended.” I am very happy with mine! |
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Post by novisnick on Jan 23, 2022 14:56:37 GMT -5
audiobill your link is bad. I thank you for your recommendation. I have heard good things about this cartridge for a long time. Do you know if they have a trade-in program for when the cart dies? Do they rebuild there carts once they’re at EOL( end of life ) ? This feature is another reason I was looking at the Soundsmith cart. Ery reasonable rebuild pricing.
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Post by audiobill on Jan 23, 2022 15:06:54 GMT -5
Nick, I think there is a trade in pgm. Also many good comments on Steve Hoffman’s forum about this cart with a Rega table!
Best,
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Post by novisnick on Jan 23, 2022 15:20:41 GMT -5
Nice, I recently upgraded TO the exact II and am quite pleased. Have you considered upgrading to another Rega? It meant a lot to me that I would be confident in self-installing with a Rega cartridge. Not second guessing you, just interested in your thought process. Trey I purchased my Rega RP 6 with the Exact II installed at the Texas importer. It has sounded just wonderful and I have enjoyed it for some time. It my be half way through its life but I have that “itch” to try something different. I’ve read so much about Peter and Soundsmith that I’ve been sucked into his theory and implementation. His YouTube videos are captivating to me. I’ve also been a friend/acquaintance of someone that eventually ended up working at Soundsmith. Brice at the Sound Organization has been a great wealth of information as well. He’s given me a few recommendations. I’ll most likely call him tomorrow with a couple of follow up questions. Ania and Ania Pro are the only cartridges offered by Rega that are in my price range. I’ll look at them again, but I’m pretty set unless Brice has a better recommendation. audiobill has another good cartridge recommendation. Monday will be a lot of phone time. |
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Post by drtrey3 on Jan 24, 2022 13:29:56 GMT -5
Sounds fun! Best wishes and thanks for letting me into the process.
Trey
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Post by novisnick on Jan 29, 2022 15:20:36 GMT -5
This is where I believe I’m going.
Rega Ania Pro
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Post by novisnick on Jan 29, 2022 21:12:31 GMT -5
OH! The horror of it all! 😲
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Post by drtrey3 on Jan 30, 2022 10:16:40 GMT -5
I came close to that choice myself. For me, the choice to purchase Rega was very influenced in my confidence that I could do a fine installation with a Rega cartridge and a who knows installation with a two screw mounting. Can't wait to hear your thoughts! Congratulations!
Trey
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Post by novisnick on Jan 30, 2022 13:38:05 GMT -5
I came close to that choice myself. For me, the choice to purchase Rega was very influenced in my confidence that I could do a fine installation with a Rega cartridge and a who knows installation with a two screw mounting. Can't wait to hear your thoughts! Congratulations! Trey I think the third screw helps immensely! Overhang, done! Positioning of the front of the cart, done! It’s made for Rega & by Rega, pretty much takes a lot of guessing out of it IMO. Will keep you posted. |
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Post by novisnick on Jan 30, 2022 16:28:44 GMT -5
OK, now I’m at a coin toss between the two. I love the idea of the iron cross low mass of the SoundSmith and I do think it would sound better then the Rega. The Rega will be an easier mount as it is a three point designed for Rega and by Rega.
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Post by novisnick on Feb 3, 2022 18:28:58 GMT -5
Has anybody tried these tubes? I’m may try them in my Bob Latino M-125 GE MILITARY STOCK 12AU7 / 6189W  |
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Post by dsonyay on Feb 4, 2022 21:00:19 GMT -5
A good friend of mine traded in his Ania for an Ania Pro. He loves the upgrade. I’ve heard it as well.. quite a few times.. it is excellent. It gave me the itch to upgrade as well… but in my case I’m going to have my Ania retipped with a higher end stylus (Micro Ridge/fineline) and cantilever at some point in the near future. Hey… let us know when it arrives  Rega lists the preamp settings you need to make on their website. Actually, all if their MC use same settings |
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Post by novisnick on Feb 4, 2022 22:28:06 GMT -5
These are my settings I was instructed to use
Lehmann Setting
100 ohm / 66 db
The cartridge is due Tuesday but may be delayed due to the winter storms rolling across the country.
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Post by dsonyay on Feb 6, 2022 13:42:10 GMT -5
These are my settings I was instructed to use Lehmann Setting 100 ohm / 66 db The cartridge is due Tuesday but may be delayed due to the winter storms rolling across the country. Yep.. 100ohm, hi gain (69.5db), and capacitance 1000pF. Does your phono stage have a capacitance setting?? |
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Post by novisnick on Feb 6, 2022 19:07:20 GMT -5
These are my settings I was instructed to use Lehmann Setting 100 ohm / 66 db The cartridge is due Tuesday but may be delayed due to the winter storms rolling across the country. Yep.. 100ohm, hi gain (69.5db), and capacitance 1000pF. Does your phono stage have a capacitance setting?? The Lehman is very versatile, these are the settings Kat gave me. This is from the manual.  |
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Post by DavidR on Feb 6, 2022 19:40:06 GMT -5
Has anybody tried these tubes? I’m may try them in my Bob Latino M-125 GE MILITARY STOCK 12AU7 / 6189W No, but I have a nice NOS pair of RCA 6189 military version. Black plates and square/foil getter.
Currently trying to decide which of my many 12AU7 and variants I should use in my VTA SP12. It takes two pair; second pair is a buffer.
FWIW, I find the 5963 variant to be nicely musical.
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Post by dsonyay on Feb 7, 2022 15:03:56 GMT -5
Yep.. 100ohm, hi gain (69.5db), and capacitance 1000pF. Does your phono stage have a capacitance setting?? The Lehman is very versatile, these are the settings Kat gave me. This is from the manual. Those should work fine. The setting I mentioned are from Rega |
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Post by novisnick on Feb 9, 2022 0:46:24 GMT -5
Up and running. Minor adjustments to come.
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