2. analog
  3. 190718-193610

amazing transformation...how?

A couple of years ago I purchased a used but in excellent condition, VPI Scout turntable. The previous owner included a Dynavector 20x2 high output cartridge which I was very excited about.

I got it all set up, grounded, stabilized and isolated etc and couldn't wait to put on some vinyl, sit back and enjoy! I don't remember what album I put on but the result was, I HATED the sound. It was excruciating! I tried tweaks, cleaning, changing music...it didn't matter I HATED the sound! Way too bright, harsh, grating on my ears. I gave up! and have spent the last year and a half only listening to CD's.

About a week ago, I for some reason decided to give the TT and cartridge another try. I put on a record, fired it up and something amazing happened! it sounded incredible! Smooth, detailed, open, balanced...NONE of the characteristics that I heard and hated months ago!

My question is, WHAT happened??? HOW?

Nothing else changed in my system. I have tried multiple albums, various types of music. They all now sound amazing. I can't wait to spend time relistening to my vinyl collection and adding more! I had pretty much given up on vinyl but that has all changed! ....Welcoming thoughts.

cubsipod
kennyc
1,409 posts
 

@cubsipod it seems all things being equal/same that you hated the sound before but loved it afterwards - hard to define with limited objective info leading to your subjective experience.  Enjoy your system

neonknight
380 posts
 

Perhaps it was a poor recording. Without knowing what was listened to there is no way to revisit it and confirm what you heard. If you can find any of those original albums give them a spin and see how things sorted out. 

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,141 posts
 

The Dynavector HOMC's are known to be "hot" sounding. I know because I had the 20B in 1977. Looks good on paper but a steely top end. I soon sold it to a friend along with my Empire 698 TT. He liked it, used it for awhile then broke the cantilever. Now I have a secondhand 20A awaiting set up. I hope it will sound smoother than my memories of the 20B. The difference being an aluminum cantilever vs. beryllium - which has been banned because of toxicity.

You may just not have been in a receptive mood the first time! Listening to music can be compared to sex. Things don't always go as planned - until next time!

markprice's avatar
markprice
35 posts
 

Hi

Could this be a " mind set' situation?

On your initial listening session you were excited and expecting great things only to be underwhelmed and dissapointed. 

When returning a few months later you were expecting to dissapointed and had set yourself very low expectations only to find the sound not as bad as you remembered.

 

Our mind and memory can play tricks on us.

Mark

iad's avatar
iad
33 posts
 

Hello! According to you, the sound was so terrible that it is unlikely that the player itself could have had such an effect. The cartridge may be special if it was in unsatisfactory condition. But if you haven’t touched it all this time, then it’s unlikely to get any better. You didn't mention which phono stage you connected it to or which amplifier. Think, could something have changed in them? Did something happen, for example, to the power supply in the apartment over the past year and a half? How warm was each component including cables? And were there any changes in the room itself that could affect the reflections? Most likely you would have noticed this on the CD, but what if? This is some kind of miracle.

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