Analogue front end. You want more weight, scale and dynamics.Where do you start upgrading?


Is it the table, arm or cartridge, or perhaps phono stage? Assuming you have no clear weak links. Maybe even motor controller ?

inna

Showing 2 responses by larryi

So much depends on getting the parts to work together to achieve the whole that you want.  Lewm is correct that it is a personal trial process.  I don't think you can do a whole lot to add weight, scale and dynamics by choices made with source components; that is mainly a product of room acoustics, choice of speaker and then choice of amplifier that is compatible with the speaker choice (ultimately, I find very large horn systems with low-powered tube amps are best at what you are prioritizing).

But, of course, the right choice of source components can help, or at least not detract, from what you are after.  I would look first at the choice of cartridge.  With the passing of Koetsu, it is a bit harder to find cartridges with an extraordinary sense of weight and scale that still have decent dynamics.  But, assuming you find that, it is critical to find a compatible tonearm.  With the Koetsu, that arm turned out to be one that is of somewhat higher mass than typical arms.  Compatible arm/cartridge is a big deal for what you are after.

Generalities about turntable types are hard to make because it is somewhat hard to reliably characterize the sound of different types, and tables differ in performance based on such external factors as the support they are on, how much the table is being relied upon to provide isolation from the environment (e.g., footfall problems), etc.  

Dwette,

You have a platter that is designed to transfer the vibrations imparted in the record by the stylus tracking the groove, precisely how Atmasphere described.  POM was chosen because it matches the characteristics of vinyl so energy is transferred readily from the record to the platter instead of being reflected back at the boundary.

A clamping system can further improve the transfer of energy, but whether this will improve the sound is a matter of system synergy and personal raste.