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First tt: SP10/Black Widow/Mico Acoustics QDC-1e

Yesterday UPS delivered a package we had thought was lost in the Mojave desert train derailment last week. Inside - and unharmed - a beautiful Technics SP10 with black obsidian plinth, a spotless Infinity Black Widow tonearm with a Mico Acoustics QDC-1e cartridge.

Before deciding on the SP10 I had all the usual (and a few unusual) suspects in consideration - VPI Classic3, ClearAudio, McIntosh MT5, - but I am a sucker for over-built professional studio gear, so I thought I can hardly go wrong with a nice SP10.

This one even has a small part in a audio show write-up here: http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2013/08/27/cas-2013-soundscape-audio-video-presents-martin-logan-parasound/

I only own one LP right now (trying to change this tonight) but I am enjoying the process immensely. 45 minutes after bringing it home last night the "Missa Universalis" by Eela Graig was conjuring up warm and fuzzy memories of my wedding 30 years ago in a galaxy far far away

Thanks for letting me share my joy.
Cheers, Oliver
oliverletz
audpulse
139 posts
 
Lewn, for somebody like you who is heavily involved in MM thread, you have got to try some of the Micro-Acoustics cartridges(2002,3002,etc).
It is a different flavor from the usual mm cartridges.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
One hell of a rig, I used MA carts for about 5 years back in the 70's, almost cried when they went out of business.
One of the biggest myths in audio was that Jap DD turntables were not "musical", the US and Europeans simply lacked the technology and capacity of the big Japanese firms.
oliverletz OP
5 posts
 
The MA cart is an electret design (not MM) with lots of bragging rights when they came out.
Last night I went over the setup of the SP10 again - level the platter, arm height, tracking force, anti-skate - and the difference was remarkable. John-Paul-George-Ringo, Miles and Jimi sounded unlike anything I had ever heard from digital. We are still getting to grips with the band-in-the-room feeling as opposed to the compressed in-your-face character of most CDs.
I am loving the discovery of vinyl so far …
Is it too early to think about upgrades? Crazy, right? :-)
casey33
260 posts
 
Glad to hear you got more records.That one record thing was the saddest thing I ever heard.
oliverletz OP
5 posts
 
"That one record thing was the saddest thing I ever heard."
Thanks for that ... made me LOL.

Buying records is easier said than done, next record store is a day trip away …
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