Hey @halcro :)) !
I hope it is ok to post it here, could not find a better thread.
I've finally tested very low (16.5k) load on my London Decca Reference, motivated by your earlier findings from may 2020
" At 15K Ohms and 430pF....the cartridge simply comes 'alive'....
The changes in loading produce more fundamental differences than heard on many of the cartridge vs cartridge comparisons IMO "
I first went down from 49k to 33k. Together with a VTA adjustment and one magic trick (change of....ekhm...fuses in the amp...;) this gave me absolutely thrilling sound. Super direct, "naked", alive but to extreme, wild, unpredictable, soundstage to die for, music touching me deeply so that I had to make frequent stops while listening to digest what I was hearing. Or so was the 1st impression. On the downside the tonal balance was still shifted upwards or so I suspect. Great operatic voices of the past like Sutherland would quite frequently run into an overload on the highest notes.
I then went to 16.5k. I have not control over the capacitance so in both cases 33k and 16.5k it was the same, around 300pf including the tonearm cable. The sound: More polite, a bit recessed, flowing, musical, creamy and syrupy, not so raw and unpredictable, soundstage more recessed and a bit less detailed. The tonal balance seemed better, the high note overload gone without the bass becoming loose and boomy. But I had a feeling I've lost something. This incredible "naked directness". I've changed output tube in the phono and some of the sparkle came back but still there is this a bit of that syrupy souce of politeness left.
I plan to test 25k tomorrow to "control the sparkle" as you have put it nicely :)
Thank you v much for sharing your experience and a continuous inspiration Halcro!
I hope it is ok to post it here, could not find a better thread.
I've finally tested very low (16.5k) load on my London Decca Reference, motivated by your earlier findings from may 2020
" At 15K Ohms and 430pF....the cartridge simply comes 'alive'....
The changes in loading produce more fundamental differences than heard on many of the cartridge vs cartridge comparisons IMO "
I first went down from 49k to 33k. Together with a VTA adjustment and one magic trick (change of....ekhm...fuses in the amp...;) this gave me absolutely thrilling sound. Super direct, "naked", alive but to extreme, wild, unpredictable, soundstage to die for, music touching me deeply so that I had to make frequent stops while listening to digest what I was hearing. Or so was the 1st impression. On the downside the tonal balance was still shifted upwards or so I suspect. Great operatic voices of the past like Sutherland would quite frequently run into an overload on the highest notes.
I then went to 16.5k. I have not control over the capacitance so in both cases 33k and 16.5k it was the same, around 300pf including the tonearm cable. The sound: More polite, a bit recessed, flowing, musical, creamy and syrupy, not so raw and unpredictable, soundstage more recessed and a bit less detailed. The tonal balance seemed better, the high note overload gone without the bass becoming loose and boomy. But I had a feeling I've lost something. This incredible "naked directness". I've changed output tube in the phono and some of the sparkle came back but still there is this a bit of that syrupy souce of politeness left.
I plan to test 25k tomorrow to "control the sparkle" as you have put it nicely :)
Thank you v much for sharing your experience and a continuous inspiration Halcro!