It is great to have an expert like @lewm nearby. I have been to his house and listened to his awesome system. And the collection of incredible TTs he has... pretty impressive.
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@pindac, what was the SUT and the rest of the vinyl chain?
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I have “presence” but I want more. More realism- as if I am there.
@noromance, what phono would you recommend?
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My music room is essentially a small box (10 x 10 ft) and I have fair amount of treatment in it: sound absorbers and diffusers.
@noromance, I only need one phono input. In terms of budget, I would say <7k. But I would like to be slightly under the proverbial point of diminishing returns.
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@rauliruegas Are you talking about Allnic preamp or phono preamp(which I do not have)? I am using Kitsune phono stage and I can control amplification on it. I have it around 65 db.
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What do you think about the tone arm (on 1200G) or Kitsune phono stage?
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Before I think about doing anything drastic like removing a wall, is there a way to quantify/measure the room deficiency?
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@rauliruegas I still don't understand. Wouldn't decreasing the gain on the Kitsune do the same degradation?
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@fsgattuso How would getting more sensitive speakers and SET improve my situation?
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Thanks to everyone for their comments. Right now, there is nothing more I can do about the room size. So, it looks like the consensus is to get better analog components. @stereo_gen also makes a good point. My system current sounds good and could live with it.
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@ruauliruegas, you say the transformer coupled preamp must go. I assume this applies to all transformer coupled preamp? or just my combination. Are you recommending OTL preamps?
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I don't need any more bass; I got plenty with Bass Focus. I think I figured out part of the problem. My Sound Lab speakers are too dynamic for my tiny room. I did all the room treatments I can do, so I can't go there. I think I actually need a lesser quality ESL speakers, with reduced dynamics. I have the opposite problem than most people. I will start a new thread on ESL.
Thanks everyone, I learned a lot.
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@lewm, what is happening is that loud passages sound too loud, so I turn the volume down. When I do that, quieter passages are too recessed.
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@mijostyn , talking to Roger West, the owner of Sound Labs, having subwoofer introduces discontinuity and also loss of clarity in bass.
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Lew, I find the dynamic range too high only on certain recordings. May be that is the way it should be for those recordings. BTW, I moved my seat as far as I can and it sounds much better. Much more natural and less “in your face.”
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@rauliruegas I did try another head shell, Audiosilente. Did not sound all that different. I think you are right about about not changing speakers.
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Raul. I am using a very high quality ICs from Audio Sensibility OCC copper RCA.
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@mahler123
Because we are afflicted with a disease called "there must be a holy grail that I am missing out on."
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@qwin
I used to have Dynaudio C1 monitor. I think Sound Lab is much better, maybe because of 45 degree dispersion angle and the clarity of ESL. Since you have experience with 1200G's, what turntable/tonearm gave you a big jump in sound?
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So are you currently happy with the modded Rega P10?
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Has anyone directly compared MK3 with 1200G? MK3 has better specs and a more powerful motor, can you really hear a CLEAR improvement in a blind- fold test?
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@qwin, I have never directly compared 1200G to SP10. What do you think are the audible sound improvements in favor of SP10?
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Ok, let’s pose a hypothetical question regarding TTs. What would you says is a great bang for the buck TT above the 1200G level/quality? Let’s limit to TTs that one has actually heard and not just read about.
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As many of you have suggested the weakness in my system is speakers and source. Changing those components may be expensive and will require a lot of research. I was thinking whether adding a TT isolation platform will be the biggest bang for the buck. What do you all think?
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I recently got the Benchmark LA4 preamp. It sounds punchier and more dynamic than Allnic, so I returned the Allnic. On some streaming music, LA4 sounds slightly more etched, however. I guess you have to live with some compromises.
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What I find is that small ensemble music, like jazz, sounds very good. Large orchestral music such as Carmina Burana doesn't sound very good, even though the sound stage seems ok. I seem to be losing clarity of the chorus vs a solo singer like Diana Krall. I guess it is the room size thing.
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Just to clarify, Allnic preamp did not sound bad, just different to Benchmark. It just didn't justify the big cost differential.
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Lew, that is a good idea. I should have you come over to have a listen in my Bethesda home. I will get back to you about the date. Thank you.
Jay
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@lohanimal, I agree that near field listening is the way to go. It is fine for jazz, but I miss the large stage imaging of the orchestra when I listen to classical music. How do you get "grand scale" when you sit so close to the speakers. I am using Audio Sensibility cables, which are very good.
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