@yeti42 'validated' means that I've done the following:
VTA: Followed the desired standard as set by Lyra (horizontal parallel to record) and then tweaked by ear
Azimuth: Followed the standard as set by Lyra, used MoFi alignment tool to validate and used BT microscope to further validate
Rake Angle: Based on Lyra's documentation and a protractor
VTF: Digital scale @ 1.7g
Anti-skate - set to 0 initially, tweaked by ear (I had it way too high originally)
After having played about 10 albums I think the problem was definitely cartridge loading related. As I mentioned earlier, a little bit of air/soundstage was lost (I think) so I'm going to have to tweak it further. But the change was noticeable when moving up to 750Ohms.
Thank you, everyone for taking the time to respond! |
@mulveling Yes, it’s a small shop, but the owner has been incredible in terms of service. Decware, for example here in IL is also a small shop but world-renown for making quality gear. But, your point is valid in that I might be right on the edge of overload. Unfortunately, my other stage and transformer is in use by my 20-year old who I hooked into the habit.
So, I don’t have much I can do there short of buying another stage and I’m not necessarily ready to do that just yet.
@daveyf I am currently running 750ohms and it seems to have made a difference in the middle. It also seems to have narrowed the soundstage a bit. I’m going to run it a bit and see how it goes. It seems that cartridge loading may be the solution and other tweaks (I haven’t rebiased yet) will help beyond that.
Not surprisingly, every little tweak has helped this configuration. I knew it was going to be more challenging going into it, but admittedly, I didn’t think it would be this challenging. But, in fairness, the Denon103R setup is pretty darn easy. |
@tzh21y I do have another headshell on the way that I will wire with silver wire as I wanted to try that, too, anyway.
I love my modded Denon103R. It's been great for me, but like most of us, I have upgradeitis too, and wanted to see what I was missing. Well, I know now!
I intended to mount the Delos on a 12" arm and leave it there and use my Denon and others (AT Mono/78) on the current tonearm (swapping out headshells). I haven't mounted the 12" arm yet, so there's that.
I was loading my Denon at about 650Ohms and it was lovely. Hopefully when this is all said and done I'll be able to really compare and contrast the two. |
@lewm - Yup, that's why I started with the 100Ohm load based on the various forums here, other forums, etc. The kick up to 750Ohms was definitely a positive change.
WRT to the TD124 - I recently installed the MK II motor mounts and re-plinthed it, so I'm fairly confident that part if working correctly. And, as I stated earlier, the Denon 103R worked fine after that as well, and the rest of the signal chain is something that I also need to look at and I will.
Given the significant change in SQ with the load change, I'm fairly confident that loading is the largest opportunity for improvement.
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Note - that's a SRM-007II headphone amp, not a I.
Also verified VTF at 1.7g on the nose.
I just listened to Dire Straits - Dire Straits, and it was lovely. No issues.
Moved from there to reissue of Willie Dixon - Willie's Blues, lovely. No issues.
Then, for grins, tried Chicago - Chicago and specifically 25 or 6 to 4.....which should at least test the middle and it does, and it played clear, clean, instrument separation, vocals, cymbal attacks/decays, drum hits, guitar attacks punchy, lively but not overly bright, great channel separation and soundstage.
I don't know, it must be bad recordings or gremlins. I just don't get it.
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@mulveling Thanks for your thoughts.
I will certainly re-bias the Stax just as a matter of practice. I do have some other tubes to roll (I was going to do that outside of this issue, anyway) but I don't want to change too many variables at once. I will probably do that too however, just because I want to see how they sound, regardless (and they're NOS RCA Black Plates, NOS Raytheon Black Plates and NOS Sylvania US-made).
Right now, I'm only listening through the Stax (e.g. no other amp in play). I do appreciate the concerns about extra gain in the signal path. That had crossed my mind as the Delos puts out more than the Denon does, but I didn't think it was that much to be an issue (..6mV vs..2mV). Given the phono stage has no gain controls, cartridge loading may be the actual issue (assuming that everything else checks out) in the end. |
@mijostyn Thanks for the response. I did, early, have some mis-tracking issues, but with adjusted anti-skating and azimuth adjustment, I think I solved that. The anti-skating adjustment made a significant difference, more than I expected.
I am thinking about sending it in.as well. Given Jonathan Carr is a regular visitor / contributor here, I was hoping he’d weigh in on that very point. |
@daveyf Thanks for the thought on 750 Ohms. I was running my Denon in the 650 Ohm range, and it was really dialed in there. Reading forum posts across this and other posts, it seemed like people were hovering in the 100-200 range, and I did try variations up to 500. I'll give 750 a shot.
And yes, I'm aware of how bad many rock recordings actually sounded and/or were poorly mastered or transferred and I'm sure there is some of that going on here. The Chicago sounds awesome and so, I'm interested to see how it sounds at 750 Ohm load. Thanks again. |
@yeti42 Thank you. I will tweak that too. I appreciate the 560Ohm recommendation as I think it's going to float somewhere between that number and 750Ohm in the final/final position. |
@catcher10 - I'm using a cable that I bought from the company that sold me the tonearm (Estoteric sound - premium cable based on the Mogami Neglex 2534) and it's roughly 100pF for 1m. The cable is a hair over 1M long. I was running it at 660Ohms, but going back and looking at the Lyra docs, it appears I should be between 200 and 390 ohms. So, I'm starting at 396 (it's what I had on hand) and I'll work my way down. When I was at 200 before it was where I started hearing mud in the middle, so I'm probably going to stay closer to the high end.
Right now, I'm not running a true preamp - I'm running out to a Stax SRM-007tII to Stax Lambda Nova Signature (404) Headphones which are VERY detailed and very fast. Given what I've known about Stax Tube Energizers/Headphone Amps, they need higher than usual signal gain to be most effective, so I don't think that's it. I haven't actually measured the voltage so I can do that, but as I said earlier, I'm convinced it's just a matter of tweaking the loading and being patient which, of course, I'm not. ;)
Thanks for your input and suggestions. |
@avanti1960 I'm looking at cables in general, but I believe I'm loading correctly now. We'll see what I come up with.
I currently use a Soundeck and I have a leather mat underneath that on top of the stock rubber on the stock Thorens platter. The arm is reasonably new and is damped so...I don't believe that's it.
I'll look into the mat and the cable though. Thanks for the input! |
