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New analog system disappoints, please help

Hi,

I recently decided to get back into analog after a long break. Being on a budget I bought a used system from a local seller. The system consists of a J A Michell Gyro SE with DC motor, SME 309 tonearm and Transfiguration Spirit cart. I also bought a new old stock, factory sealed Plinius Jarrah phono stage. The Gyro, 309 and spirit where all purchased new in 2002 from a L.A. area high-end dealer and set up for the original owner in his home. They have remained there undisturbed and virtually unused since (maybe 15 to 20 hours total use)

After getting it all home I set up the turntable on a carefully leveled rack and tried the bounce test for the suspension. What I got was more like the Jello jiggle than a nice verticle bounce. I followed the instructions I found online for adjusting the suspension (several times) and although not perfect the bounce is much better. I have not touched the tonearm/cart alignment as I know little about this. I left the Jarrah set to factory default high output and adjusted the loading to 100ohms (recomended for the spirit)

After a 24hr burn in for the Jarrah I started to listen to some LP's. The sound is not bad, there is nothing obviously wrong but it sounds slightly recessed, flat and lifeless. I guess I was expecting more even from a relatively modest system like this. It doesn't "blow away" my digital source.

The rest of my system consist of Art Audio VPS DM pre, Art Audio Diavolo amp, Lector CDP-7T-MKIII and Spendor sp100 speakers. Cables are a mix of Nordost Valkyra and Quattro fil.

Any suggestions, incite or setup help would be greatly appreciated.

Emilio
emiliop

Showing 1 response by hdm

hdm
1,063 posts
 
I really wouldn't describe that as a "modest" front end so I would think that there is something drastically wrong with the setup.

Unfortunately, the problem could be anywhere. From your perspective, I'd look at the easiest thing for you to deal with as a novice and that would be the settings on the phono pre. Perhaps the Jarrah's "high" setting is for high output cartridges, not low outputs like the Spirit. It would seem counterintuitive, but it would be easy for you to try the "low" setting (the gain and output of the Plinius/Spirit are well matched when using the low output MC setting, whether that is the "high" or "low") to see if that is the source of your problem.

This is, of course, assuming you have set Vertical tracking angle and Vertical tracking force properly once you have set the table up? Arm approximately parallel, at least to start and proper VTF towards the high end of the range suggested for the Spirit? Alignment is supposed to be a snap with the 309 if you have the supplied SME protractor.

The only other thing I can think of is if the cartridge leads have been incorrectly connected to the cartridge at the headshell, but that's probably something for a pro to tackle.

You'll end up with a zillion suggestions for things to look at here. Good luck! That setup should sound fantastic.
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