Thanks to Michael and Twl. I will check the links provided.
I also have an unused passive stepup transformer (cotter I believe) which may plug in to see if I get a better reproduction in terms of dynamics.
Twl: If it is a MC board what I have in the 26, then it would be a 38dB gain setting, which is not in the 25dB you mention but closer to the 58dB if it is a MM board.
Fernando |
Thanks Twl, very important advise from you that I will surely consider, specially the added load settings using the step-up.
I will let you know how it sounds with and without the step-up, taking into consideration that the current 100ohm setting is OK for the Denon if feeding directly to the No. 26.
Fernando |
Raul - I would love to go for something better and more expensive, but to my ears this preamp (ML 26) sounds very nice with my current setup, at my room and with my music. This is a never-ending story of buy-sell-buy iterations.
To move to this preamp will have a marginal cost and a large sonic benefit (for the line stage side), the analog section has a nice presentation, very musical as well.
As for the cartirdge, you know I have had larger and more expensive ones (VdH, Cardas, etc..) my current financial situation asks me to look for a wise investment, the Denon has fullfilled that expectation.
Sure, next step will surely be a better preamp (First Sound, CAT to name just two) and a better cartridge (Shelter, Benz for example).
At this time, I just want to have my current setup in optimal settings.
Fernando |
Diggin´deeper in this issue, it looks like this No 26 does have a MM board. So my choices are:
1.- Install my Cotter step-up to the Denon and try from there, or
2.- Get a new MM cartridge (I read that the Music Maker cart is pretty impresive)
What do you (all) think?
Fernando |
I plugged in the step-up this afternoon (which by the way I learned it is not a Cotter but an Audio Innovations unit). Gain is now almost the same as for the linestageto my ears, I left the internal ML No. 26 setting at 38dB and 100 ohms impendance, I just need a long-session to hear it and take some decisions from there.
I am using a Rega rb300 mounted in a VPI JW19MkIV TNT platter, my budget could be up to the $1K border.
Johnnantais: I will surely explore the Denon trasnformer option, is it a step-up or has a full RIAA?
Raul: You know my setup !!!, you were at my place some weeks back (jejeje)
Fernando |
Johnnantais: I visited the web you kindly shared with us, but it is in German and just could not get into the right content regarding the trasnformer you mentioned, any hint on where to look out for it?
Fernando |
Interesting findings !
I listend for about an hour the "new" setup (withthe step-up in the chain and settings above mentioned). It delivered a quite different presentation compared with my previous Michael Yee Phono Stage (that handled MC with no problems).
Here I listen the same sonic presentation of the Denon (tonal palette, liquidity, etc..), but also a bit less of resolution and impact that I think belongs to either the cartridge itself or that there is an extra fine-tuning that should be performed (twl-HELP).
John: I will re-visit the page with your instructions, will let you know.
Raul: I like music to wash-me-out, I like to listen to musicaqnd forget of the gear at all, to talk about the artisits and composers while listening to music instead of bashing the sound, and yes.. I hear almost al kind of music.
Thanks all for sharing your knowledge, I am moving faster.
Fernando
BTW: DO you like the Krell MC cartridge?, I have an interesting offer to buy a just-retipped unit. |
Twl - Thanks, I will perform this change settings this same afternoon and let your know.
Fernando |
But I Do !!! (own a RegaRB300)
Twl, send the mod please !!!! (email me to learn more about it).
I performed the chenges in the ML 26 (sensitivity and impedance), That´s More Like It !!!!!!.... just incredible for the price !!
Thanks Twl, you saved me many hours of trial and error with so much different setting combinations (I owe you a fine Mezcal bottle jejeje).
I will nevertheless try to get my hands on that Denon SUT that John recommended .
One final question: When I touch the AI SUT it hums... it does have an earth screw but have not earth the unit yet, is this necceesary? (The RB300 wires does not have an earth cable as you know)
Fernando |
John - I got this SUT some years backfrom a friend who bought it in the UK, this was a pretty expensive unitandit is built like a little tank, very heavy and pure silver windings, I just love it´s sound, and was stored for more than 6 years since I had since then active phono preamps that handled MC signal with no problems whatsoever.
In any case, one of the things I like from this hobby is to try different things and listen them in my system.
Enjoy
Fernando |
Twl: Thanks for sharing the mod plans with me, I will read the instructions. Send me by mail your shipping address so I can send the Mezcal, you won´t beleive this one, since it is a 12 year old, vintage Mezcal to be served straight as a good Cognac!
Fernando |
