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Proper set up: worth the chase

Hi Agoners.  A lot of folks talk about optimal set up, and until recently I thought it was a myth.  I’d often try changing a few things here and there, usually resulting in some slight change (maybe).  This weekend was different in a big way.  As such, I’m posting this to simply encourage others to continue chasing the little things.  I’m now firmly convinced optimal set up is proportionate, if not better than, adding costly new pieces of gear.

My set up is decent—not super hi end—but pleasing to me (e.g. Revel Salon2s, Pass Labs x250.8, Pass Labs xp-17, BC Pre3, Avid Diva SP II, Rega rb330, Dynavector 20x2l, etc).  I recently dove into vinyl and, frankly, am in the shallow’ish end.  Most weekends, I’ll tweak a couple things here and there.  But, things finally turned out different this weekend.  I made a couple very small changes to speaker placement—like fractions of an inch—messed around with some additional isolation and cord placement, etc.  All pretty common things that normally crescendo with adding or replacing some piece of gear.  I spent a lot of time trying getting my cartridge correctly set up, including a change of counterweights and playing with different cartridge loadings.  Here’s the thing that shocked me, though: I have a lower output MC and the math always suggested 66db gain on my pre was the right choice.  I suppose I was a little apprehensive to change given the math, but a couple of Old Fashions gave me some encouragement.  I first changed the output lower (to 56db).  The noise floor was higher.  Not good.  Then, I went the other way, pushing the gain up to 76db.  I seriously could not believe what I was hearing.  I listened to album after album and went to bed, nervous that the stars aligned and things would sound different the next day.  I only slept a few hours and woke up like a kid on Christmas Day.  I immediately went downstairs and threw in another album.  The sound was still there!  I listened for 3+ hours, took a break and listened more.  Then, I got online and purchased some more vinyl.  So happy!!  I finally realized the sound I’ve struggled to describe for so many years.  

I write this to offer encouragement to any of you who may have been down a similar road.  I started to become skeptical that I’d ever find that magical, yet elusive, permutation that defines proper set up.  It’s was a very narrow band (at least for what I was seeking).  Don’t give up, and you’ll be rewarded.  Now, I understand why people suggest others should eke out the best from what they have and invest more in music.  Can’t wait for my next delivery!

mikek1
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

Speakers are 49% of the problem, The room is another 49% of the problem and everything else is 2% of the problem. 

If you do not know what you are doing, read a lot or get someone who does (that is not trying to sell you something)

lanx0003
821 posts
 

Could you describe how the sound changes / improves in more details after you push the gain up? Thx.

mikek1 OP
13 posts
 

@lanx0003 

 

I’ll try to offer a bit of what I’m hearing.  First, though, it’s important that I mention my expertise is limited and only extends from ear to ear.  Also, I’ll comment on the overall change I hear which I attribute, in part (if not substantially), to the increased gain.  I’m sure my impression would differ if other variables were misaligned (i.e. speaker placement, cartridge alignment, etc).  It’s a multivariate world…I’m just living in it; so, trying to offer an honest account.

Imaging and soundstage — I’ve always fought with balance, here.  Often times, I’d end up with either a wide soundstage or dead-center imaging at the expense of a collapsed soundstage.  It felt like a no win situation, hence my weekend “hobby” of shifting things around—always a little different (i.e. a pendulum of compromise) but never properly balanced.  It seemed to me that elevating the gain allowed more girth to the outer soundstage without imbalancing or compromising imaging.

Lower noise floor — It was clear that the noise level increased when I dropped the gain from 66 to 56.  There was clearly more white noise when playing music at similar volumes.  Obviously, to maintain similar volume, I had to turn up the volume on my preamp when the phone pre was at 56 vs 66.  Maybe resultant from additional gain in the line pre?  I have no idea.  The inverse occurred when I increased the gain to 76 (i.e. I was able to turn the line pre volume down resulting in a lower noise floor at similar volumes).  So, it seemed the increased phono pre gain allowed me a lower noise floor.

Other — I think part of my audio pathology goes back to when I was a kid.  I used to listen to my dad’s stereo in the 80’s.  I was always enamored with the palpable since of hearing/feeling the pluck of a guitar or the intimacy of a voice that only a microphone can know.  Over the years, that’s always been something I’ve sought but not at the expense of living with a bloated, bassy bottom end.  I guess transients is the term I’m looking for.  It seems like the sound carries an abruptness across a wide frequency range.

Hope that helps.  
 

For all others — Please consider my experience as encouragement to remain persistent in pursuit of whatever sound you seek rather than a guide on how to get there.  As always, I appreciate all of the Agoners who have shared their knowledge & expertise over the years.  You guys are the best and make the journey for all of us much more enjoyable.  Regards,

lewm
13,027 posts
 

Mike, Your Pass XP17 permits you to select 56, 66, or 76 db of phono gain? And that’s driving a linestage? That there is a lot of gain (when XP17 is set to 76db).

mikek1 OP
13 posts
 

@lewm 

Yep.  The xp-17 has three gain settings.  I’m running xlrs so 56, 66, & 76 vs 50, 60, & 70 for unbalanced.  The pre3 has been with me for quite a while.  IIRC, it’s active.  Seems odd the noise floor (white noise, without question) drops considerably when running at 76db on the xp-17.  I was initially concerned 76 would be too high, which is the reason I didn’t test it until the other day.  Glad I did, though :)

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