SDS or phono stage


I have a VPI Scoutmaster with Soundsmith Zephyr Mk II cartridge, jmw memorial arm, a stainless steel vpi record clamp, playing through a Musial Fidelity KW500 integrated amp with on board phono stage. Sounds quite good, but my question is this: would I be better off at this point adding an SDS or an outboard phono stage? Or both? In what order? Thanks!
arsh

Showing 16 responses by arsh

Thanks all. I did not mention that I use a Transparent Audio Powerbank 8 power conditioner. Will the SDS still have much of an impact in the presence of the Transparent, or is the power conditioner doing essentially what the SDS would do sonically? Thanks again.
Thanks Cerrot. Now the only problem is finding one. None of the retailers seem to have any.
Thanks everyone for the useful information. I got a bit of an education there. Mcbuddah, thanks for the tip about the ECPA. I had not previously heard of it.
Thanks a lot everyone. I found an SDS here and have purchased it. Should arrive in a few days. I have also ordered a Herron VTPH2 phono stage for audition. Anyone have experience with it? Everything I have read has been very positive, and Herron is close to home. Thanks again for your help.
Thanks a lot. I am getting a new VTPH-2 directly from Keith. I am excited to hear it!
Thanks for your reponses. Is the strobe disc that comes with the SDS good enough?
Thanks again. I hooked up my sds and set speed using the kAB. Question: do you leave the sds on all the time and turn the turntable motor on and off, OR do you leave the tt motor on all the time and use the sds to turn it on and off? Thanks again.
Thanks. When I was setting it up, I watched the sds as I turned the motor off and on. When I turned the motor on, the sds voltage jumped to 115 then down to 72, as I gather it should. Do you really switch the sds on and off every time you flip the record, brush it clean, etc?
I spoke with Matt at VPI today, and he says it doesn't really matter how you do it. He says he has seen his father (Harry) leave it turned on for weeks at a time, using the tt motor switch. There is no harm in doing this, apparently.
So, I have the SDS and got a Herron VTPH-2 last week. The Herron is still breaking in, but already sounds excellent. So far so good!