In my setup the Hana ML with Sutherland 20/20 MkII LPS sounds better at 58/100. Table is MoFi UltraDeck. Although I admit I have only tried and didn’t like 200ohm load setting when the 20/20 was still breaking in. It sounded too full at 200, not as relaxed and engaging and was too much of a good thing, too busy sounding.
I can try 200ohm and see if it’s any different than what it sounded like in the beginning.
What really amazed me is the change in sound when I dialed in the overhang, azimuth, VTA, etc. using the Dr. Feichert Protractor. That was just mind blowing how everything just came together when properly set up.
What a difference a setting makes.
I recently got a new turntable (Feikert,) Arm (Origin Live,) and cartridge Hana ML.) A whole new analog setup. I talked myself into thinking the sound was good, although I had doubts when I compared the SQ with the sound I was getting from the digital side. It was really great on some records (the equal of digital,) but the majority of discs were mediocre. Finally, I decided that with such good equipment I should be doing better. So, I contacted my salesman/advisor for help. He had initially recommended that I set the preamp with the gain at 58 and the load at 100 (evidently the standard for the Hana cartridge.) I kept it on that setting for several weeks.
When I called him he suggested that I increase the load to 200.
All of a sudden everything opened up! Almost everything I played had a presence it lacked before. The proverbial veil was lifted. Records really did sound wonderful!
I can’t help but think, that if I hadn’t had enough with the old sound I would be blissfully ignorant of what my set was capable.
Showing 4 responses by audphile1
@rvpiano thanks for this thread! You encouraged me to revisit the 200ohm load setting. As I said earlier I didn’t like it initially when I first got the 20/20. Now with some break in time the 20/20 is a different beast. Completely different experience listening at 200ohm now. The images are sharper and more out into the room, snappier and quicker transients as well. Listening to the first track on “Kind of Blue” (Analog Productions UHQR), every instrument is more solidly defined in the soundstage. Percussion brushes are more detailed, there’s more air and presence overall. Bass has more texture. Very nice. As a side note, break in is a thing with the Sutherland 20/20. It opens up nicely though after about 100+ hours. Much easier to break in a DAC by just streaming 24/7. But the effort is worth it. |
@avanti1960 I doubt it. The cartridge was at over 50hrs by time I got the 20/20. If it did break in some more, it would be a smaller change. I had this cartridge with the KC Vibe MkII and the system never sounded as dull, dry, muddy, congested and too busy, struggling with instrument separation and not at all engaging, as it did with 20/20 when I just got it. The 200ohm setting just didn’t sound right at all. So I set it at 100ohms and it kind of relaxed a bit so I left it there. |