Where to go next with the turntable


I've been a long time owner of a Rega P7, and I feel like investigating an upgrade, I'm ot sure if I want to stick with Rega (P8 or P10) or try something else? Currently using a Soundsmith Zephyr MK III cart and Hegel V10 phono stage,

What I have now sounds good, but some more bass/warmth would be welcome. 

traudio

Showing 3 responses by pindac

@traudio I feel a good place to start is not to steer you away from your current set up in a direction that comes with considerable cost.

Firstly your V10 has a range of Capacitance Settings to be used with the Mk III Cart', 47-367pf to be reasonably accurate.

Making adjustments across this range of settings will have an effect on the Mid's to High Frequencies.

If the V10 is with default setting the Mid and High frequencies are most likely most prominent, as soft furnishings will absorb these, so avoiding the any concerns voiced about sounding 'rolled off' are calculated for using the default. 

The coherence across the frequencies can be attempted to be addressed by using the Cap' Adjustment, there is a possibility the Bass may come forward as having a little more prominence.

The area I am unfamiliar with is that in general as a description the V10 is suggested as being revealing and insightful, such traits would suggest a very honest bass note with a well defined decay (transparency). Such traits will be difficult to describe as having a tone that leans toward being warm.

So far no costs are to be incurred. 

If Cap' Adjustment does give the Bass a increment of being present in a more perceivable way, there are methods to add a little Richness in Tone.

One method experienced across a variety of systems in the homes of other audio systems is the use of a Cable that has D.U.C.C wire as the signal path. This wire has been proven in use to remove nothing that is recognised and valued in a recording, it delivers with a slightest of underpinning to the Vocal and Notes, which can be referred to as a Hint of Richness. This might be the level of transition from transparent to rich that is to your satisfaction.

I would suggest these in use, at the shortest length usable, as TA >Phonostage and then swap as Phono'> Pre-Amp'. If something is found to be if an attraction in both placements, I suggest buying in a second pair and Cart' Tag Wire using the same wire. 

A careful hunt could get all cables, 'if wanted', acquired for approx' £200 

Additionally, another method used, but from my experiences had, not proven to be ubiquitous, is the use of Platter Mats. 

I have many in a variety of materials, to date I have found Ceramic and Forex Foam to be very noticeable for adding a perception of a Rich Tone, with 5mm Thick Forex Foam being the most noticeable, it has real attraction, as it does not remove any valuable info being extracted from the recording. It has proven in use to be more attractive than the same material in a 3mm thickness.

Forex is very cheap, I acquired mine for approx' £5 per mat, I have gifted this material to other BD TT users who have been thoroughly impressed during their demo's received. 

I feel confident based on previous experiences that the use of a Forex Foam in conjunction with the option to Cap' Adjust will bring a eyebrow raise, even a big smile.

Cables can remain as a curiosity and intended luxurious purchase, leaving the investigation being suggested a very inexpensive pursuit.        

@traudio The Link will show a Sound Smith explanation of their High Output Moving Coils and how pf loading can effect them. 

The D.U.C.C Tag wires are unfortunately restricted to Luxman Headshells only. This is unfortunate as this would have been the mist cost effective method to experience the Wire in the signal path.

Learning where to source Forex Foam or the equivalent material in the US, is more than worthwhile an an endeavour, as the cost incurred to experience it and the potential end result is real bang for buck. 

As I have seen you are long term associated with Linn TT's, the Forex Foam improved a Heavily Upgraded Linn in one system, to the point the Mat exchange was seemingly like a new TT was in use.  

 https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/transformer-use-soundsmith-mifixed-coil-designs

 

During a period of time where the idea of cleaning Vinyl was quite new, but the use of Cartridges was very popular, as well as being a potential product, that was as result of high volume sales creating the life blood of many Companies. It make total sense that a entity with a real interest in sales of a product that would have an extended life through the usage of cleaned Vinyl would be inclined to make the remark about not to clean Vinyl. 

Putting the period into a more focused context, well established Audio Companies were now sharing space at Commercial Exhibitions alongside the New Upstart Record Cleaning Device Companies.

Companies advising on Record Care could hardly use preserving the LP as a reason to spend on their products, as the Vinyl in nearly all cases was very cheap and very easily replaced. There are exceptions to this, as some Radio Stations may have had out of pressing Archive medium needed to be kept in Top Quality Condition.

New Incorporated Companies advising on Record Care were very direct in their descriptions to the general enquirers about getting the benefits of additional hours of usage from a Cartridge. Using the additional hours of usage from the expensive Cart's as the beneficial offset cost savings, which were able to be homed in on, to justify buying into record care devices.

Additionally, Record Care Companies new very very little about the importance of a Cleaning Solution being totally removable form the LP.

Where some solutions being promoted were very capable of leaving the Groove embedded with a new crud, that would have never been present unless deliberately contaminated through the new adopted cleaning methods.

Distilled Water and IPA were not only the bases of solutions, other additives have been encouraged as a 'word of mouth' reveal, or the under the counter (join out secret club) through this secretive products. 

For myself, I am certain, the PAVCR Guidance for a Cleaning Solution and the Manual Method has surpassed any previous used method and removed all old cleaning method solution residual substances from the LP's Groove.