you've got $25,000.00

Dear Azjake: Reading through your threads and answers I can see that you already have a top TT/tonearm/cartridges analog rig, this fact tell me that maybe you don't need any change on that front end other that spend 25K just for fun ( with all my respect to you ) that I don't think you want it.
Btw and just for fun try a Nagaoka MP-50 or a B&O MMc 1/2 or an Audio Technica ATML 170/180 MM cartridges, it could even and in many ways surpass the quality overall performance of your MC ones, you will enjoy it and you can have/buy it for around 500.00 dollars.

Of course that if you are really want to spend 25K ( looking to your system ) there are better " audio chain links " where to spend it than at your front end, of course you can always try a different top MC cartridge that can/could give you a different presentation but maybe only different and not better one, the same for a TT ( any ) where maybe you can/could improve the quality sound reproduction is to find a better tonearm match to your ( each ) cartridges and I'm not saying that what you own is not a good one.

IMHO the " weak " link in your analog chain is at the Phonolinepreamp, if I was you it is here where I try to make a change, a change that certainly will be not only a change ( different sound ) but a bbetter quality sound reproduction that what you have today: put your money ( any kind ) where it counts more!!, this is the simple name of the game, at least for what are my audio experiences.

If you have time please read what I already posted on a different thread about:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1207489682&openflup&7&4#7

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1207489682&openflup&10&4#10

Your front end electronics ( Phono and line stages ), IMHO, is your very " weak " link not only because what you read on those links but because the inverse RIAA frequency response deviation of the Lamm is really not up to the task ( this inverse RIIA eq. and its accuracy is the heart/soul/brain/etc,etc of any phonostage, it is the WHY exist and the need of a Phono stage . ), you need to look for a better ( way better ) Phonolinepreamp, you and the music deserve it!

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Azjake: There is another critical subject on your analog front end electronics: the cartridge signal pass ( unfortunatelly )through a step-up transformers, these devices IMHO are " terrible " ( for say the least ) and make a heavy degradation to the cartridge signal.

If you have time please read the next fragments of something that were posted elsewhere about:

+++++ " The SUT is an old patch for bad SS phonopreamps designs and for the inherent limitations on tube phonopreamps for handle low output MC cartridges. It is a " chip solution to a complex problem ".

Any SUT has many inherent disadvantages like: distortions generated at the core ( it does not matters if is: air core ), heavy phase discharge ( landslide ), high apt to take hum, the wide zone ( band ) can't go down to DC, severe roll-off at high and low frecuencies, the reactive impedance on the SUT is incompatible with the cartridge impedance: this cause that we never could have flat frecuency response when we are using SUT, this mismatch between the impedances promote that the signal that pass through any SUT will be equalized ( yes, exactly like the problems between tube amplifier and loudspeakers because of those impedances ).

I want to let clear that there is no single advantage, in any way, using SUT's, any of them: it does not matters their design or price.

The SUT always be a : wrong PATCH. " +++++

+++++ " Here are some facts about why exist the SUTs for LO cartridges ( at least is my point of view ):

- In the fifthies appear the MC LO cartridges ( As a fact: Ortofon invented in 1948. ). In that time all the phonopreamps were designed for HO cartridges MM/MI/etc. No one was in the design of high gain PP because no body need it.

- Ortofon and latter other MC LO cartridges never ask to the PP designers/builders to manufacture a high gain PP for their MC LO cartridges. What I mean is that never exist a cooperation job between the MC LO builders and the PP manufacturers.

- What was the comercial attitude of almost all MC LO cartridges builders?: to put on sale their MC LO cartridges along with a SUTs ( designed for it self ) for those MC LO cartridges.

- I can remember from Ortofon when they design the MC10, MC 20, Mc 30, Mc 2000, Mc 3000 and MC 5000, cartridges at the same time they offer the respective SUT: T 10, T 20, T 30, T 5000.

- Like Ortofon everybody do the same: Denon, Audiocraft, Fidelity Research, Koetsu, Micro Seiki, Accuphase, Dynavector, Highphonic, Audio Technica, Entre, etc, etc.

- In the mid-time what does the PP designers ( SS or tube ) for the development of a high gain PP?: almost nothing, almost all take the easy " cheap road " ( wrong/worst one ): that the customers buy SUTs along with their PP if they want to handle a LO cartridge. Some of the PP designers/builders incorporate in their " high gain " PP internal SUTs, exactly like today ones.

- So we all are suffering the " easy road/ wrong road " that almost all designers/builders take it more than 55 years ago.

- All those comercial attitude never take into account us: the audio customers and never take into account the QUALITY MUSIC/SOUND REPRODUCTION. They don't care about in those times and many of them don't care about today. " +++++

Azjake, as I already posted: put your money where it counts more, where really makes a quality performance improvement.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Kurt: You are right and I agree. " It's a preference call ", but in the subject of this tread and looking the Azjake " heavy money " audio system where he certainly is not totally satisfied with it ( I assume this because he wants to spend 25K for a quality performance improvement ) the setp-up transformer in the analog front end only makes cartridge signal " heavy " degradation, it is not matters what you or I think and before he follow investing $$$$ it is better ( IMHO ) to analyze whcih are their weak links and where he needs and can achieve a quality performance improvement changes.

Kurt, I'm only trying to help ( I don't know if I do it for sure ) to Azjake with what he already own. If you think that those step-up transformers in the Azjake's system are right well I respect your opinion but I must to disagree totally with it.

Now, I always say that the call is up to the system's owner ( Azjake ) that it is the person that must live with that audio system ( and its quality performance. ) not you, me or the audio dealer: who has to be satisfied is Azjake!.

Btw, IMHO the inductors are worst in that stage than resistors but I respect the opinion of that owners that " swear they are the best ".

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Azjake: It could be interesting that you share with us your value thoughts after all those posts.

regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Kurt: I'm sorry Azjake ( an apology, not trying to hijack the thread. ) but I need to give some answer about.

It happen that the Audio Note dealer here is one of my best audio friends, I know well its line and I had ( in my audio systems ) the opportunity to try several Audio Note electronics including one Ongaku.

During our very long Phonolinepreamp design research we touch almost every alternative out there to achieve our targets one of them was to use inductors but its disadvantages using it on RIIA phono stage preclude that we design around it. If you want to speak about please email me because that subject maybe has interest to you but not to other people and certainly not Azjake.

Btw, this is what Audio Note has to say about:

+++++ " Real reactive components, whether inductors or capacitors exhibit losses due to DC resistance, hysteresis and other energy storage effects such as dielectric absorption. The M9 Phono stage uses a specially designed “RIAA Transformer...... " +++++, Audio Note not only use transformers there but this design is transformer coupled. Like I told you I respect the Audio Note lovers but I don't compart/share its " emotion " about: too much transformer signal degradation. Of course that that is a way to design and there are people that like it and there are other people that does not like it.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Azjake: Where are you?, come and share your value opinion with us, I think that will be appreciated.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.