ZYX "House" Sound

Dear @kevemaher  : Good. In the other side and in this analog forum could be that medium and major knowledge level audiophiles are oriented for subjectivity opinions, not all maybe the 80% and in other internet forums even more.

Through my audio life I learned that to really enjoy at maxium my home system MUSIC experiences we  need  and is a mut rto have a good equilibrium between objectivity and subjectivity and through this equilibrium and step by step is how I  " manufactured " till today my room/system.

I know and is true that everything in audio can measures even if some special audio characterisrtic no one  intented to measure. Subjectivity could be measured too but way way complex to even intent it.

I belive in some of the system spec characteristics and as you know those system links ( almost any in the system chain. ) can or could be improved by each one of us and I did it with my system and I understand you did it and do it with yours.

There is no magic in audio and our target should be to achieve that equilibrium between objectivity/subjectivity to really enjoy our home audio experiences.

R.

@kevemaher : I can give you that tonearm characteristic but with all respect you need to make yur research that at the end it’s a learning and fun " trip ": the effective mass Technics tonearm is 12 grs.

Yes, the transducers are the more critical and important link in the audio system, I posted before in agreement with you. NO the tonearm can’t has the cartridge direct influence in the signature of what we are listening .

Good decision to test your cartridges in the Denon 57L that looks as really good TT/tonearm:

Denon DP-57L Servo-Controlled Direct-Drive Turntable Manual | Vinyl Engine

R.

Dear @kevemaher : This resonance frequency could help for your question after you made the automatic calculation:

Cartridge Resonance Evaluator - Vinyl Engine

Other Technics model is the next one that comes with what in theory is a better tonearm build material: magnesium and more " solid/damped " plynth ".

Direct Drive Turntable System SL-1200G-S (technics.com)

With both models could be need it to change the tonearm internal wiring and the headshell wires too.

Btw, " to be the primary influence on sound. The tonearm and turntable are secondary, and all the others have a very small influence "

Could be and yes transducers are " definitive " about. Before I posted that tonearm/cartridge is a " unit " and is a unit because all the cartridges during playing can pick up maybe the 80%-90% of the recorded MUSIC information but at the same time develops a lot of additional " resonances/distortions/feedback " that are transmited through the cartridge cantilever and then to the headshell/tonearm wand/tonearm bearing and so on that's why same Technics tonearm builded with magnesium material puts different " colorations/modulation " than an aluminum tonearm material.

You own the 57L and through your measures it measured similar to the DD40 even that manufacturer specs are way different. I posted before if you listen a " trouble " if any in the 57L that your prefer the DD40, till now you are " dead silence " about and is your privilege but could be " healthy " ig you can give an answer on that issue. Thank's in advance.

R.

Dear @kevemaher : Well, I’m not against your choices but only trying to help with a different points of view.

This is the DD20 that’s " almost " the same DD40 where bothare true entrey level by any standard in the DD MS models of that time where the top of the line was the DQX 1000, the DDX 1000 was inferior to the DQX:

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/micro-seiki/dd-20.shtml

I’m not saying that you are wrong, no one can do it, because that’s what you like.

Now, you own the 57L by Denon and if you use the DD40 over the 57L then for you the DD40 is better than the Denon. Which " characteristic/problem " mades that you prefer the MS over the 57L?

Today TT are not exactly high price ones if you know what to look for:

https://us.technics.com/products/grand-class-direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1210gr

If you want or needs references of vintage products specs the vintage knob it’s very good site with some comments to take in count. No it’s not a reviewer site but along VE gives you a " entry level " information for those products.

Well and only for me. What you measured on FR with the PS/SUT is really bad because MUSIC in a home system belongs to the bass range. Ok, I know that the Nova RIAA eq. is +,- 0.25 db on deviation but the whole FR of that products combination in the bass range is a " little " inferior and it’s that quality level of what you are accustom too. Maybe you need to listen several other systems with better whole quality performance levels and you must do becaus e if not then: how will you know that your new cartridge really performs in the big league?

R.

Dear @kevemaher : " What arm and table did the people who purchased a Koetsu in the 80s use? "

You choosed part of the Golden years of TT/tonearms and even cartridges ..

In those years MS was really good with its BD TT’s and great tonearms as the MAX-237/282 that with the J shape arm wand maybe culd be the best ever tonearm. Your DD 40 was an entry level TT/tonearm where Pioneer, JVC, Sony, Yamaha, Denon and many others had way superior entry level models. In those times almost no one cared about the DD40 because it was in an inferior league and that was the reality in those Golden years.

That you are satisfied with does not means could be the best for the today top cartridges can shows at its best and this is the issue that you will have to decide when you listen to your new cartridge along the phono stage/SUT.

Of course only an opinion.

Btw, in the next link you can look to any of those manufacturers I mentioned including MS where you just can’t see the DD40 but several other models:

The Vintage Knob - Online vintage audio museum.

Pioneer vaults or JVC could tell you where you are " seated " as the other manufacturers.

Btw, do you measure or know the frequency response range on your SUT?

R.

@kevemaher  : Btw and due that maybe you made some up-date/up-grade changes in your Paragon  and made measurements on your system: do you know or measure which the RIAA inverse eq. deviation in that unit?

The main reason exist phono stages is because that RIAA and very low noise gain the units need it.

Today a normal RIAA eq. deviation is around: +,- 0.1 db . Which yours?

Down there starts neutrality.

R.

Dear @kevemaher  :  Per sé no one could say if your TT/tonearm is good enough and the tonearm can match really good with any cartridge not only high end ones but you when you listen your new cartridge.

One thing is way critical and has a " heavy weigth " in the quality level performance of any cartridge and that's is the tonearm. Cartridge and tonearm is one unit and any cartridge/tonearm combination have its own signature/color, you change the tonearm with the same cartridge and will sounds a little different with different " colorations ".

What I can't explain my self is that you are using that vintage tube phono/SUT and you have too the Nova unit. Those RCA input/output connectors on the tube unit are not good enough but not god those additional input/output connectors, cabls and solder joint for that SUT and all those only degrades the cartridge signal quality level.

The cartridge overall quality perfomance directly depends in a critical way to the quality level of the phono stage and tonearm including the tonearm internal wiring and always will be better a phono stage active high gain that an external SUT no matter wahat ( everything the same. ).

Do you want something neutral? then you have to put at minimum everykind of system link distortions/colorations in your room/system chain. My take is that maybe when you have the new cartridge need to think a little in what I'm saying here in favor of you and your room/system whole quality performance levels.

R.

R.

Dear @kevemaher  : I owned your today cartridges and I know what you are talking about.

ZYX  Exceed it's a way different sound and are excellent quality performers. You can't go wronggggg with ZYX and could be interesting to look the Lyra Etna Lambda . Both could even what you are looking for and are very hard to beat it.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.