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Tube Phono Stage with balls, and slam!!

Hello friends
I have a Well tempered TT, classic made in the 90's, with a Zu Denon 103 Catrtridge , and a Vacume Tube, phono stage, wich is solid state,  with a tube push and pull intergrated amp, with Zu speaker's
It seems to me that the set up, might be bright, on 60% or recordings, with the piano on the up, and femails, on volcals, seem a bit bright!!
Should I go for the Decaware, phono stage, which is tube based!!, or would this be to much, on the soft side??
I like my music, with deep bass, with slam!!(I do get this with some recordings) , but sometime some recordings are a  bit bright!!, I have a solid state phono stage, with RCA plug's, that fit in the rear of the unit, to excite, or tame the above, my tast in music, is Rock,Punk, new wave, power jazz etc!!, I have used 100ohms, plugs, and 275 ohms, but can't seem to get it right, I'm almost there!!
Any thoughts
David Spry
Australia
128x128daveyonthecoast
daveyonthecoast's avatar
daveyonthecoast OP
40 posts
 
Thanks, everyone, for your time, in responding!!
It seems, to me that the harshness, maybe something different, I don't know much about cartridge loading, I have listen to my favorite recording's, some sound great, some sound with a slight shimmering, on the top, mostly at high listening levels, I have listen to loading's of 100 ohm and 275 ohm, but really could not hear any difference!!, although it is the best setup that I have owned!!, because I 'm hearing, slight thing's that I did not know were there, I'm sure they were there, but where "colored in the mix"
I will open a can of worms, different cartridge??, or maybe loading plugs, are not right, I just want to tame the above a little!!
Please help
Regards
David Spry

sancho22
106 posts
 
Get a Tavish Design phono. Separate power supply, no need for SUT and your Denon will sing. Sounds as good as my Shindo Aurieges MM with an Auditorium SUT (any of them as a matter of fact). cant beat the $1500 price. Superb review in Stereophile.
tomwh
150 posts
 
On the cheap I would try adding some weight to your arm.  It has ben said by many people that denon 103 family love really heavy tonearms.  I have been building lots of tonearms lately and the heavy 12.5 wood ones are magic with 103 and 103r.  If you want music to sound real, tubes are the way to go across the board.  If you want your upright sting bass to sound like a over driven electric bass things are easier.

I am also a big lover of sut's make sure you make or buy one where you can adjust the load to match your system.

Enjoy the ride

Tom
jhconnor's avatar
jhconnor
58 posts
 
I have the new Audio Research Ref Phono 3. I've been amazed at the punch, slam, speed it delivers. By far the best phono preamp that they have made- (I haven't heard the Ref 10) which is saying something. 
thecablepro
5 posts
 
Hello daveyonthecoast, I believe the 100 ohm setting will yield the most balanced result with that cartridge. Secondly, I don't think a new phono stage is in order here. Careful, precise setup of the tonearm and its interface with the phono cartridge is critical. Without a proper alignment nothing else you do will matter one iota. If you get that part right all else will fall into place. You'll find that setting the tracking angle properly once all is right can change the tonal balance of the presentation. Each LP is different. Find a happy medium or make adjustments for each LP, it's up to you.
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