hdm
Responses from hdm
| Is it possible for a record to be too loud? "The issue is can a cartridge of 1.05 mV or so overload a phono section set up for a low output moving coil cartridge."The OP's phono stage has a stated sensitivity of 500 uV in for 300 mV out with an overload margin of 31 dB. Any thoughts on what... | |
| JC3+ Anyone? Original JC3 was probably noisy (as well as being less than optimal) with many cartridges because it had outrageous amounts of gain. 68 dB on the MC input spec'd and it tested even higher than that in the Stereophile review. Parasound reduced the ... | |
| Is it possible for a record to be too loud? Actusreus:I agree. It is surprising how much gain matching seems to be ignored in terms of really optimising sound quality, not just here but on many forums.IMO, even with a good quality phono stage, probably more so in fact, the window for optimu... | |
| SDS or phono stage Variac works quite well in my experience with my Gyrodec. It's a fairly serious bang for the buck as far as I'm concerned. No ability to control speed (as far as switching from 33 to 45 RPM) and it lacks the elegance and automation of supplies lik... | |
| Denon DL-103 "one of the...." With respect to the conical stylus, I think the Denon conical is very, very good. I've used 103R's for the past 6-7 years now, both stock and modified and prefer the 103R to some cartridges costing quite a bit more that have more exotic stylus pro... | |
| Balanced or single ended phono stage? I'm partial to balanced phono stages, using one myself. Lots of benefits as Atmashphere has pointed out. As to the OP's original question, I would point out that the Ayre has both balanced inputs and outputs, the Parasound only balanced outputs. T... | |
| Does anyone use a RUMBLE filter? Raul: The subsonic filter on my phono preamp is -9 dB @ 10 Hz, -18 dB @ 5 Hz and -48 dB @ 2 Hz. Not sure what you'd be hearing down there (at least in terms of anything good on the vinyl as opposed to the negative effects of both the amplifier and... | |
| Does anyone use a RUMBLE filter? Well everyone has an opinion of course. Perhaps some might be interested in Harry Weisfeld's; he probably knows a bit about vinyl. Then again, maybe not?http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=vinyl&n=1041937&highlight=subsonic+HW&... | |
| Mogami speaker cables? "Why do you assume he is just using the cheapest model from the line?"Only real descriptor in the ad is that the cable he's using is 14 AWG. That rules out 3103 and 3104 which are both 12 AWG (3103 being a 2 conductor cable and 3104 being a 4 cond... | |
| Mogami speaker cables? Mekong56: From the description, I'd guess he's using Mogami 3082, which is one of Mogami's cheapest offerings at around $1.20 ft. You might be interested in this (scroll to the bottom of the page for info on Mogami). Linking is a pain here so just... | |
| Mogami speaker cables? I have no experience with the Audiogon seller mentioned but have used Mogami 3103 for a few years now. Available online for under $3 a foot, I paid my dealer to terminate them with high copper content Vampire spades and also had them cryoed and bu... | |
| Correct Phono Preamp Gain Setting Bingo. What you just described is exactly what I would have expected based on the numbers. Especially with low output MC's, getting the gain right is extremely important. Both too little and too much gain (even 3-4 dB in my experience) can really ... | |
| Correct Phono Preamp Gain Setting With what you describe I would doubt that the 71 dB setting is optimal and I would in fact venture an educated guess that the 58 dB setting, as long is it is not presenting you with hiss/hum levels that are obtrusive at the maximum SPL's you want ... | |
| Correct Phono Preamp Gain Setting If you are not using a passive preamp, 58 dB should be just about ideal with a .45 mV cartridge. I'm a bit confused. At 58 dB you say that it sounds "great" but it's also anemic and not loud enough for your listening. So I'm not sure which it is. ... | |
| Do I Have the Wrong Cartridge? 45 dB of gain in the phono stage is a HUGE amount of gain for typical moving magnet cartridges, let alone one that outputs 6.8-7.2 mV. It's no wonder it sounds harsh and strident.With that amount of gain I'd be looking to drop the output on the ca... |