Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2021 16:41:59 GMT
I bought some new Bluetooth earbuds today. I wanted some Cambridge Audio Melomania, but they have stopped making them. I managed to find myself a pair of Sony WF-1000MX3 for the same price, so I am a happy chap.
They sound pretty good for what they are, and are certainly good enough for what I will use them for.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2021 8:54:38 GMT
It is that time of year again. My bonus gets paid at the end of the month, and I have started thinking about upgrades. Thoughts are along the lines of a new SS preamp, or a new cartridge.
It seems I can no longer get an Art-9, so if I get a cartridge, I don’t know if it is worth me getting an MC, as the renewal cost is scary! There is also so much choice, I don’t know where to start. I watched a video on YouTube and there was very little difference between a 1042 and the Art9, it makes me wonder if it is really worth it. I know the audio is compressed, but there is a big cost difference for a small improvement.
Is going MC with a low cost cartridge really worth it?
As for a SS pre, any suggestions - preferably DIY?
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 3, 2021 10:01:06 GMT
It is that time of year again. My bonus gets paid at the end of the month, and I have started thinking about upgrades. Thoughts are along the lines of a new SS preamp, or a new cartridge. It seems I can no longer get an Art-9, so if I get a cartridge, I don’t know if it is worth me getting an MC, as the renewal cost is scary! There is also so much choice, I don’t know where to start. I watched a video on YouTube and there was very little difference between a 1042 and the Art9, it makes me wonder if it is really worth it. I know the audio is compressed, but there is a big cost difference for a small improvement. Is going MC with a low cost cartridge really worth it? As for a SS pre, any suggestions - preferably DIY? K, There are two options of cartridges that seem to make a lot of sense for reasonable (in MC world) money. The hana ML is getting rave reviews everywhere. Seeing as you may have a BB3 sometime soon, there are two guys in the unique position of using that combo. iceman16 and Lurch, who i believe is on AoS. You could drop them both a message and get some feedback from them. For me, i am still finding the Goldring Ethos to be a stunning listen and worth the money. Funnily enough, a friend and i were talking about the MM vs MC debate yesterday and whilst we booth conceed that MM offers the most value, the MC carts have always come out on top for us. There are those that may argue but that's to be expected. As for the preamp and the DIY route: I haven't actually decided what to do with the BT2 stuff yet. Whether to make it an item or a DIY project. I am still awaiting the feedback from the two i made for bigbird and another fella, but if you wanted a populated PCB i may be tempted to let you build a preamp out of it. I am sorting out your close tolerance parts this week for your BB3 build so give it some thought. Failing that idea, Simon suggested the new Topping P90 may be worth a look and would probably work out cheaper. www.tpdz.net/productinfo/551297.htmlI'm not mad keen on balanced ins and outs so you would have to sse what you thought. I think you have a lot to gain by using a great preamp but you need a MC to get the best from your BB3. Get the MC, build your BB3 and then if you aren't convinced by either you can flog them both and get a monster preamp.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2021 10:22:29 GMT
I have been eyeing up cases for the BB3. Takachi seem very nice....
I also need to order the Traffo, and a few other bits.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 3, 2021 10:26:03 GMT
I have been eyeing up cases for the BB3. Takachi seem very nice.... I also need to order the Traffo, and a few other bits. Yes, they make some really nice stuff. Can't go wrong.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2021 6:35:41 GMT
Thanks for the info on the pre. I need to look I to if I can use the RCA outputs of the Pre90 to drive a headphone amp, at the same time as the XLR. Other thoughts were on the Neurochrome. Has does your new pre compare to that?
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 4, 2021 7:26:59 GMT
Thanks for the info on the pre. I need to look I to if I can use the RCA outputs of the Pre90 to drive a headphone amp, at the same time as the XLR. Other thoughts were on the Neurochrome. Has does your new pre compare to that? Well there is bugger all between them measurement wise. The BT2 buffers the signal on the input and the output, which the Neurochrome doesn't I don't think. Neurochrome does balanced, the BT2 doesn't....deliberately. Less components on the BT2 BT2 is £50 cheaper at least...not worked it out yet, but could be more👍
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2021 8:36:16 GMT
I wanted to change a valve in the Kin as it was becoming noisy, so while it was out of the system I decided to connect an Accession MM directly to my 686. It looks ridiculouse, with this tiny box sitting above the massive case of the 686.
No idea how it sounds yet, as the Mrs is asleep on the sofa....
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 4, 2021 9:24:02 GMT
I wanted to change a valve in the Kin as it was becoming noisy, so while it was out of the system I decided to connect an Accession MM directly to my 686. It looks ridiculouse, with this tiny box sitting above the massive case of the 686. No idea how it sounds yet, as the Mrs is asleep on the sofa.... Is she awake yet? If not give her a nudge... Perfectly good bed elsewhere I imagine 🤣
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2021 10:22:23 GMT
The littl’un is away, so we are taking full advantage of it.
She is awake. It sounds very good, as you can imagine. A system does not get much simpler than this. I could probably live with this, if I needed to.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 14:08:43 GMT
The DV XX2 is due to arrive on Monday. I was hoping it would be here tomorrow.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 9, 2021 15:14:13 GMT
The DV XX2 is due to arrive on Monday. I was hoping it would be here tomorrow. That's a shame, but I imagine you'll get time with it due to the lockdown.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 15:23:17 GMT
There is no real rush. The weather forecast is crap for the weekend though, so I was hoping for some rainy bday opportunities.
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Apr 10, 2021 7:49:22 GMT
Re the Topping, I'd pass on it. It's utterly transparent, but it also introduced the occasional click into my playback. I never get any extraneous noise otherwise. I might investigate further and borrow it back from mrdog.
It did all I need, visible volume level, 2 in balanced out. The logic on the speed of the vol controller was a bit of a pain, very linear.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 16:11:41 GMT
The annoying thing is that the XX2 was in Toulouse at 6:49 this morning, but they are waiting until Monday to deliver it.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 10, 2021 17:06:22 GMT
The annoying thing is that the XX2 was in Toulouse at 6:49 this morning, but they are waiting until Monday to deliver it. That IS annoying.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 17:33:18 GMT
I am on holiday next week, but the wife is working from home, so the volume needs to be kept to a sensible,level.
Anyway, I have my AT20SS doing duty on Nirvana Unplugged. It sounds great....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 10:58:51 GMT
I am disappointed. The XX2 only works on one channel.
|
|
|
Post by antonio on Apr 12, 2021 11:18:32 GMT
That really is a bugger Cagey, sorry to hear it.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 12, 2021 11:30:10 GMT
I am disappointed. The XX2 only works on one channel. NOOOOOO! Oh man, that is such a shame.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 11:35:10 GMT
Just fitted a different cartridge. Same problem. Reversed the channels, the problem follows, so I either have a fault in the cartridge tags, or in the pre amp.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 12:28:10 GMT
So unplugging the cartridge, the green tag fell off. I wonder where the problem is...? Soldered it back on, and I am a very happy bunny. I have both channels again. 🍾
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 12:46:15 GMT
That was actually pretty scary. Fitting the cartridge twice, without a stylus guard. The short boron canti is quite exposed. I have contacted AS to see if they have one they can send me, as it was not mentioned it was missing. Anyway, it is fitted, both channels are working, and I am playing at low volume, as my daughter is asleep on the sofa, and the wife is working....
I shall have to wait until later in the day before I can have a proper play.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by Bigman80 on Apr 12, 2021 12:54:54 GMT
So unplugging the cartridge, the green tag fell off. I wonder where the problem is...? Soldered it back on, and I am a very happy bunny. I have both channels again. 🍾 Hahaha, fantastic. We've all been there. Any impressions on the sound?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 12:57:34 GMT
No impressions yet. It is too quiet to really judge it properly. The annoying thing is that the table was still attached, so looked ok, and then it fell off as I investigated.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 13:01:53 GMT
I also need to dial the VTF in a bit. I have it at the lighter end, and it needs to go up a bit. I also need to look at loading. Currently loaded at 75 ohms, it may need a little more.
I am just really happy it is not broken...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 14:29:03 GMT
It also sounds much better when the phono stage is set to MC. 😂
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 14:42:29 GMT
Any impressions on the sound? VTF is now at 2.0 g. It is certainly a step up from the AT20SS. Great tone and imaging.... I need to try other records other than “Nirvana Unplugged” when I get the chance.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 17:11:02 GMT
Oops. Problem found.... Vertical tracking looks a bit off...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 17:13:00 GMT
I also got in touch with AS. They are going to send me a stylus guard. 👍
|
|