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Post by electronumpty on Mar 19, 2020 21:53:45 GMT
Ok So with some time at home for the next 3 months and for a bit of fun, I have decided to retrace my cartridge journey from the last 5/6 years as I still have them - except for the Kb as this has a snapped cantilever. I might do the same with my phono stages too for a bit of fun but that can wait for a bit. So to start I put my 2M red on my AO Uniarm through the Firebottle OTP which is mm and mc. I originally got his cart with the deck when I bought it over 10 years ago and only used it for about 3 months before changing for a 2nd hand Notts Analogue Tracer 3 - next on the list. So it is barely used really. Ive never used the OTP on mm either. Also the previous arm I used it with was the OL modded Rega so there is a step up there too. . Easy to set up and as it has a removable stylus I could attached the body before putting the stylus back in. Had a bit of a moment at the start when only 1 channel was working but them remembered to take out he loading plugs  lol. Anyway all good after that. Sound? - well not the "air" and refinement of the ZYX , nor the detail and nuances. But it sort of throws music at you, it bounces along and really has a good rhythmic quality , very enjoyable! More later. |
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Post by electronumpty on Mar 19, 2020 22:00:12 GMT
in Action  |
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 19, 2020 22:13:09 GMT
in Action What's next on the deck? |
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Post by electronumpty on Mar 19, 2020 22:22:41 GMT
Wet wipes , needs a clean. 😉
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 19, 2020 22:53:09 GMT
Wet wipes , needs a clean. 😉 Lol |
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Post by electronumpty on Mar 20, 2020 23:08:02 GMT
Ok listening tonight , bit of sibilince on the higher more strained notes. A bit bugging for me as it detracts from what is an enjoyable experiance. This is the only criticism really I can level at it for the price . It does a great job otherwise. I guess this might be tracking?
Seperatikn is not so good but I am enjoying what I would describe as an unfussy presentation. Sort of a rounded view of things.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 0:34:47 GMT
I'd bet on Sonic against Doctor Seperatikn anytime ! 👊🤨
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 0:40:24 GMT
If that turntable is in the corner of the same room as the speakers then I'm afraid you're wasting your time.
Put it elsewhere and your world will transform. I promise ! 😍 A record player in the corner of a listening room can only be eclipsed for evilness by an Englishman wearing shorts or a baseball cap. Just saying.🙄
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Post by electronumpty on Mar 21, 2020 9:00:08 GMT
If that turntable is in the corner of the same room as the speakers then I'm afraid you're wasting your time. Put it elsewhere and your world will transform. I promise ! 😍 A record player in the corner of a listening room can only be eclipsed for evilness by an Englishman wearing shorts or a baseball cap. Just saying.🙄 Hmm might have to rethink then, guess I'll have to stop wearing the baseballl cap and listening in shorts. Got no choice in placement of the tt. Sounds pretty good to me though. |
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 21, 2020 9:06:44 GMT
If that turntable is in the corner of the same room as the speakers then I'm afraid you're wasting your time. Put it elsewhere and your world will transform. I promise ! 😍 A record player in the corner of a listening room can only be eclipsed for evilness by an Englishman wearing shorts or a baseball cap. Just saying.🙄 A lot of acceptable truth there. Unfortunately for me too, the TT had to go in the corner. For now at least. |
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Post by electronumpty on Apr 21, 2020 14:47:19 GMT
So enough of the 2m Red and on with the Nottingham Analogue Tracer 3. Certainly more refined.
pic later as it refuses to upload🤨
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Post by electronumpty on Apr 22, 2020 7:32:23 GMT
pic 🙂  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2020 7:11:57 GMT
What is that one?
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Post by jimbo on Apr 23, 2020 7:39:43 GMT
Interesting.
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Post by electronumpty on Apr 23, 2020 7:42:57 GMT
Its a Nottingham Analogue Tracer 3 which is a rebranded Excel ES70. I think it was tweaked by NA as I understand it but I don't know how.
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 23, 2020 8:11:07 GMT
Looks cool.....hows it sound?
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Post by electronumpty on Apr 23, 2020 9:40:25 GMT
Not had much time with it but "lighter" than the 2m so far. More characteristic of an mc I guess. Better detail and presentation and less emphasis on the boldness of the music I think is how I'd put it.
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Post by gninnam on Apr 25, 2020 10:01:20 GMT
Nice!
I love my old A&R P77's. Have a few of which was sent to Expert Stylus many years ago and came back sounding very very good (I know they used to make them back in the day).
Plus they take Jilco styli to but not tried any as yet - suit the Linn Basik Plus on the Lenco GL75 really well.
Can let you try one if you want?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2020 10:33:33 GMT
Never heard the Tracer 3 but it sounds an interesting one for future reference. Must admit, I much prefer some of the '70's cartridges to modern entry level. I fitted a few 2M reds for customers and they all, without reservation sounded a little rough and uncouth no-matter what they were played through. One of my favourite oldies was the Sonus Blue Gold but it proved to be quite fragile too. Some of the Shures were also amongst my faves, with the 95He and V15 III and V being the best of the bunch but best in lighter tonearms. Roll on abit and the 80's and 90's Nagaokas were pretty good to, the MP-10 fitted with the boron NP20 stylusfrom the MP11 Boron was a little cracker, and a long time favourite of the late Neil Burnett of Albarry.
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Post by electronumpty on Apr 26, 2020 9:12:12 GMT
Nice! I love my old A&R P77's. Have a few of which was sent to Expert Stylus many years ago and came back sounding very very good (I know they used to make them back in the day). Plus they take Jilco styli to but not tried any as yet - suit the Linn Basik Plus on the Lenco GL75 really well. Can let you try one if you want? Hi thanks for the offer, much appreciated . When the lockdown ends I might take you up on it as I can't get to a PO at the moment to send it back to you. Never heard one. |
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Post by electronumpty on Apr 26, 2020 9:13:45 GMT
Have to say the Tracer 3 is sounding very nice through the Bigbottle stage, especially through my headphones which are more revealing than my speakers.
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 14:23:14 GMT
Have to say the Tracer 3 is sounding very nice through the Bigbottle stage, especially through my headphones which are more revealing than my speakers. Fantastic stuff. You've made two parts of that chain. It's good isnt it, listening to stuff you've built. |
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Post by jimbo on Apr 26, 2020 18:32:32 GMT
I will try and get hold of some 1970s cartridges when I get the Lenco spinning so if anyone has any suggestions I will endeavour to find one.
Must be on the market between 1965- 1979 which gives me a very wide choice.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 19:01:47 GMT
I will try and get hold of some 1970s cartridges when I get the Lenco spinning so if anyone has any suggestions I will endeavour to find one. Must be on the market between 1965- 1979 which gives me a very wide choice. I'm quite fancying one of those wooden cantilever things. Just need a cart to stick it on. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 19:02:18 GMT
I will try and get hold of some 1970s cartridges when I get the Lenco spinning so if anyone has any suggestions I will endeavour to find one. Must be on the market between 1965- 1979 which gives me a very wide choice. You need a V15. I loves mine |
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Post by jimbo on Apr 26, 2020 19:21:41 GMT
I will try and get hold of some 1970s cartridges when I get the Lenco spinning so if anyone has any suggestions I will endeavour to find one. Must be on the market between 1965- 1979 which gives me a very wide choice. You need a V15. I loves mine I didnt know you had a V15? |
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 19:47:00 GMT
You need a V15. I loves mine I didnt know you had a V15? Hahaha, I've had a lot of stuff mate It came with an SME 3009 S2 tonearm I had for a while. Both in mint condition. The arm wasnt my thing, it was ok but lifeless. The cartridge was a different matter. It was superb. I sold it all to fund the ZYX R50 bloom. |
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Post by electronumpty on May 3, 2020 22:20:20 GMT
Ok so ive gad the Zyx Yatra back in for a few days now, yesterday I felt it didn't have the zing that I was used to hearing from it. I thought this could be the Bigbottle still running in but couldn't put my finger on it. Decided that I would re-oil the bearing and see if that had any effect so did that and cleaned it up.
Bam! all back in place and better than ever, longer decay on the notes and cymbals, more subtle details and better energy in the music overall. Pleased it was something relatively simple. 🙂
There is a moral in there somewhere lll.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
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Post by Bigman80 on May 3, 2020 23:48:40 GMT
Ok so ive gad the Zyx Yatra back in for a few days now, yesterday I felt it didn't have the zing that I was used to hearing from it. I thought this could be the Bigbottle still running in but couldn't put my finger on it. Decided that I would re-oil the bearing and see if that had any effect so did that and cleaned it up. Bam! all back in place and better than ever, longer decay on the notes and cymbals, more subtle details and better energy in the music overall. Pleased it was something relatively simple. 🙂 There is a moral in there somewhere lll. Maintenance is a big factor in most systems. Just cleaning a plug can help sometimes. Glad the sound is back on point. |
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lol. Anyway all good after that. 
