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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2019 7:55:55 GMT
Oliver and Ivor are both right.
I found the same as Oliver, the 774 sounds so much better than any Rega I've tried, especially on the Techie. The difference in presentation is quite startling. It's literally as though somebody opened a curtain between me and the music. I got rid of the Ittok too, because the 774 sounded better.
Ivor is correct about the asymmetry in Rega castings not having any negative effect on arm balance. A minor load difference (if there is one) across a dual race pivot means nothing.
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 29, 2019 8:10:12 GMT
A couple of things. The RB300 is a twin ball race so a small casting flash or seam on the tube side is irrelevant. The Audiomods arm I had needed to be returned as the bearings actually rattled. It came back still rattling. How many arms actually have azimuth adjustment and is it needed on a good record player ? The spring never effected the sound as far as I'm concerned. I think it was all an urban myth from the flat earth days. I love a good tweak so I'd be going for it if it was warranted. This study points in the same direction. The micro vibrations from a stylus would never register in my opinion and don't according to this. korfaudio.com/blog19 Re the wiring .... were concerned here with rewired arms as already explained . Yes, I know you'd rewired your arm and that's a good move but in my opinion, but any arm with visible casting lines/ridges on the arm tube, is just poorly made. It's so easy to get rid of it that it's almost criminal for it to leave the factory. As for the AM version, I've never heard of a bad one so that's a first for me. I don't want anyone thinking that I'm hating on Rega arms, because I'm not. I thoroughly enjoyed mine on the Inspire Quest TT, but there are levels. My post is about the levels that exist between the best in class arms and the budget friendly arms like the regas and its also about being told to not listen with my eyes.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2019 8:46:54 GMT
If I didn't have my FX1200, I would probably have gone for a 10" Jelco.
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Post by dsjr on Nov 29, 2019 9:11:43 GMT
Oliver and Ivor are both right. I found the same as Oliver, the 774 sounds so much better than any Rega I've tried, especially on the Techie. The difference in presentation is quite startling. It's literally as though somebody opened a curtain between me and the music. I got rid of the Ittok too, because the 774 sounded better. Ivor is correct about the asymmetry in Rega castings not having any negative effect on arm balance. A minor load difference (if there is one) across a dual race pivot means nothing.
Oliver, the RB arms don't LOOK posh, but have you seen an RB300 type arm actually assembled at the factory? Have you seen the very expensive tool they use to PRECISELY ream out the vertical bearing housing of the casting so the ball races are a precise tight fit? These races are hand matched and fitted to the stainless steel shafts too so there's no slop or slack as in the RB250. Sure, SME use(d) magnesium castings and hand finish them to superb standards as well as providing all the adjustments needed, but on paper, they didn't resonate any less and in fact the RB330 and siblings are even better now as Rega have tweaked the casting to remove the last vestiges of pipe resonances (so called experts like Noel Keyward always blamed the finger lift but it wasn't there at all). I repeat, the precision is where you can't see it so it's meaningless when compared to a luxury finished product that sells a lot on snobbery, at least at the prices now charged. Mind you, comparing an SME V with a Ekos SE makes me double take a bit on the Linn product... All way beyond my means now, so a moot point.
The one criticism of the RB330 is its basic facilities and standard exit wires. Nothing to do with the sonics as all it does is show up how bad many cartridges actually are, many depending on brash arm resonances to liven the sound up (Origin Live Rega bodges - as well as ProJect 'carbon fibre' arms - used to have a sodding great ringy resonance in the midrange to add some 'zing' to the sound from the cartridsge, it's all there in HFW tests). I don't know how many forum people have actually used an RB330 over the 300, it's really rather good...
Mission 774 better than an Ittok? We didn't think so at the time and I replaced my 774 with one in 1980. Was I wrong to do so? using a period LP12 I suppose I was really and the 774 used to make an AT95E sing better than I've ever heard it. Working on a 774 recently, I despaired at the shabby build and finish (and you lot think a RB300 is bad?), marveled the thing hadn't rusted away its bearings or fallen apart and was then pleasantly surprised how nice it still sounded (this one wasn't mint and had corrosion around the cartridge mounting block). Could I return to using one though? See, the 774 was the RB300 of the late 70's compared to the superior finished Ittok and other Jap sourced tonearms.
P.S. A PM chat with Scotty has reminded me of some rather nice newish tonearms at around a grand or so, so not much more than half the price of an Akito (spit) or Javelin. The newish Jelco's - 850 and 950. Lovely finish, well thought bearings and distributed by a decent straight up chap (Hugo, who used to post on AOS and now Ammonite acoustics). Well worth looking up imo.
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Post by dsjr on Nov 29, 2019 19:36:09 GMT
I've just seen what *that* G99 looks like NOW
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2019 21:55:49 GMT
Well I connected up the MCRU, Long Dog Audio PSU to my Technics earlier and wow what an upgrade over the decanted standard PSU. I've just played my copy of Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section this is the Analogue Productions remaster from 1992 and it just sounded RIGHT! Philly Joe Jones's drum solos sounded so good, Paul Chambers Bass and Red Garlands piano just came alive this is an extraordinarily good pressing and even though my modest, rattly, vibrating, budget RB300 may not be getting the best from it, it's more than good enough for me.
I bought this quite modest system because I was sick of listening to hifi and missing out on so much music because this pressing or that genre didn't get the best from my hifi which is just silly. I do not want a system that is so revealing that it renders much of my record collection unplayable what I want is to pick a record stick it on and enjoy it.
That very long and winding road to 'Hifi Heaven' leads to one place as far as I can see a computer based system, as almost everyone I know who spends a heap of money in search of the perfect invisible system almost always comes to the same conclusion and that is that vinyl reproduction has to many flaws but for me the pleasure as always is in the physical media, the act of sticking an LP on, pouring a drink, sitting back and enjoying my music, flaws and all.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 6:57:00 GMT
I have my invisible digital system as well, bumptious vinyl often wins the choice of media for a proper listening session. Digital is great for listening to new stuff though, as it is pretty much low cost.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 8:43:24 GMT
I have a low level digital system ( Chromecast >> Musical Fidelity V DAC) for trying out new music, casual listening and for internet radio. I have had a Tidal membership for going on 4 years now which is also very handy on the go and for travelling as you can download music and play it offline and all for the price of an LP per month. My other half always uses the streaming service now and unless I put a record on would never do so.
I have to admit that the change in sound quality from the earliest streaming is incredible and if I where starting out from scratch without owning a single record would I bother with all the messing about with record players, arms, carts and phono stages probably not but as things stands with the level of equipment open to me vinyl just sounds right where as the digital system I have and have had seems to lack some body.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 11:27:19 GMT
I am not surprised it lacks body with a chrome cast. They are not the greatest devices. Streaming some FLAC files from a PC to your DAC would probably give you a better sound, if you can be bothered.
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Post by dsjr on Nov 30, 2019 11:48:28 GMT
I use a Chromecast Audio in the main system for streaming from my laptop. Apparently, as a wireless digital-receiver it's fine and measures quite well. Not so hot from its analogue output, but it honestly doesn't 'sound' so different streaming wavs than the CD player does playing the donor disc, so I'm happy enough.. Plenty of sonic 'body' if it's there in the source material and now I can stream from my laptop with few if any glitches, the thing is used regularly...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 16:34:40 GMT
Who cares if it “measures” pk. I would much rather have your personal experience/opinion on what it sounds like, as I know you have a lot of knowledge and experience to share. I did not find mine great. It was ok for background music using Spotify premium.
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Post by dsjr on Nov 30, 2019 17:10:05 GMT
Apologies if I bring 'measurements' back into the equation. Maybe I've come full circle in all this...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2019 2:43:39 GMT
On the subject of the Chromecast to begin with I'll list all of the streaming devices I've owned over the past 3 or 4 years all of which have suffered the same lack of body.
Naim Unitiqute 2, Naim ND5XS, Naim ND5XS/Chord 2Qute Raspberry Pi 3/Digi Pro/Chord 2Qute SOtM SMS 100/Chord 2Qute Innous Zen Mini/Chord 2Qute Naim Uniti 2
All of the above sounded very good but compared to my vinyl front end it lacked something and for want of a better word I've called it body, flesh on the bones, depth and although it doesn't sound as good as some of the above the Chromecast / V DAC / V PSU isn't a million miles away and is completely satisfactory for my needs and for the £130 I paid is a stone cold bargain.
It can with the right stream from Tidal or Quboz (I never really cared for Spotify)sound very good indeed but only via it's optical output into a decent DAC. Like a lot streaming players again with the right stream or a 320kbps radio stream it can sound crystal clear and dead quiet with great detail but it's somewhere in the midrange and the lower bass that it can lose a bit to a decent TT.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2019 10:50:48 GMT
Has anyone tried one of those isolation platforms under a Techie ? I've got a Custom Designs 'I-RAP' platform under the Gyrodec but I think mebee it'd do the SL more good. It's a bitch to get out cos of the 6 ball bearings ( 4 as standard but I had it made with 6 for the Gyrodec weight ) which sit under the holes drilled through the 3 layer steel and polymer or something plate. So rather than wrestle with it I thought I'd ask first.
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Post by antonio on Dec 11, 2019 11:29:07 GMT
I believe only you can decide. Get it tried and report back before Xmas.
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