Changing from an XV1-S

Thanks Mike.

I think I'll go the A90 route as someone else just told me it's the ONLY way to go. I'm just looking for more realism. The Cadenza Black sounded more 'real' than the XV1-S which maybe down to the newer technology. The XV1-S was better in some areas but not all.

I'll see how long it'll take my dealer to get hold of one.

Hi all

well so many differing view points.

Macdadtexas...
No hum at all but that could be to do with siting the turntable correctly. I make sure that the arm/cartridge sees no power supply or magnetic field. I used a Benz Glider for about 4 months again with no problems.
What phono stage are you using and what gain setting?
I use 65dB/ 100ohms on a Whest PS.30RDT SE. No hum or hiss or anything that shouldn't be there.

Not interested in the Soundsmith Moving Iron stuff. I just can't get into it...

The XV1-S is very good but I heard with my own ears improvements with the Ortofon Cadenza Black. I doubt very much the A90 will not work in the Classic - of course it will work BUT I also know I don't need to spend a trillion $ or £ to get the best out of the A90. I have had about 10 guys all say - get the A90. One user is a Linn LP12/Ekos user.... now what do you say about that?

The XV1-S is very good but is old technology now. There are definitley cartridges out there that are cheaper and better. The A90 is about $1000 cheaper than the XV1-S... nuff said.

I will eventually change the Classic but for now I love the BIG sound.

Frogman. What I liked about the Ortofon was the speed and 'etched' realism that the XV1-S seamed to lack in comparison.

The XV1-S was better than the Black in a lot of areas such as overall detail and 'togetherness' - the performance sounded like a whole and not just separate instruments playing a tune, if that makes any sense.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the XV1-S but I know I can get more my going over to something else, even if it is cheaper.

The technology that goes into the A90 is pretty new and I don't actually know of any other company using it, that's why I say the XV1-S is getting on.

As to the Soundsmith...it is just bias I suppose but I can't pull myself to listen to a moving iron. I cannot see myself buying a moving iron - simple as that. I'm sure we are all biased in some way or another?

Hi Audiofeil

Your last statement makes a lot of sense. I think I will leave this one to my ears and wallet and that is it.

I think I need that audiophile dictionary. Where do I buy one from?

When I said etched it was more like 'vivid' as mikelavigne says.

I have a chance to compare my XV1-S with an A90, Lyra Skala and ZYX Airy 3. My not so local dealer has these that I can try. I will also be using my VPI Classic.
Not sure what system we will be using BUT as long as all the cartridges are played in the same system...that should tell me something???? shouldn't it?

So what do you guys do when you want to upgrade your cartridge? From some of the comments I have read, it looks like it's not worth upgrading or changing.

Dan_ed

Heat... not too good with taking it.

I have made up my mind that I want to change the XV1-S as I am looking for something better. I like the rest of the system... is that so bad?

Yes, the VPI Classic costs £2200 and the XV1-S £3300 and it seems the wrong way to do things BUT I know I can get more from this setup.

Eventually I may ditch the Classic but for now it is staying.

Thom..

Are you saying I can only change my cartridge or any other peice of gear as long as I have a valid reason? That is utter rubbish! If I won the lottery tomorrow and decided to buy a Walker Audio Promixxxxx and then burn it, that is up to me. It is pretty much up to me how I spend my bucks.
I remember throwing my first turntable (Technics 1200) at a wall back in the early 80's, because my then girlfriend really pissed me off.

As for where I am based...you are so far off it's a joke. I'm about 470 away from the Linn factory in a small city called London.

I think the problem here is that nobody here has heard my system or heard what changes came about by changing the XV1-S.

I'll get back to you guys about this after I have done the demo at the dealers place.

dan said -
'Yes, but some of us have heard much of your system. Which is why we think some of the reasoning you posted is bollocks. NO reason at all makes more sense than some of what you posted'

Really... how on earth can you isolate one component when listening to a whole? You may have heard my preamp but you would not know what it sounds like in my system. There are too many variables involved in audio. Your statement makes absolutely no sense at all.

thom

The problem with forums is the lack of eye contact, hand gestures and those small things that vocalising can only do. 'I hang out on a climbing forum' - was that meant to be a pun?

OK...

Let's put down some previous points.

1. I am VERY happy with the sound of my system
2. I love the look of the VPI Classic
3. I tried another cartridge which sounded (in some areas) better than the XV1-S - IN SOME AREAS
4. I'm going to see if changing to an A90 or something else
will increase the performance level of my already great system.
5. I live in London which is about 470 miles away from the Linn factory :)

That is pretty much it. I also own a larger system in my other home but for this one I would like it to sound better around the VPI Classic which I am very fond of.

T_bone

If you walked into a room with 10 pieces of audio product including cables in the system and had never heard the room before BUT was only familiar with the tonearm, do you think you could pick out what the tonearm was doing?

Well I did the demo.

The system was a Feickert Woodpecker which is very nice looking with their own 10" tonearm. We compared the XV1-S, Ortofon A90 and Cadenza Black, Lyra Titan and a Musicmaker III (Moving Iron ?).
the rest of the system was Ayra phonostage, preamp and Acoustic Energy AE 1 MK3.

The overall system sound was quite neutral and musical which was nice.

So to start we used the XV1-S for about 20 minutes so I could get used to the sound. The XV1-S was very different sounding in this system but then that is what I would expect. But it took me about the whole 20 mins to get used to it.

The overall sound with the XV1-S was very good. Very well defined with a nice soundstage and great imaging. I prefer my system sound and presentation but so what.

Next up was the Ortofon A90. This was in a different league. You really can't compare the two of them. The XV1-S is a really good MC whereas the A90 plays above that level and presents the musical stage as if you were listening to a final mix on a master tape. The A90 is also much more musical as it allows you to enjoy the LP and not think about what it's doing right or wrong.
I can say across the whole audio band the A90 is something VERY different.

Back to the XV1-S to adjust my ears. The step down from the A90 was even bigger than going up to it!
Anyway 30 mins later and a cup of coffee... the Lyra Titan went on. Not my bag at all. I'm not too sure if it was because of the A90 that I didn't really like the Titan or because the laid back presentation that I wasn't keen on, but it wasn't for me. The XV1-S I definitely preferred by quite a margin. The Titan would probably suite classical listeners than any other genre. Anyway it wasn't for me.

Next and the last was the Musicmaker. After listening to the XV1-S, A90, Lyra Titan the Musicmaker was an eye opener. It confirmed to me that the 1970's sound is still around! I could NEVER EVER go to an MM or MI. It is really like going back it time. OK it costs about a 1/4 of the others so it's not a fair comparison. Anyway at least I know that MM or MI is not for me.

The Dr Feickert Woodpecker is really nice. I love the design and costs about £1000 more than the VPI Classic. I like the fact it can take any 9" - 12" tonearm on a sliding base - nice touch. It also makes the Classic look a bit cheap. I maybe borrowing one later to see what it is like in my system.

So, what I thought would happen actually happened. It also proves the VPI Classic can tell small differences between cartridges. The XV1-S and Cadenza Black were played side by side at the very end for about 10 mins. The Cadenza Black in this system also has a more vivid presentation around images. It's soundstage is not as big as the XV1-S nor is the bass as good BUT there are small things the XV1-S cannot do which you hear in the Cadenza Black but more so (read: loads) in the A90.

The XV1-S is extremely good though but if you want what some consider the very best, and I can see why, check out the A90. It is VERY different in what it does and how it does it BUT you may end up falling in love with it.

Well guys I have the A90. It certainly is different looking. A skinny looking thing.

Chashasl - 'Threadster poses question, two very reputable dealers give sound advice, and threadster ignores advice'. Most dealers have their own pockets in mind....nuff said.

The A90 is a lot better than the XV1-S and it's a no brainer. For anyone who thinks otherwise, do youself a favour and listen to one. It is an eye opener. From cold it sounds good! Not brash or harsh like other MCs, just nice, a bit over smooth but that's a good thing for the first 20 or so hours..it means your ears don't bleed for the run-in period. 20 or so hours later and you can throw the XV1-S in the bin. Yes, the A90 is that good. It possesses a quality that sets it way apart from the XV1-S.
I hope that XV1-S users here aren't offended because I get the feeling that all you need to do here is say something 'negative' about a product and you are cast away.
Well XV1-S uers... the A90 is MUCH better, just like the VPI Classic is better than a Rega 3. It is REALLY hard to put into words how the A90 excels because out of all the MCs I've ever owned, this is the only one that sounds 'right' and plays music and does not sound hifi - if you know what I mean.

The Musicmaker question.... sounded 'thick' and muddy compared to the XV1-S. Also the Musicmaker has a 'mirky' soundstage but this is comparing it to the XV1-S. If compared to something in its $$$ range it might stand tall.

Yeh...I'm not a Classical head. I can't stand classical music which is why I think Lyra cartridges are good for classical :))

The Feickert Woodpecker I am seriously thinking about, I just need to put it up against my VPI to hear what it is like. Most tables today look like spaceships...the nice thing about the Woodpecker...it looks like a turntable IMHO.

Bring on the backlash... but to be honest I am over the moon with the A90. I have heard of a few folks buying 2 of them.... if I had the need (not the funds) I'd do the same.