2. analog
  3. 1210174395

I walked into a dealer and got a shock....

I walked into a local Hi-Fi dealer with what I thought was just a turntable (Reaga P25 with Sumiko Blackbird Cart) needing minor repair. My vinyl sound has been a bit thin and the platter was making a grinding noise at startup and sometimes needing a push to get the platter moving. I described the rest of my system (Pro-Ject Tube Box SE II, Linn Kollektor, Mac MC402, Dali MS5's) and the size of my room (14x16) and the fact that the CD playback (Marantz DV7600)
It was suggested that my system was not matched and basically "too much electronics for a room that size". They recommended I replace the Linn preamp and the Mac Amp with an Audio Research VSi55 integrated (tubes). The price of the AR is about half of what I paid for the items that would be replaced. I understand price does not always equal performance. But I am shocked, especially since I just bought these items. Any thoughts on this suggested combination?
azmoon

Showing 2 responses by newbee

newbee
4,751 posts
 
You need a dealer who can repair your analog front end, not editorialize on your home system in an attempt to make a sale. You don't have 'too much electronic's' for a room that size. If the combo of the Mac and the Dali's float your boat be happy. Now if you don't like some aspect of the sound and your dealer was just responding to an observation from you about the sound, thats a different situation. (BTW, I have an old Oracle table which has always squeaked on start up and which I have always nudged a bit to get it up to speed faster - its never affected the sound.

If your system's sound is new to you because of the change of components (speakers, amps) perhaps you are hearing a mis-match. If only the TT/Cartridge/Phono stage are new, perhaps you need to work on cartridge set up, specifically VTA.

Personally, I think I'd not like the combo of an ARC amp and the Dali's from what little I know about their character from reading about the Dali's and ownership of some other ARC products.

But the bottom line is if YOU like what you have relax and enjoy it. :-)
newbee
4,751 posts
 
IMHO, using a TT with an arm that does not allow VTA adjustment is not a fatal problem, just restrictive and a PITA to set up. The problem usually arrises out of the differnt thickness of LP's which you might play. If your original set up is calculated for 180gm LP's it won't sound as good when you play 200gm or stuff thinner than 180 gm. You can do some down and dirty adjustments by just selecting mats platter mats of different thicknesses to compensate for the difference in thickness of the LPs so that you can always have an 'in the ball park' setting. An arm with an easily adjustible VTA is preferable. The other possibility which would help would be selecting a cartridge with a stylus that wasn't a line-source type, more conical in shape, and not as in need of an absolutely perpendicular cantact with the record groove. Your dealer could be right but you'd sure what to hear/research what he proposed as a solution.

BTW, IMHO, unless you have a preference for a speaker/amp combo that is best described as tonally neutral and tending to sound lean and analytical, and many folks do seem to like this, I think you would be dissapointed in the short and long run. But, if its free it is not much of an effort to plug it in, let it warm up, and get a free education. That is how we all learn, I think. :-) Who knows maybe you'll love it, they are your ears, not mine, or your dealers.
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