2. analog
  3. 1065283688

OK, I said it...

Just got the new turntable running this morning. Installed the Kontrapunkt B on the Rega P9; a most nerve wracking job. Well I can't find a crow and I am not yet ready to eat some, but here are my very preliminary findings based on listening to one side of two albums (one brand new, Art Blakey's "Indestructible"), one that's been on hand for a while, (Dire Straits "Communiqué"):

my greatest peeve, surface noise: way less, but still a bother on softer cuts or portions of pieces where the volume is low;
soundstage: quite incredible;
layering of instruments: quite incredible;
natural tone of the instruments: stunning;
treble: well the cymbals are back the way I like them; sharp attack and decay when hit near the centre, sharp attack and shimmering decay when hit nearer the edge;
bass: not the subwoofer-type of bass, but the overtones are more present, that is an acoustic bass has that plummy quality.

Well I am not a "convert", in the sense at looking at the experience as crossing a threshold from where you never go back. I still think that digital is better at doing silence, which is so necessary in music, and, in letting the sound of soft music come out without the anxiety of tick and pops.

So far, I have not listened to enough music to have a real hard opinion about the merits of better analog equipment. Suffice it to say that in answer to the post wondering if any progress has been made in the last twenty years, I would have to say quite a lot. This is based on a very quick, very subjective appreciation at the moment. What is the table's, what is the arm's, what is the cartridge's contribution in all this: very hard to say, and will never be known since I have no intention of playing mix and match.

Am still using the Sumiko Phono Box for the time being. The next move is a new phono section. Is there another level yet to be achieved with that upgrade? I while back I would have been extremely sceptical, now I hope there is. What bugs me, is to have to make another leap of faith.

Well, I will keep you posted. Good day.
pbb

Showing 2 responses by audiobomber

audiobomber
11 posts
 
The Rega tonearm's lack of VTA adjustment is a serious problem when using cartridges other than Rega's own. It takes me a week or two of listening and several iterations to get VTA right. VTA is *crucial* for getting good sound and low noise. It's not impossible to set VTA optimally with a Rega arm, but it takes a hell of a lot of work and commitment to change those washers in and out. If I owned a Rega arm, I'd buy an after-market VTA adjuster.

As you've identified, an MC's low output demands a higher-quality phono stage. A Phono Box is not up to it. I heard a rumour (from UHF magazine) that the new Rega MC phono stage is very good for not much money.

I wondered also if your Ortofon is brand new. Cartridges take 40-100 hours to break in, and some are quite compromised straight out of the box.
audiobomber
11 posts
 
The Denneson is a great alignment guage but it won't help with setting VTA. That has to be done by ear.
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