http://rapidshare.com/files/126713680/VenusCardas.aiff.html
And here's the third track.
I should have the fluid damper in a couple of weeks so we can compare that as well. |
Hi again - I'm starting with the Cardas-rewire-to-RCA mod, so there will be another interconnect in the mix too. This will probably arrive at KAB by Saturday, so as soon as it is upgraded and shipped back, I'll record and post the results. The fluid damper will follow soonafter. |
Thanks for the advice, gentlemen!
Zenblaster, I am indeed considering different cartridges as well. I am extremely curious about the AT ML150, the Denon 160, and the Grado Prestige Gold. If the Benz Glider wasn't so expensive, I'd try that too. |
James1969- Thanks! Pure Vinyl looks really fun. Unfortunately, recording at 192KHz would require me to buy a new computer as well as the interface :)
I am toying with the idea of archiving /digitizing people's analog audio and video as a business, but right now I'm only recording vinyl for comparison. |
Just an update - I spoke with Kevin this afternoon - I should have my 'table back with the Cardas re-wire in 5 days or so - hopefully by Saturday, but by next week on the outside. Hooray!
I will, of course, post results as soon as things are settled in. I can hardly wait. |
Turntable arrived tonight - The sound is completely different - way, way more "air" and treble sparkle. I'm going to let things settle in for a few hours, then I'll post some "just out of the box" recordings later today. |
Here are two "fresh from KAB" audio samples using my SL1210 with the Cardas Tonearm Rewire mod. This is after about 2 hours use only.
http://rapidshare.com/files/126702193/TooManyPeopleCardas.aiff.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/126688160/7StepsToHeavenCardas.aiff.html
(I have had several failed attempts to upload Venus but I'll try again in a bit.)
My initial impression as written early this morning (way more "air" etc...) was based on listening through my newer integrated amp (NAD 304) - When I switched back to the same phono stage as last time (NAD 7100), the sound was still airier, but only slightly.
So far, these setups sound very, very similar to me. I am using 18 year old AQ Ruby (1m) interconnect... no idea what the capacitance is (no meter and no word from Audioquest yet) so I may not even be loading the cart properly.
Perhaps some of you have more resolving systems than mine and can hear greater differences? I'll be interested to hear your impressions.
Have fun!
-Joel |
I got the KAB Fluid Tonearm Damper yesterday, didn't sleep much last night :)
The fluid damper does everything I had hoped for - namely to help my cartridge track sibilants better, deeper bass, everything.
For me, the fluid damper made the biggest and most obvious change in the system, though I have to be up front: I also swapped out the cables to proper, low-capacitance (the $22 mogami "Blues" that Kevin sells) cables before testing the damper, so I may have made two significant upgrades at once.
In any case I am so happy with my setup right now. Cymbals no longer spit, they shimmer. Bass lines dig deep but don't ring/resonate/overwhelm so much, they just... ROCK! Hard to track vocals sound *right*, with none of the irritating edge from mistracking.
Strangely, I'm more drawn into the music even with mediocre recordings - and I was excited listening to my three stand-by testing tracks which I assure you I was quite bored by in the recent past. It is this ability to keep my interest, to stir the passion that has made me so immediately happy.
I am once again having trouble uploading to rapidshare, but I'll get the needle-drops posted shortly. Viva KAB usa!
-Joel |
Here it is, the first recording of my Technics 1210 with cardas tonearm re-wired, fluid damped tonearm, and low capacitance phono cable connected via RCA jacks:
Miles Davis, "Seven Steps To Heaven" from a 90s Columbia standard-issue "Seven Steps..." LP.
http://rapidshare.com/files/130059669/7StepsFinal.aif.html
I think you'll be able to hear the difference in this one. |
Fluid-damped!
Paul McCartney, "Too Many People" from the original US Apple pressing of RAM:
http://rapidshare.com/files/130169278/TooManyPeopleFinal.aif.html
Venus will be along soon I hope. |
Yes, if I were to limit myself to only one upgrade, it would be the KAB fluid damper. I will qualify this by my preferences:
I really hate mistracking, and I was considering selling my 2m Blue cart for that reason, but the damper seems to have alleviated that issue. Vocals are pleasant and present, not overly edgy and irritating as they were before.
I have my 1210 sitting on a nice rack, but I haven't done much to further isolate it. The damper improves mechanical isolation which contributes to the increased bass response I'm so happy with. You have lots of isolation going on, so I'm not sure the damper will yield as big an improvement in your system.
I do agree with another Audiogoner who once posted that with the damper engaged, each musical event seems to have much less of an impact on the others, eg a tympani hit seems quite separate from the delicate vocal on the Beatles' "Mother Nature's Son".
With my previous phono stage, the cardas re-wire didn't make a giant improvement, which was disappointing. At least my upgrade-curiosity is assuaged and I can just listen to music again :)
I hope this helps!
-Joel |
Fluid-damped!
Holst, "Venus" from The Planets conducted by Adrian Boult, Angel 1967 LP.
http://rapidshare.com/files/130177569/VenusFinal.aif.html
Thanks for playing along!
Though I have the external power-supply socket installed, I don't think I'll be getting that upgrade - at least for a while.
I'd love to hear your feedback. |
Hi Kublakhan - If you look at my first post, all three songs without any KAB mods are posted.
My posts from July 3rd (there are two separate posts) have all three songs with the cardas re-wire only.
Finally, my posts from 7/16 (there are three with links) have the same songs but recorded with cardas rewire, fluid damper, and inexpensive low capacitance mogami cable.
I hope that helps, let me know if you need any more help.
-Joel |
Hi Ron -
Another audio-goner and I are trying to determine why the levels are changed... it's possible i had the rumble filter "off" for the last recording, but I can't account for the level differences other than I blew it on the recording.
I went straight into my MBox with the gain turned all the way down... I may have selected "mic" input instead of "line" which would account for level differences.
Which are you hearing as louder or softer? I am not able to get to this for a bit, but new recordings may be in order. I apologize for any confusion that I may have inadvertantly caused.
At this point, I can obviously only do a "with damper" vs "without damper" since the re-wire is a done deal.
I'll try to look at this and post more next week. |
New Samples!
I spent some time creating more controlled "Damped VS Undamped" recordings today. I'm using a different phono preamp so I went ahead and changed the songs up - I was tired of those first three, weren't you?
The songs are:
Led Zeppelin, "The Song Remains The Same" from a 90s German LP:
http://rapidshare.com/files/135720240/Song_Remains_Undamped.aif.htm
http://rapidshare.com/files/135720239/Song_Remains_Damped.aif.html
Holst, "Mercury" from The Planets,conducted by Adrian Boult, Angel 1967 LP.
http://rapidshare.com/files/135720237/MercuryUndamped.aif.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/135720236/MercuryDamped.aif.html
These were done within a few minutes of each other and were recorded identically l in every way except for the presence or non-presence of the KAB Fluid Damper.
This should provide a clearer picture of what the damper does. Good luck! |
It is worth noting that a good portion of what the KAB Damper does can't be demonstrated with a recording. Things like the elimination of woofer pumping and major reduction of acoustic feedback due to high volume levels are benefits that aren't shown here.
Still, the increased soundstage, better delineated musical events, and vastly improved tracking make the KAB fluid damper my favorite upgrade. |
Resurrecting this ancient thread - I just purchased a Technics SL-1700 MK II, from a fellow Audiogoner. it has more metal in the chassis, and it suspended (just barely). In any case, it sounds very different: brighter, more robust, more "alive" sounding than the modern 1200.
I am considering getting the KAB Fluid Damper for this 'table and making it my main rig for the digitizing business. If this happens, I'll post before-and-after audio clips.
Meanwhile, has anyone had experience modifying an SL-1700 with the KAB stuff? |
