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turntable upgrade VPI or CLEARAUDIO?

I currently have a Well Tempered Classic V turntable with the graphite arm. I am running a Clearaudio Discovery cartridge into an Accoustec PH1P phono stage.

When playing records, I have the feeling that the Bass and transient attack is "muddy", or slow, and I seem to be missing the pace of the music. I have very good frequency responce, both low and high, but the detail is just not there.

My question is, is it better to look at a VPI TNT, or Clearaudio Reference turntable, to clean up the tempo and pace of my music? I know that I am looking at spending 4-5,000 dollars to make the upgrade(if I can locate a suitable used model here on agon) and I wonder if this would be money well spent.

For reference, here is my system:

Well Tempered Classic V turntable
Accoustec PH1P phono stage
Transparent Ultra Phono cable
Transparent Ultra XL cable, phono to preamp
Krell KAV 300i pre-amp
Transparent Ultra XL cable, preamp to amp
Krell KSA 250 amp
Transparent Super XL cable, amp to speakers
Hales REvelation 3 speakers

Thanks in advance, Brad
bfuehrer

Showing 2 responses by bfuehrer

bfuehrer OP
21 posts
 
Thanks for the help on this matter. I don't have a copy of the owner's manual, so I called and spoke with Stanalog a while back. I think that I must not have the damping correctly set for the Clearaudio Discovery cartridge to work up to potential. Any help in getting the damping level set would be greatly appreciated.

Also, my table has the 3 layer plinth, with the graphite armtube tonearm. I am thinking that I might have the arm overdamped, hence the slow bass?

Thanks again, Brad
bfuehrer OP
21 posts
 
FX, thanks for the help. I have done what I think is a good job setting up the table, as I have had quite a few, including another WT.

Regarding the silicon, when you said "covered by 1 to 2 mm", are you refering to the entire paddle immersed in fluid, or just the bottom covered, and up the sides of the white paddle 1 or 2 mm? I currently have silicone only half way up the side of the paddle puck. I would think that additional fluid would make the sound more congested, or is it the opposite of this?

I agree that Carl was very much more helpful than Stanalog, although I did get to visit with Stanalog at length last spring after a month of phone calling to reach them.

JFRECH, I am curious about your cables. You have both the ref. and ultra Transparent. Is this on purpose, or are you working your way up the line to all reference?

Brad
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