Turntable advice / opinion on setup / sound.
Hello all you analog experts. I am seeking some advice, opinions and direction to try, based on my tastes and setup.
I’m not loving my current TT sound but there are variables that could cause this. For reference, my favorite TT I ever owned was the ClearAudio Champion Level 2 (wish I never sold it) because it was warm and had a huge stage.
- I listen to every style of music, smooth jazz to hard metal.
- I have to turn the volume way up to get the get the level I like which at times has hiss and a tiny bit of hum. Compared to digital sources which have none of these issues.
- I find this setup to lack huge stage and warmth.
My current system is:
- Rega Planar 8 w/ Alpheta 2 MC cart.
- Cambridge Audio -> Alva Duo Phono Pre amp
- Mark Levinson -> No 585 Amp.
- Martin Logan 15a Renaissance -> 8FT apart/ 3ft off the front wall and 3 FT from each side wall. I sit 9FT away from the speakers.
The turntables I am considering are:
1) Musical Fidelity -> M8XTT
What cart would you use?
2) Michell Audio -> Gyro SE Turntable
3) Clear Audio Champion Level 2
Thank you all in advance for any guidance and opinions you can offer.
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- 185 posts total
One issue I have had in mind well before this discussion is azimuth adjustment. With no data to back me up, I would wager that the net effect of having the capacity to adjust azimuth is more harmful than good, specifically in cases where the stylus tip ends up at an angle to the groove walls that places assymetrical forces on the diamond. I was convinced of this both by reading the article by Korf on azimuth and also by my personal experience as a slave to the goal of equal crosstalk in both channels. This led me to wear out a stylus prematurely. These days I am happy to set the stylus tip at a 90 degree angle to the groove. There was a time when no tonearm offered azimuth adjustment. Then there was a time when every "high end" tonearm had to offer azimuth adjustment or be shunned by the cognoscenti. |
You are ignoring that OP bought an Ortofon Cartridge, thankfully the height is designed to match Rega's 14mm height so no shims are needed, thus VTA should automatically be correct. "I just purchased the Manley Chinook Special Edition MkII Phono Preamp and the Ortofon 2MR Black LVB 250 cartridge" However, it has two holes, located in it's body, perhaps differently than Rega cartridges. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0756/9247/4651/files/Cartridges_Dimension_Chart.pdf?v=1756199293 So, the auto locating 3 point attachment that Rega has designed will not automatically locate this cartridge. Thus, what I am asking for is NEEDED to do it right. Anyone with a RB880 Protractor could simply measure the distance from centerline of spindle to the two null points on the protractor, and TELL US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seems to me that everyone is so busy resisting my request and I am simply saying: "I could not properly mount his cartridge without knowing the two null point distances" |
Recently, there have been SEVERAL threads about non-rega cartridges on Rega TT’s. SEVERAL!!!!!! People want Rega TT’s, but many want to choose their own cartridges. And, I’m sure many who buy them did not realize the arm height is NOT adjustable and must be changed by shims which are NOT included. We should help them do it RIGHT. I have to wonder how many people have 'too tall' cartridges, 16; 16.5; 18mm heights: without shims, thus VTA is wrong and they have no idea. |
RB880 Tonearm, screenshot of the template (partial) Rega cartridges have 3 holes, on their centerline, and are thus automatically aligned. They also provide conventional slots for non-Rega cartridges
Now that I can see it large enough, I realize Rega only gives a single null point if you use a non-Rega cartridge Can anyone measure from the centerline of the spindle hole to the cross point ____MM reminder, I read separately somewhere the RB880 Overhang is 14.5mm thanks, Elliott |
- 185 posts total