ZYX Airy 3x/SB vs. Dynavector XV-1 or 1s

Doug/Sirspeedy/Nrchy/Thom,

I truly appreciate your recommendations which will commence tonight. This will certainly be a drawn out process and just hope that I don't reach the analysis paralysis stage before achieving improved performance.

Don't get me wrong -- my analog setup certainly outperforms my digital rig -- by a big margin. And the ZYX is clearly an upgrade from my previous $1700 cartridge. I just think that there is much more room for improvement. This is my first analog gear and must admit that I am no expert in fine tuning these delicate pieces of equipment. I am able to hear the subtle changes in sound when various settings are changed -- but need to nail down a methodology for determining the best combination of settings -- just too many moving parts, literally and figuratively!

I'll start with the simple changes, e.g., Doug's recommendation on impedance and VTF, then I'll move on to the more complex ones.

Thanks again to all who offered advice. I'll post the results of my efforts.

BTW, Sirspeedy, have to been to that used record place along Rt 18 (northbound) in East Brunswick? Haven't been there lately but seem to have noticed a sign that they're closing so everything's on sale. Let me know if you need the exact location.

Ca2284,---been to that place.Not much stuff of interest,anymore.Same goes for Princeton Record exchange,which is sad,as I loved to take my wife & daughter there for Saturday brunch(in wonderful Princeton township),and then bribe the two of them,with a few dollars,for shopping,as I browsed the record bins.GOD I LOVED to do that,but ownership of that shop insists that the good discs have been snatched up,by foreign collectors.

Fortuneately for me,I have more than a lifetime's worth of good listening discs,as I've been a serious collector for about 25 years!

Best regards.

This is my first analog gear and must admit that I am no expert in fine tuning these delicate pieces of equipment. I am able to hear the subtle changes in sound when various settings are changed -- but need to nail down a methodology for determining the best combination of settings -- just too many moving parts, literally and figuratively!

Very true, and many of these adjustments are interactive. Change A and you affect B, which will in turn alter A when you try to correct. It's a great deal of fun. ;-)

Check out this article for a great how-to on VTF/VTA:

http://www.walkeraudio.com/fine_tuning_your_turntable.htm

BTW-Doug,I admit to being up,last night(Thursday),until 3 am,doing(STILL)JUST THAT.I think? I have found a way to pull a smidgen better timbral performance,by increasing the height,on the phono tubes,of the "Herbies" tube dampers.This has allowed me to "voice" a bit more,to my taste.I'm going in,for the final round,tonight,but admit I'm REALLY tired of fotzing around!!Though I'm happy my system has the ability to tell me of such minute changes.

BTW--I hope you REALLY forgave the "little" devil(on my left shoulder) vs "little angel (on the right one).I killed off the left sided terror.He should not rear his head for a long time.I hope!!!

Just an update on the progress I've made based on Doug's and Speedy's recommendations...

Although the 'brightness' issue on my ZYX/2.2 setup has not completely gone away, I believe I've made some progress. Since Friday, 11/11, I've been fine tuning SRA and VTF settings and have logged a total of 18 critical (alcohol-free) listening hours and damaged about 6 decent 180 gram LPs due to repeated playback of certain 'test' tracks. A small price to pay for the improvements gained in my opinion. I also played around a bit with the impedance setting (lowering) but was not happy with the outcome so it's still at the ZYX recommended 100 ohms.

A VTF setting of 2.05 works best in relation to my current 'almost parallel' SRA setting. Previous VTF was 1.9 and SRA was slightly 'butt lower'. All tests were done using 180 and 200 gram vinyl (both 33 and 45) but I have marked the scale to compensate for 140 gram pressings. I was able to tame down a bit of the brightness -- say about 30% (without any noticeable HF rolloff) with the new settings.

I'm now ready to move on to the next stage -- damping fluid, which appears to be the more tedious task. I don't intend to play around with the SRA and VTF settings in relation to damping fluid adjustments (sounds like a true test of patience). Should be able to report back sometime next week.

Thanks again for your recommendations.