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My LP couldn't beat my CD, until now

I'm an owner of a new VPI Scoutmaster w/Sumiko Blackbird cart. I, like so many recently, have returned to vinyl after a long time, seeking (as always) the absolute sound.

I'm an 80s kid; a product of the CD revolution. I enjoy my Slim Devices Transporter and all the convenience it delivers. However, I've felt that there's been something missing around music listening, and everyone's talking about analog anyway, so I took the plunge.

Imagine my disappointment when I set up my new 'table, wire it all up, and the first few albums sound flat, a little shrill and generally thin compared to a good rip of the same music off of CD.

I chalk all this up to break-in, to everything in the signal chain from the cartridge to the amp being new and untested. I'm also new at this, and have never set up a tonearm in my life (my goodness, it's a fiddly exercise).

I give it 20 hours of playing time or so, forcibly choosing not to judge. I wait patiently for everything to work in. Still, I find most recordings of everything from Pop & Rock to The Firebird Suite to be palatable and fine listening, but far from the nirvana of naturalness and organic ease everyone says is on LPs.

Well, friends, I think I've had one of those 'holy cow!' moments that come in audiophilia so rarely. A fellow AudiogoNer's recent sale just arrived at my door, and I swapped it in. It's a McCormack Micro Phono Drive, and it's made a tremendous difference in this setup. (I also changed the cable from arm to preamp from Hero to King Cobra for length, but I truly doubt that's what I'm hearing.)

My point in posting all this is to say that I never expected such an assumedly minor part of the signal chain to make such a magnificent difference in the enjoyability of LP listening.

It took a pinched soundstage and made it full-bodied. It took a somewhat shrill and tinny, crackly high end and tamed it. It filled in the bass from 'there' to 'wow'. In short, it completely saved what I thought was a flawed and disappointing attempt at analog.

I was all ready to post a 'LP can't possibly beat CD, so what are you smokin'?' message, but this one, simple thing has changed my mind! 80s kids out there, don't lose hope! there really is something to this LP scene.
forddonald
ig316b
103 posts
 
Mark51
Happy to report that Forddonald does not have your MPD. I still have it and it has now been completely overhauled by SMc Audio to Platinum + with everything that Steve could throw into it. The bad part is I received it back from them just as I was moving to Canada for my company and have yet had a chance to get everything set for a listen. I'm in the process of putting my system back together as my pair of DNA-1 Dlx Golds were taken during shipment along with a few other things. My story is almost the same as above, I was just discovering the magic of LP's. I purchased MPD from Mark51 to go with my Rega P3. Enjoyed that so much I upgraded to a Rega P25 which I liked even better. Started tweaking it with a few upgrades with added improvements, found a MPD Board that had been upgraded installed that into the MPD chassis with even more improvements. Decided to have the MPD upgraded to Gold with the outboard power supply and was in total heaven. This past fall decided to have the MPD and my McCormack TLC-1 Dlx upgraded with with everything Steve could throw at it. Well I was able to hear the TLC for a couple hours before packing it away for the shippers and if the MPD has half the improvements the TLC has then it will be a force to be listened with.

Point of the story is don't count out the SMc upgrades if your looking for some improvements, come to think of it has anyone seen any Micro Phono Drives that have been upgraded for sale here on Agon?

P.S. Mark just wanted to let you know that your Phono Drive is being well taken care of and to Thank You for making me a convert.
gilbodavid
62 posts
 
Hee Forddonald you are getting a taste of the madness that analogue engenders! It is certainly better than cd (but worse than good fm). And now you are christened into the belt vs dd vs idler and rich vs poor debates all at once. I own a Lenco, the most maligned tt yet it beat my Garrard 401! Also, Hi Fi World Magazine Editor David Price has of late been astonished by how wonderful his Technics 1200 is with a few simple mods, certainly high end, and maybe in Michel Orbe territory, the last turntable to dent his beloved Orbe - a Garrard 401! My god its a circular game this life of ours, and dont get me started on tuners, the 30 or so i have had in my system have driven me nuts, with a tuner i paid $5 currently giving me gooosebumps and epoplexy in equal measure!!!!!!!???? I need the hi fi doctor....
gilbodavid
62 posts
 
Oh, and dont get started on cartridges, or Raul might chip in with his mm favorites... heresy to the mc club hee
hanaleimike
125 posts
 
I found this thread looking for info on the Micro Phono which I am borrowing from a friend. Oddly, as a newbee to vinyl, I had my drop jawed moment of realization the day before he brought it over. The cause of this happy moment was nailing my vta. I too have a vpi (scout) and as the op described way back in 08, I found the sound to be nice, adequate, slightly better then my computer system, enjoyable, but once I hit that perfect VTA, wow. I was literally open mouth for almost 2 whole songs, stunned.
I was very surprised at how small the perfect window actually is, I used some tape to mark the adjustment, and a half a turn away and it is gone. I had read that when you found the right VTA setting, you would know it. I had played around with the VTA for a while and really thought I had it, so if you haven't played with your VTA there could be more to come?

Anyways I really like the micro, and while it was not the cause of my first vinyl moment, it clearly surpassed the last 2 phono stages I have used.

another 80's kid.
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