SPU Royal N'ing it up
After much (well some) thought I took the plunge.
Coolgales delivered next day as email / tracking said...
Mounted her up - they supplied some nice headshell leads to so the 33PTG can stay all plumbed in as I used the Sumiko Litz ones on the Techi headshell that suited the cart mass wise.
Set it up as the AT33PTG overhang and cart angle and it was almost spot on against the gauges so just a little tweak - checked the azimuth with a spirit level and of course the VTA - done on a 160g disk so it's in the middle of 120 / 200g.
Made up a heavier counterweight in brass. 90g verses the 79g of the original - will play around with mass more. Sod perfect finish polishing out the chuck jaw marks tonight I want to hear the SPU.
It's only 200uV but works pretty well with about 3 more clicks on the TVC - won't go VERY loud but I don't do that too often.
Might need some SUT's at some point though...
So how does it sound - quite honestly it's breathtakingly good - superb! I am so happy - I need to listen to Mr Coco's recommendations more - expensive though they are!
I'm playing the Armstrong Ellington together again the detail and togetherness, smoothness, ease, character and impact are all better than I've heard before - with these speaker (tuned as they are for my room now) I have not heard such a satisfying all round sound ever I think - Love to give that SP-10 another even closer run for it's money sometime
I'm hearing details to the bass, muted trombone and cornet that I just could not hear yesterday when mat testing. Can't be bothered a mat testing this evening.
Things obviously not even run in yet too!
Its quiet in the groove too!
Wife and kids came in and commented - that jazz is good! - reminded them of Aristocats :-)
Next disc... Vivaldi - playing as I type - same experience - a rich depth and tonality I could not imagine possible. It's not on loud but it's as is if all hell (in a good way) breaks loose when the full orchestration kicks in.
I will be told to turn it down = off soon - might have to cut over the Stax - not a patch on the SOH amp / GRF's though. Bloody brill cabs!
The 33 PTG is a fine cart for the money - This baby is in a different league and gives the kind of sound I love.
That's it upgrade wise for a while now. The PL-71 arm / modded techi certainly works very well on this.
This PL-71 mat is fine too but that's another thread about Copper mat vs PL-71 mat...!
Some pics - they don't do the sound justice though.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by dmckean
