Advise please: phono stage?

RothwellAudio · 10-03-2017, 15:37

Originally Posted by Reffc

With the Nag carts that I use (currently the MP-500 but I have had the 150 here too), increased capacitance does tend to make them sound quite muffled which is why I raised the capacitance issue.

Fair enough - I must admit that I don't have much experience of Nagaoka cartridges. Sounds like capacitance could be the issue.

**Stryder5** · 10-03-2017, 15:44

Originally Posted by Colinijohnson

Thanks for that, I tried reducing the capacity on the phono amp last night - if anything it sounded less "bright". I,m now suspecting the deck set up is not right and will go as far as checking the actual tracking force weight is ok & it tracks ok on my test record, but would rather leave adjustment to an expert if I can find one. Otherwise I'll buy a better phono amp.
I bought 0.5m chord phono cables & the thorens deck has standard sme cable- although I had the actual phono plugs changed for new gold plated ones as they looked tarnished.
Thanks, Colin

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I rather suspect it's not the phono amp you have issues with, it could be the arm setup, or perhaps the cable plugs that you had replaced have issues.

Probably a glaring one though unusual, a duff cartridge ?

**Stryder5** · 10-03-2017, 15:47

Originally Posted by Bigman80

Can someone go round and help this man out ? Gotta be a cockerney on here somewhere !!!!

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I think you may have offended any Cockney's on here.......lol

**Colinijohnson** · 10-03-2017, 15:50

I think you're right - if anyone knows an expert around the Croydon area I could visit. I'd be grateful, so if the cartridge is duff - I could return with confidence? Thanks

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**Stryder5** · 10-03-2017, 16:23

Originally Posted by Colinijohnson

I think you're right - if anyone knows an expert around the Croydon area I could visit. I'd be grateful, so if the cartridge is duff - I could return with confidence? Thanks

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If the cartridge is not good defo returnable.

**struth** · 10-03-2017, 16:24

Originally Posted by Colinijohnson

Thanks for that, I tried reducing the capacity on the phono amp last night - if anything it sounded less "bright". I,m now suspecting the deck set up is not right and will go as far as checking the actual tracking force weight is ok & it tracks ok on my test record, but would rather leave adjustment to an expert if I can find one. Otherwise I'll buy a better phono amp.
I bought 0.5m chord phono cables & the thorens deck has standard sme cable- although I had the actual phono plugs changed for new gold plated ones as they looked tarnished.
Thanks, Colin

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Standard sme cable and plugs are pretty decent. The plugs to usually look passed it but are fine. I still use mine as is. If you have rca cables elsewhere you could swap out the chord stuff as a trial. Not a lot to go wrong with deck as such..well you,d probably notice if there were.
Cart wrongly wired. Cart set up Head-shell and cart itself, plus phono stage are other potential culprits. Pity your at other side of country. Bound to find someone around your area. If not take it to the shop, or another shop.

**walpurgis** · 10-03-2017, 16:25

It's nice of you to offer payment for assistance Colin. But in the spirit of the forum, we'd expect anybody willing to help to do it free, barring perhaps just a small remuneration to cover out of pocket costs like fuel or postage, etc. Unless of course, you engage the services of a trade member.

**Stryder5** · 10-03-2017, 16:32

Take it all to O'Briens and ask them to test it for you, they did some of the work so should be happy to confirm all is ok or not.

Maybe a pain, but we are all pissing in the wind trying to diagnose from a distance.

**Colinijohnson** · 10-03-2017, 20:22

For those of you still with me - thanks for the input. Tonight I dug out my Hi Sound test record.... points to poor fitting of the arm & or cart since obriens removed & sent back to SME. For those familiar ... on the test for tracking & bias (side 1, test2 b&c)... I was hearing "warble" from the left speaker. Esp on track c. Same on side 2 test 3...worse on test 6. I tweaked the bias to no avail and pressure is set to max anyway.
I'm just technical to set up the arm myself & reluctant to return to dealer as I've lost faith tbh. If anyone knows someone, or a local dealer who is recommended - please advise.

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**Colinijohnson** · 10-03-2017, 20:24

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