Replacement Head Amp?????

[STD305M]

Hi All,

I'm currently using a A&R Cambridge HA10 (re capped and better connectors by Mr Firebottle )and then into my Rega Brio2017 and would like to know if I would
benefit using a MC phono stage in place of the HA10 and Brio Phono stage??
I'm using the 2Experience SB DC and Audio Technica At33Ptg cart

Suggestion Appreciated

Regards Steve...

[Barry]

What you have already is effectively an MC phonostage.

Some think that an SUT is preferable to an amplifier, but IMO to improve over what you have, you will need to spend quite a bit: even more so if you choose to use an SUT.

[STD305M]

Thanks for the reply Barry
I just wondered if i got a reasonably good MC phono stage whether it would be better than what im using now

Steve...

[Firebottle]

You omitted to say that the HA10 has been re-capped with far superior capacitors (and connectors) than those originally fitted when new.

Both Oliver's and my opinion is that it was very close in performance to the superb Denon head amps, so I'd stick with what you have.
Unless of course you want to change to a quality valve MM stage ........

[STD305M]

Hi Alan,

I didn't realizes the head amp had been re-capped, only thought the lead on the back had been changed.
Thanks for letting me know...
Post now edited.
Dont think i wish to go back to mm, sooo much more detail with the Mc, just wondered if i could
get a little more from the cart by going to a dedicated mc phono stage.
Guess i need to get need a Zyx some day.

Anyone got one they would like to part with???

Steve...

[Bigman80]

Hi Alan,

I didn't realizes the head amp had been re-capped, only thought the lead on the back had been changed.
Thanks for letting me know...
Post now edited.
Dont think i wish to go back to mm, sooo much more detail with the Mc, just wondered if i could
get a little more from the cart by going to a dedicated mc phono stage.
Guess i need to get need a Zyx some day.

Anyone got one they would like to part with???

Steve...

Let me clarify a little,

I had a Rothwell MCX SUT, Denon HA-500 and the HA-10 here all at the same time.

Whilst they all performed admirably, the HA-10 wasn't necessarily "the best", it was my personal favourite.

The Denon had more detail and the soundstage on the MCX was deeper and wider BUT the HA-10 was more enjoyable to me. The MCX didn't work for me and I really still can't put my finger in why. The Denon wasn't a great match with the Kontrapunkt b due to probably both emphasising the detail aspect and the combo lost some soul. The HA-10 had bags of soul, and "enough" detail and when the low cost (compared to the other two) came into my mind it seemed like an utter bargain.

There's nothing wrong with the HA-10. It can be bettered mind you. A pair of HM-3's would smash it to shit for instance.

[STD305M]

Let me clarify a little,

I had a Rothwell MCX SUT, Denon HA-500 and the HA-10 here all at the same time.

Whilst they all performed admirably, the HA-10 wasn't necessarily "the best", it was my personal favourite.

The Denon had more detail and the soundstage on the MCX was deeper and wider BUT the HA-10 was more enjoyable to me. The MCX didn't work for me and I really still can't put my finger in why. The Denon wasn't a great match with the Kontrapunkt b due to probably both emphasising the detail aspect and the combo lost some soul. The HA-10 had bags of soul, and "enough" detail and when the low cost (compared to the other two) came into my mind it seemed like an utter bargain.

There's nothing wrong with the HA-10. It can be bettered mind you. A pair of HM-3's would smash it to shit for instance.

Hi Oliver,
Thanks for the comparison, Ive been more than happy so far with the HA - 10, as you say it has bags of soul, very musical indeed, I just thought i might have gotten a little more zing and snap with a mc phono stage change, I guess not . Perhaps its the limitation of the At33ptg cart.

No idea what HM-3s are.

Regards Steve...

[Bigman80]

Hashimoto HM-3 SUT.

Very good.

Hi Oliver,
Thanks for the comparison, Ive been more than happy so far with the HA - 10, as you say it has bags of soul, very musical indeed, I just thought i might have gotten a little more zing and snap with a mc phono stage change, I guess not . Perhaps its the limitation of the At33ptg cart.

No idea what HM-3s are.

Regards Steve...

[julesd68]

Hi Oliver,
Thanks for the comparison, Ive been more than happy so far with the HA - 10, as you say it has bags of soul, very musical indeed, I just thought i might have gotten a little more zing and snap with a mc phono stage change, I guess not . Perhaps its the limitation of the At33ptg cart.

I don't think the cart is holding back your system at all Steve. I would be amazed if you didn't get a lot more out of it if you had a decent MM phonostage with SUT or head-amp.
If it was me I'd be looking to upgrade the Brio before the 33.

I have the AT33PTG/II which I'm using with a CJ phono stage and Fidelity SUT - I've heard several of the more expensive AT carts but it sounds so good that I will more than likely buy another one when the time comes.

[Castroil]

Hello
I wondered what results I may get using a Rothwell Headspace with my EAR 834p? I have heard that the step-up transformers in the EAR can be improved upon by using seperate transformers when on MC. What would this Rothwell headspace acheive over the Built in transformers in the EAR?

Thanks
Adrian

"MC phonostage" is too vague a term to make any reliable predictions as to how it may perform. Here a few possibilities as to what "an MC phonostage" could mean:

1) An op-amp-based circuit set for high gain (ie low loop feedback). Most of the mm/mc phonostages at the cheaper end of the spectrum are like this. They simply have a switch that changes a resistor value in the feedback loop to give higher gain for MC cartridges.

2) An MM phonostage with an on-board headamp. This type of design has a circuit for MM operation and an additional circuit before it to raise MC cartridges up to MM levels. The set-up you have now is effectively this, but in two separate boxes. The design could be all op-amp, or it could be op-amps in the MM stage and discrete transistors in the headamp part. Or it could use any combination/permutation of op-amps, bi-polar transistors, FETs or valves. My Rialto phonostage is an " MM phonostage + headamp" type and uses discrete transistors throughout.

3) An MM phonostage with on-board step-up transformers. These are less common because transformers are expensive, but EAR phonostages work this way, with valves as the active devices for the MM section. My own Signature One phonostage is like this but uses transistors in the MM section.

There are just too many possible ways to execute an "MC phonostage" to lump them all together and say definitively one would/wouldn't out-perform your current setup.
BTW, if you wanted to buy a different headamp there aren't many on the market - but I make one. It's called the Headspace
http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co....c_headamp.html

Here are a couple of reviews from other forums:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.p...mbs-up.817174/

https://hifiwigwam.com/forum/topic/1...omment-2018258