How to achieve Audio Heaven
Ha! That title pulled you in didn't it ... !
At this point, then, I can tell you that it was a question, not a statement. This thread is really a transfer or a continuation of a discussion that was half-started in my introductory post last week over on the Welcome forum. In it, I was bellyaching about having got "lost in hi-fi", and I received this kind invitation from Barry:
"Welcome to AoS Gary,
We seem to be of a similar age, have had a similar start in hi fi and similar tastes in music (I still have my copy of 'Five Bridges' ).
If you can give us an idea of the "sound you like", then we might be able to help. Or alternatively, list the cartridges/phonostages you have tried, which obviously haven't done it for you. By the way what arm are you using with your Garrard? That might have a bearing on your choice of cartridge."
It all started with an intended upgrade (how many times have we heard that?). I was taken with a desire to replace my Notts Analogue turntable with a Garrard 401 - I have a liking for things that are a bit funky and backward-looking. That was the easy bit - a nice 401 was located, purchased and installed. I also decided to treat myself to a new arm to go with it. The SME M2-R (the pretty "J"-shaped one) looked like the right sort of aesthetic for a 401, and gets highly positive reviews. so that was acquisition no.2. All good so far - looks wonderful. Imagine my horror, though, when I fitted my much-loved Music Maker III cartridge and lowered the needle on my first record, to find that they just wouldn't work together! The cartridge was furiously agitated and unstable; you could see it wobbling fast from side to side as soon as the needle touched the grooves, and it would mis-track badly at every opportunity. So out it came and was replaced by my Decca Gold. Both these cartridges had lived and worked very happily for years in a Hadcock arm on my NA turntable. The Decca fared a bit better in the new arm than the Music Maker, but not much. Certainly not stable or happy enough to stay like that. So the hunt was on for a new cartridge. Being a moving magnet loyalist I bought a second-hand Nagaoka MP500 with low hours on it. Well, that's a lovely cartridge - sumptuously rich, detailed and so civilised, plus it tracks like a tank. But I thought it was lacking a bit of top-end "bite", so where next? Well, all the smart advice would say "don't complicate things! don't change anything else in the system until you have sorted this out!". So what did I do? I bought an Audio Note phono stage, thinking I would retire my Croft Epoch and just go for a direct-coupled source-to-power amp set-up like I used to have years ago. The thinking was OK, but unfortunately the phono stage didn't sound right to me when it arrived and I set it up - too much hum and valve roar. I tried it this way and I tried it that way and with every cartridge I possessed, but it still didn't seem right, so in disgust I ordered an NVA Phono 2, which hasn't arrived yet. Meanwhile the Croft has been re-installed in the system and sounds fab, like it always does. (Why do we do this to ourselves?) Meanwhile, on the cartridge front - remember that - I acquired an Audio Technica AT33, with an inexpensive AT step-up transformer, to try and find out what the magic of moving coils is all about. Crikey! If I thought that the Nagaoka lacked a little bit of top end bite, this fellow nearly took my head off! To be fair, after fifteen hours or so playing it sweetened up a lot and sounds really good. It does however really let you know if the quality of the recording or pressing is a bit toppy. I would say this one is a keeper (hooray!), but I suppose my really ideal sound would be somewhere pitched between the Nag and the AT. Back in the land of phono stages, the Dutch dealer who sold me the Audio Note is refusing to answer my emails or phone calls, so it looks like the chances of returning that to him are slim. So I have determined to persevere with it (which is no too much of a hardship as it sounds absolutely sublime once the needle hit the groove and music drowns out the hum). I have arranged to send it to Jez (Arkless, of this parish) who will be able to sort it out for me, I'm sure. Then I'll just have three phono stages and four cartridges to juggle. Honestly - it was never meant to be like this. I know I have been a very silly boy by breaking the first law of upgrades: "one component at a time"! But I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I'll most likely stick with the AT cartridge, and assuming Jez can sort out the Audio Note phono stage, I'll be set up! But it will be a long time before I go in for any more upgrades ( ... honest!). Cheers. Infinitely Baffled.
Reply With Quote
), but I'm sure Jez can sort the Audio Note for you. Will be interesting to know where it is wanting in performance, sound rather like too much gain to me possibly.
Originally Posted by Jimbo
