Stock 1210 PS: to minimize EMI interferences, better MC or MM?

[Ubik]

Dears, I recently received it in in stock form as I wanted to appreciate it without any severe mod. Consequently have it with Rega 202 and (MM) Goldring 2400. It's already an eye opener. You put a record, enjoy, then another, and then you want more, of all this.....
Now, I am not that convinced yet the next step is the PS change or better said, that the PS should be my first upgrade:
So forgive me if I plann to postpone this later and concentrate on arm/cartridge for the time being.
For this reason I am asking if you think MC or MM would be less influenced by the PS on board presence.
I am thinking to a Nagaoka MP-500 or a Dynavector 20 High output (still MC but high output)

Any opinion, at least theoretical which one would match better in my case of Power supply presence?
Thanxs

[Marco]

Ciao Daniele,

Just to check, before I offer advice, are you planning on keeping the stock arm, and using that with the cartridges you've mentioned, or are you going to upgrade the Technics tonearm for something better? If so, which arm (or arms) were you thinking of fitting? :)

Marco.

[Ubik]

I haven't been saying that. I currently received with inspire base and rewired Rega 202. I am already quite surprise how good the deck sound as I learned Rega are not the best . So I suppose the arm does not shine too much and the 1200 is doing the show here.

My planning would seems to be...postpone PS supply upgrade and use that money to install a new cart first or maybe keep the Goldring and change the arm already. What you think of Audiomods 5 series arm ? I would like to have an arm easy to install without much hassle and rega replacement seems fine.
I am not convinced yet by the Funk FXR possibility and anyway it costs much more than an audiomod arm.
What you thinks?

[Beobloke]

Neither MM or MC cartridges will be affected by the on-board PSU.

I would say that your best bet would be to upgrade the arm - the RB202 is a competent performer in its price range but can be fairly easily improved on IMHO. If you like the Rega's general sound, why not consider an RB-1000? People often seem to forget that one of the best modified Regas out there is the one Rega modify themselves!

[Wakefield Turntables]

MY advice would be to stop all RFI/EMI getting into your main PCB, and replace the tonearm with some budget esoterica such a nice Rega arm.

[CageyH]

By doing the PSU DIY removal, you could ensure that hum was not an issue. I have heard that it can be an issue with some MC carts, but I have never experienced this.

Personally, I love my AO modified RB251 on my Techie. Lots of people also use Origin Live arms on their Techies, so I don't really understand why people say Rega arms don't work with a technics deck.
Pretty soon I will be placing an order with Speedy Steve for a wooden armboard, complete with Michell VTA adjuster. This should give me the ease of use the stock arm had.

I also hope to be fitting a SME inspired counterweight system soon, which promises to make improvements.
A lot can be done with a Rega arm, and I think you need to spend quite a bit to get a massive jump in sound quality.

[Beobloke]

MY advice would be to stop all RFI/EMI getting into your main PCB, and replace the tonearm with some budget esoterica such a nice Rega arm.

Er...the deck already has a Rega RB202 on it......:scratch:

[Wakefield Turntables]

Er...the deck already has a Rega RB202 on it......:scratch:

:doh: I missed that bit, sorry.

[DarrenHW]

MY advice would be to stop all RFI/EMI getting into your main PCB.

+1, Removal of the PS doesn't need to be expensive if you're happy to use a soldering iron? See here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?22954-A-quick-visual-guide-to-externalising-PSU-from-your-Technics-SL-1200) for a very low cost solution (although AC will still be present), or here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?28607-DIY-PSU-amp-Regulator) for the evolution of this DIY, AC completely removed from T/T! Although there may be more improvement with a higher end outboard PSU the improvement in SQ and timing was very obvious with my AT440MLa (which retails at about half the price of your current Goldring) on a stock arm and headshell, , if I could hear the difference you surely will!

[Andrei]

Hello from the Antipodes
I don't believe the power supply should affect your choice of cartridge. When I had an unmodded Technics LS1210 I used both a Benz Ace SL (Low output MC) and a Denon DL110 (High Output MC), and there was no difference from a power supply point of view, eg hum. There are other factors that influence the choice of cartridge. You are definitely on The teccie forum and others on here will be better that I at suggesting cartridges. As a more general observation I can attest to the 'Technics Path'. I have started off with an un-modded Teccie and done one or two upgrades at a time and the results are worthwhile.

[Ubik]

I smoked a circuit:-)
Really, thanxs for the advises but i am not planning that myself. Eventually would prefer to invite you to italy for a week end if you would make it for me:-)
Nobody really tried audiomods arms yet? Thanxs

[CageyH]

Yes - http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?6799-Audiomod-micrometer-tonearm-on-the-technics

[Clive197]

Hello from the Antipodes
I don't believe the power supply should affect your choice of cartridge. When I had an unmodded Technics LS1210 I used both a Benz Ace SL (Low output MC) and a Denon DL110 (High Output MC), and there was no difference from a power supply point of view, eg hum. There are other factors that influence the choice of cartridge. You are definitely on The teccie forum and others on here will be better that I at suggesting cartridges. As a more general observation I can attest to the 'Technics Path'. I have started off with an un-modded Teccie and done one or two upgrades at a time and the results are worthwhile.

Hi Andrei

Just noticed you live in Napier. By coincidence my good lady and I are in Taupo on the 19th to 21st March and was wondering if Napier would be an interesting excursion?

As well noticed on this forum I'm not a great fan of Denon cartridges but would be most interested on your thoughts of the Benz Ace SL.

Clive

[Andrei]

Clive
You want my thoughts on the Benz Ace? I'll give you my thoughts on the Benz Ace. It does not come with a stylus guard - that's my thoughts on the Bloody Benz Ace. I have sent it away for surgery and if I'm lucky it will be back in time for you to listen to in person! I'm still newly back into vinyl so I do not have a lot to compare it with (a couple of Clearaudios, a Lyre, a couple of Denons, and another Benz). It seems neutral and gets out a decent amount of detail.

Yep come to Napier and there will be about 30 Vinyards to check out - they're all good! Napier was razed in an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt in the Art Deco Style of the '30s and has a high concentration of of Art Deco houses and buildings. We have electricity and running water. Also check out the local courthouse, just to prove that the lawyers do wear shoes to court. PM sent.

[Marco]

I smoked a circuit:-)
Really, thanxs for the advises but i am not planning that myself. Eventually would prefer to invite you to italy for a week end if you would make it for me:-)
Nobody really tried audiomods arms yet? Thanxs

Hi Daniele,

Sorry for the late reply - been busy :)

I'm sure that the Audiomods arms will work fine, and if you already like the sound of Rega arms, then there should be little risk. In terms of cartridges, which cartridge are you using at the moment?

As far as recommending a new cartridge to upgrade from what you've got (once I know what that is), it is usually best to think of arms and cartridges as a pairing, so if you're thinking of going for the Benz, then the Audiomods arm would be a good match.

However, in order to provide the best advice, I could do with knowing what your maximum budget is for a new arm and cartridge, and also what type of sound you like. As well as the Rega-based arms you've mentioned, one arm that works superbly well on the Technics, is the Jelco SA-750D. The Jelco really does match the Technics extremely well (especially with one of Shuggie's collars fitted, as well as an Ebony armboard from Speedy Steve).

The combination of those items would produce a sound equally as good as (or if not better) than any Rega original, or Rega-based arm, particularly if your choice of MC cartridge is towards the low-compliance side.

Anyway, once I know how much money you have to spend on a new tonearm and cartridge, and what type of sound you prefer, we can go from there! :cool:

Marco.

[Ubik]

in fact my budget is approx 700 euro for the time being , so I would like to upgrade or the arm, or the cartridge. The cart choice is restricted to two models...Or the dyna 20 new model or the Nagaoka MP-300 or MP-500.

I like a meat and bone warm sounding cart, so usually MM might fit better?

At the moment my best guess would be to upgrade the arm and keep the cartridge, as I think it is more than decent sounding, maybe I am missing a bit of nuances now, but this could be the rega, a bit too technical sounding?

As said audiomods arms trigger me, but from a totally different perspective the Wand from NZ triggers me as well...If your ead reviews they are both giant killer, but who reallly knows how good they mate with technics?

[Marco]

in fact my budget is approx 700 euro for the time being , so I would like to upgrade or the arm, or the cartridge. The cart choice is restricted to two models...Or the dyna 20 new model or the Nagaoka MP-300 or MP-500.

I like a meat and bone warm sounding cart, so usually MM might fit better?


Yup - my recommendation would be the MP-500. It has all the finesse of a top moving-coil, with all the 'balls' of the best MMs... It's fantastic! :eek:


At the moment my best guess would be to upgrade the arm and keep the cartridge, as I think it is more than decent sounding, maybe I am missing a bit of nuances now, but this could be the rega, a bit too technical sounding?

As said audiomods arms trigger me, but from a totally different perspective the Wand from NZ triggers me as well...If your ead reviews they are both giant killer, but who reallly knows how good they mate with technics?

Yes, "too technical sounding" is a good description, IME, of Rega arms. They lack 'soul', especially when fitted to a Techy. I'd probably go for the Wand, which I think would be a great match with the Technics, and also an MP-500.

Marco.

[Ubik]

Its nice to see that around the globe sometimes perceptions how a thing can be described can be similar. I refer to the "technical sounding".

the wand.....uhmmmm, you know what? Reading posts here, I start to smell around the charme of a Jelco 750D, so not decided yet :-(