Wakefield Turntables
26-03-2016, 20:08
I make no excuses for errors, spelling mistakes etc. These notes were typed up over several days. Enjoy.
ARKLESS ELECTRONICS - HYRID MC PHONOSTAGE REVIEW
------------------------------------------------
This phonostage plugged straight into my reference system and was pitted against a Sugden Masterclass Phonostage / Ortofon ST80SE combination. The
cartridge used was my reference Cadenza Black, additional equipment can be seen in my signature. I have a four boxed version of the Paradise phonostage
but I consider the Sugden/Ortofon combination superior in my SS system. I listened to Jez's phonostage right next door to my combo so swapping cables and making comparisons was very easy and could be done so quite quickly. This prototype has a very industrial build and feel to it, something I like. The fan is quite and does a good job of keeping the phonostage cool. You have to wait appox. 60 seconds for the phonostage to warm up properly but thats no great shakes. I started by listening to some Thelonius Monk and Dave Brubeck and can honestly say that this phonostage is fantastic at transcribing Jazz on my SS system and trumped my Sugden/Ortofon combo. Prog genre came next with Yes - Close to the edge. I listening to Side A only as this album has more pomp and bombast than most records I own and again the phonostage did not dissapoint. Large complex pieces of music were unravelled with aplomb however it wasn't quite as good as the Sugen Masterclass / Ortofon ST80SE combination that I own. I have to say that this phonostage is probably the best I've heard at low volume listening it digs out plenty of detail that sometimes can be missed. This phonostage sounds less clinical than my Sugden/Ortofon combo and dosen't quite dig out as much detail as this pair. The soundstage is very quite and 3D in nature all instruments are easily seperated, the soundstage is reasonably wide but not very deep in nature. This phonostage does have its problems I noticed differences in detail retrival in some areas of the Hz range, some areas appeared better than others. This phonostage won't be replacing my current 4 box paradise or Sugden/Ortofon combination. It's a very good phonostage and I feel you'd have to spend at least £2-3K to get something better. My own concern is that it could be truly outstanding if the detail retrival could be uniformly consistant over the entire Hz range.
I listened to a vast collection of material over the last few days. Here are my thoughts on a couple of Genre's.
RECORDS
-------
IRON MAIDEN - Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner - (2015 RECUT FROM ANALOG TAPE MASTERS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lead electric guitars seemed a little lean compared to the Sugden/Ortofon combination. Hi-Hat and cymbals shimmered with greater depths of Timbre
than the sugden/ortofon could produce but there really was very little in it. Dickinsons vocals sounded a shade clearer with a smidge of extra definition.
There really is nothing in it with this record. I'd say this was a clear draw with both phonostages having strengths and weaknesses.
MICHAEL NEWMAN - Classical Guitarist (SHEFFIELD LABS RECORDING)
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Sugden/Ortofon combo produced a vivid, full bodied, timbre dripping presentation, vibrant, precise and full of detail. Jez phonostage failed to resolve
such detail and as such sounded recessed and failed to find as much detail or timdre, notes seemed to finish before they'd started whilst they floating around
in the air with the Sugden/Ortofon combo.
PHONOSTAGE PROS
Extremely quiet
Fantastic Jazz transcriber.
Very capable of unravelling complex passages of music.
The best phonostage I've heard at low volume levels.
Very capable when reproducing heavy rock/metal/prog.
PHONOSTAGE CONS
Can sound lean on some recordings with electric guitar.
Detail retrival seems better in some areas of the Hz range than others.
Accoustic guitars seem to loose timbral detail.
Piano's seemed to loose decay and timbre
CONCLUSION
----------
This phonostage is truly excellent. It betters my Sugden/Ortofon combo in some areas such as Jazz reproduction but the Sugden/Ortofon happily transcribes
prog and heavy metal with a greater clarity and insight, something I covet and to date something that no other phonostage has bettered yet. Jez's phonostageproduces a very 3D soundstage, a little narrow compared to what I'm used but you can hear every instrument in its own space. You'd need to spend over £2K to better it. I think data retrival over the Hz range need to be tweeked for more consistant levels of data retrival. I'd describe this phonostage as the Prince who could become King, seriously!
ARKLESS ELECTRONICS - HYRID MC PHONOSTAGE REVIEW
------------------------------------------------
This phonostage plugged straight into my reference system and was pitted against a Sugden Masterclass Phonostage / Ortofon ST80SE combination. The
cartridge used was my reference Cadenza Black, additional equipment can be seen in my signature. I have a four boxed version of the Paradise phonostage
but I consider the Sugden/Ortofon combination superior in my SS system. I listened to Jez's phonostage right next door to my combo so swapping cables and making comparisons was very easy and could be done so quite quickly. This prototype has a very industrial build and feel to it, something I like. The fan is quite and does a good job of keeping the phonostage cool. You have to wait appox. 60 seconds for the phonostage to warm up properly but thats no great shakes. I started by listening to some Thelonius Monk and Dave Brubeck and can honestly say that this phonostage is fantastic at transcribing Jazz on my SS system and trumped my Sugden/Ortofon combo. Prog genre came next with Yes - Close to the edge. I listening to Side A only as this album has more pomp and bombast than most records I own and again the phonostage did not dissapoint. Large complex pieces of music were unravelled with aplomb however it wasn't quite as good as the Sugen Masterclass / Ortofon ST80SE combination that I own. I have to say that this phonostage is probably the best I've heard at low volume listening it digs out plenty of detail that sometimes can be missed. This phonostage sounds less clinical than my Sugden/Ortofon combo and dosen't quite dig out as much detail as this pair. The soundstage is very quite and 3D in nature all instruments are easily seperated, the soundstage is reasonably wide but not very deep in nature. This phonostage does have its problems I noticed differences in detail retrival in some areas of the Hz range, some areas appeared better than others. This phonostage won't be replacing my current 4 box paradise or Sugden/Ortofon combination. It's a very good phonostage and I feel you'd have to spend at least £2-3K to get something better. My own concern is that it could be truly outstanding if the detail retrival could be uniformly consistant over the entire Hz range.
I listened to a vast collection of material over the last few days. Here are my thoughts on a couple of Genre's.
RECORDS
-------
IRON MAIDEN - Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner - (2015 RECUT FROM ANALOG TAPE MASTERS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lead electric guitars seemed a little lean compared to the Sugden/Ortofon combination. Hi-Hat and cymbals shimmered with greater depths of Timbre
than the sugden/ortofon could produce but there really was very little in it. Dickinsons vocals sounded a shade clearer with a smidge of extra definition.
There really is nothing in it with this record. I'd say this was a clear draw with both phonostages having strengths and weaknesses.
MICHAEL NEWMAN - Classical Guitarist (SHEFFIELD LABS RECORDING)
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Sugden/Ortofon combo produced a vivid, full bodied, timbre dripping presentation, vibrant, precise and full of detail. Jez phonostage failed to resolve
such detail and as such sounded recessed and failed to find as much detail or timdre, notes seemed to finish before they'd started whilst they floating around
in the air with the Sugden/Ortofon combo.
PHONOSTAGE PROS
Extremely quiet
Fantastic Jazz transcriber.
Very capable of unravelling complex passages of music.
The best phonostage I've heard at low volume levels.
Very capable when reproducing heavy rock/metal/prog.
PHONOSTAGE CONS
Can sound lean on some recordings with electric guitar.
Detail retrival seems better in some areas of the Hz range than others.
Accoustic guitars seem to loose timbral detail.
Piano's seemed to loose decay and timbre
CONCLUSION
----------
This phonostage is truly excellent. It betters my Sugden/Ortofon combo in some areas such as Jazz reproduction but the Sugden/Ortofon happily transcribes
prog and heavy metal with a greater clarity and insight, something I covet and to date something that no other phonostage has bettered yet. Jez's phonostageproduces a very 3D soundstage, a little narrow compared to what I'm used but you can hear every instrument in its own space. You'd need to spend over £2K to better it. I think data retrival over the Hz range need to be tweeked for more consistant levels of data retrival. I'd describe this phonostage as the Prince who could become King, seriously!