Pro-Ject Phono Box USB V or Emotiva XPS-1?

[magiccarpetride]

I am using Systemdek turntable with Denon DL-103 moving coil cartridge mounted on Rega RB300 tonearm. The signal goes into a step-up transformer (SUT) and then into Pro-Ject Phono Box USB V MM stage. I was wondering if replacing Pro-Ject Phono Box USB V with Emotiva XPS-1 would improve the sound quality? Has anyone tried these two phono preamps?

[struth]

not had the project but I do run the Emotiva XPS-1. Top class stage for little money. does mm and is a very good mc too with selesctable gubbins ;) Its been my best buy for a while now. Ive had dearer but none any better.

PS Alex, you need to show your location in the box somewhere.. ta.

[magiccarpetride]

not had the project but I do run the Emotiva XPS-1. Top class stage for little money. does mm and is a very good mc too with selesctable gubbins ;) Its been my best buy for a while now. Ive had dearer but none any better.

PS Alex, you need to show your location in the box somewhere.. ta.

Thanks Grant. Did Emotiva XPS-1 take a lot of time to break in?

P.S. I've added my location, as you've asked...

[walpurgis]

What SUT are you using?

[magiccarpetride]

What SUT are you using?

No name SUT hand built by my dealer (with matching DIY looks ;)

[struth]

Thanks Grant. Did Emotiva XPS-1 take a lot of time to break in?

P.S. I've added my location, as you've asked...

Thanks..
..was pretty good out of box Alex, but did improve a bit too over a week or 3. :D Used to have a schiit before and before that a firebottle, then before that a whest. My search for a stage is now ended with this. Its also very nicely built.

[magiccarpetride]

Thanks..
..was pretty good out of box Alex, but did improve a bit too over a week or 3. :D Used to have a schiit before and before that a firebottle, then before that a whest. My search for a stage is now ended with this. Its also very nicely built.

Good to hear, Grant. My Emotiva XPS-1 just arrived, will be doing a bit of A/B testing vis-à-vis Project. Hopefully Emotiva outperforms Project (I would hate to have to send XPS-1 back...)

Will keep you posted on my sound impressions (always extremely unreliable, btw)

[struth]

try it on mc as well as using your Tx coils. no idea how it will perform with the denon. Its an odd cart. needs a lot of weight in the headshell i believe

[walpurgis]

No name SUT hand built by my dealer (with matching DIY looks ;)

Can you borrow a known good alternative for comparison? A poor SUT can be disastrous for the sound. Yours may be OK, but it's worth checking.

There is possibly a way to check its influence. Use the MC direct into the MM input without the SUT. You'll have to turn the volume up a lot higher, but you should get enough sound. If it sounds way better, then the SUT is suspect.

[magiccarpetride]

try it on mc as well as using your Tx coils

Will do. What impedance do you think works the best for Denon DL-103?

[magiccarpetride]

Can you borrow a known good alternative for comparison? A poor SUT can be disastrous for the sound. Yours may be OK, but it's worth checking.

There is possibly a way to check its influence. Use the MC direct into the MM input without the SUT. You'll have to turn the volume up a lot higher, but you should get enough sound. If it sounds way better, then the SUT is suspect.

Unfortunately I have no alternative source for the SUT. Would comparing SUT into MM with going straight into MC reveal the quality of SUT?

[struth]

discarding the coils for now and Using the mc input, I think its marked down as 100 ohms but Ive heard it likes a lot more when not using coils.. try different ones and see at least its easy to do on the emotiva. if using mm it only runs at the usual mm load.

[struth]

Marco, the boss, is an expert on the 103 so you can always ask him if you want extra info :)

[magiccarpetride]

Using the mc input, I think its marked down as 100 ohms but Ive heard it likes a lot more when not using coils.. try different ones and see at least its easy to do on the emotiva. if using mm it only runs at the usual mm load.

Will play around for sure. Some people claim that DL-103 via SUT into MM is a completely different ballgame from DL-103 direct into MC. I guess I'll also test that theory while I'm at it.

[walpurgis]

Would comparing SUT into MM with going straight into MC reveal the quality of SUT?

Yes it should. It will certainly do no harm to try without SUT. You may not get loud volume, but if what you can hear is noticeably cleaner and clearer, then it's the SUT that is clouding things.

[magiccarpetride]

Marco, the boss, is an expert on the 103 so you can always ask him if you want extra info :)

Good to know. I'm learning that DL-103 seems to be a special little cartridge. It certainly is making my stereo sound different than anything I've ever listened to. Last night comparing Bach on CD to Bach through DL-103 was interesting. On the CD the musicians sound very polite, all buttoned up, almost as if walking on eggshells. On the turntable they sound raunchy, almost heavy metal/punk, playing with such gusto and abandonment. Haha, I'd attribute that to DL-103! (or, to my vivid imagination ;)

[magiccarpetride]

Yes it should. It will certainly do no harm to try without SUT. You may not get loud volume, but if what you can hear is noticeably cleaner and clearer, then it's the SUT that is clouding things.

Valid point. Will definitely check it out. Thanks.

[struth]

Yes it should. It will certainly do no harm to try without SUT. You may not get loud volume, but if what you can hear is noticeably cleaner and clearer, then it's the SUT that is clouding things.

It should run the 103 loud enough. its got the gain for it I think. Trying a higher load should help a lot .. its inclined to be slightly muffled at 100 in comparison Ive been told. Marco has been using all kinds of 103's foryears so will tell you what to do to get best out of it.

[magiccarpetride]

It should run the 103 loud enough. its got the gain for it I think. Trying a higher load should help a lot .. its inclined to be slightly muffled at 100 in comparison Ive been told. Marco has been using all kinds of 103's foryears so will tell you what to do to get best out of it.

I've checked with my dealer, he claims 103 is showing its best colours at 1,000 ohm.

[struth]

sounds good to me. not sure what the emotiva's switches are now so pick the closest i guess either side of 1k

[magiccarpetride]

sounds good to me. not sure what the emotiva's switches are now so pick the closest i guess either side of 1k

Quick recap: I was extremely (read 100%) skeptical that Emotiva will make any discernible audible difference in my system. Boy was I wrong! Straight out of the box, after I unplugged Pro-ject and plugged Emotiva via the SUT into MM stage, everything changed. The entire character of the sound changed. The best way I can come up with is to describe the new sound as more 'etched'. Much more details, while retaining the good old 'molten lava' rude, impolite sound (with almost vulgar loads of cojones). My only concern is that I feel the new sound is a bit more on the 'metallic' side. I'm hoping that's just a symptom of a brand new electronics, not being warmed up/broken in. Thoughts?

[struth]

Lol. It does take you a bit by surprise. I cant really comment on both your sut and the cart as Ive not used them, but I find the unit very good... silly good for the money, and full of energy, yet very soulful with rightmusic. Sinatra sounds fabulous out of my speakers. very rich, deep and yet velvety at same time, just like ol' blue eyes should. Rock has kick ass sharpness too. You might need a bit of work on the 103 yet I dont know. Try without sut and see if it changes in any major way. Might be the sut giving some sonic character

[magiccarpetride]

Lol. It does take you a bit by surprise. I cant really comment on both your sut and the cart as Ive not used them, but I find the unit very good... silly good for the money, and full of energy, yet very soulful with rightmusic. Sinatra sounds fabulous out of my speakers. very rich, deep and yet velvety at same time, just like ol' blue eyes should. Rock has kick ass sharpness too. You might need a bit of work on the 103 yet I dont know. Try without sut and see if it changes in any major way. Might be the sut giving some sonic character

I'll give it a go tonight. Just rang my dealer to discuss this, and he thinks that bypassing SUT is going to result in less fiery sound, more polite presentation (he claims he did a careful job with finding good matching transformers that he built into that no-name SUT box).

Remains to be seen... er, heard.