The Black Adder
05-11-2010, 15:19
Here is a review of the Nick Gorham MCj1 - MC valve phono stage.
Right from the very off once the very cool blue light has stopped flashing after warm-up it's very neutral, open and dynamic, the bottom is lush with no over extension or smear and after 5 minutes or so it starts to tighten and open up even more.
I'm running this through a Radford STA 25 Renaissance (EL34) with the SC-25 Valve pre. The turntable is a Thorens TD124 MKII with an Ortofon Rondo Red MC. Speakers are Dali Helicon 800 MKII's.
It certainly got punch especially on the likes of Led Zeppelin III, Roxy Music - For your Pleasure - Stone Roses, David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust.
Coming back from the Turkey farm after not having a phono stage for a short while I must say that this stage certainly is different to my last stages.
Its more realistic, natural and not shouty like some are. It’s also not soft or woolly, it has presence, weight and really does reach down deep for those details. No distortion from what I can hear and is very quiet indeed.
It handles mono recordings with such ease. Sgt. Peppers Y/B original Mono pressing has such a lush sound and Small Faces Autumn Stone sounds rhythmic and loud bringing out all of that lovely studio amp buzz.
Blind Faith’s ‘Do what you like’ has one of the best drum solos ever to which sounds utterly superb and Stevies Hammond lead-in reprise is so funky. It sweeps in like it should… with gusto. Respect to Ginger!
Pulps ‘The Wicker Man’ from the album ‘We love life’ has some great under watery sounds as well as the lovely Jarvis tones and it really does take you there – not that you would want to go there in the first place. I’m from Sheffield myself and believe you me; the mentioned concrete channel really does exist!
I love it!... I'm finding myself switching it on a lot more often in the last few weeks of owning it. Previous to this stage I had the NVA Phono 2 and a PS Audio GCPH-100 and it really knocks the socks off these.
I'm finding the sound becoming more and more natural with each day. It gives the clean lines of CD but with realism, pace and none of that forwardness and un-relentless consistent fatigue.
This model is now available for £850 + delivery and I’d say it’s very much worth every penny.
Right from the very off once the very cool blue light has stopped flashing after warm-up it's very neutral, open and dynamic, the bottom is lush with no over extension or smear and after 5 minutes or so it starts to tighten and open up even more.
I'm running this through a Radford STA 25 Renaissance (EL34) with the SC-25 Valve pre. The turntable is a Thorens TD124 MKII with an Ortofon Rondo Red MC. Speakers are Dali Helicon 800 MKII's.
It certainly got punch especially on the likes of Led Zeppelin III, Roxy Music - For your Pleasure - Stone Roses, David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust.
Coming back from the Turkey farm after not having a phono stage for a short while I must say that this stage certainly is different to my last stages.
Its more realistic, natural and not shouty like some are. It’s also not soft or woolly, it has presence, weight and really does reach down deep for those details. No distortion from what I can hear and is very quiet indeed.
It handles mono recordings with such ease. Sgt. Peppers Y/B original Mono pressing has such a lush sound and Small Faces Autumn Stone sounds rhythmic and loud bringing out all of that lovely studio amp buzz.
Blind Faith’s ‘Do what you like’ has one of the best drum solos ever to which sounds utterly superb and Stevies Hammond lead-in reprise is so funky. It sweeps in like it should… with gusto. Respect to Ginger!
Pulps ‘The Wicker Man’ from the album ‘We love life’ has some great under watery sounds as well as the lovely Jarvis tones and it really does take you there – not that you would want to go there in the first place. I’m from Sheffield myself and believe you me; the mentioned concrete channel really does exist!
I love it!... I'm finding myself switching it on a lot more often in the last few weeks of owning it. Previous to this stage I had the NVA Phono 2 and a PS Audio GCPH-100 and it really knocks the socks off these.
I'm finding the sound becoming more and more natural with each day. It gives the clean lines of CD but with realism, pace and none of that forwardness and un-relentless consistent fatigue.
This model is now available for £850 + delivery and I’d say it’s very much worth every penny.