Gromit's music centre...

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Originally Posted by Marco

You loved the last one, when you had it, I believe.... :)

Marco.

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Certainly did - a really lovely thing. Only reason it went (along with a fair few other bits) was that we were gathering as much funds as possible for the new house. Now we're settled (and the music room is built and piano in place ie the 'big' purchases are done) it's time to start building things up again - but nice and slow this time.

Have to say though, the Benz into the Sony's MC stage (yes really!) has been a most pleasant surprise. The Benz doesn't go shouting its presence from the rooftops - yes it does do dynamics, but strings together musical shapes most satisfyingly. It sounds dull on first listening but like a good 103, everything's there with no artificially impressive edge to spoil the plot.

Well I'll be blowed - I'd written off the Sony amp's MC phonostage as 'just a switch to make an MC cartridge louder' but I was wrong.

Had a friend over on saturday and we spent a good hour or two comparing the (already very good) Dino/+ on all its settings and came to the conclusion that whilst yes, the Dino does have a slightly more cleanliness to its sound, it does strip tonality from the music. It also has this habit (and is something I found years ago when I had my own Dino vs the MC stage in my Exposure Super XV) of chopping musical lines up into vertical moments, rather than maintaining the horizontal strings - think of long-chain molecules vs single atoms floating around in the ether. The Sony is more dynamic, nimble, gutsier, and plays music with blood running through its veins. :)

Could the 770ES be one of my biggest 'finds' in recent years? Entirely possible. Huge thanks to those (Hoops, Cjr, John - the mad Latvian) who put me on to this kit.

Richard, the 770ES is an probably an excellent match for the low output MCs like the DL-103, preferred the 670ES Phonostage to the Rotel RQ-970BX and Heed Questar MC.

I think it was John and Tommy (WeeTam) who put me onto the 770ES in the firstplace, cant remember who I bought my first one off!

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Originally Posted by hoopsontoast

preferred the 670ES Phonostage to the Rotel RQ-970BX and Heed Questar MC.

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Doesn't surprise me Rob - I'm running the Benz ACE SL into the 770's stage and it sounds fabulous on the 400 ohm setting. It just sparkles with life.

When I swapped to low-output MC carts (funnily enough the DL-103 as well) I sold my Dino+ solely because the cart sounded better through my ..........................????????? - 670ES phono stage, so there is obviously a sweet synergy going on.

A very kind member of PFM has sent me this little beauty to try...

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/8...57980e38_b.jpg

A Mayware T-24 step-up transformer. Very rare it would appear, but from what I'm reading on the www it was a very highly respected SUT in its day. The good news so far is that it is very quiet - no hum, even with the volume cranked up waaaaaay beyond what I would listen. Plenty of gain aswell so it would appear to suit the Benz well.

Got it running into the Sony's MM stage - will report back later when I've had some time to listen to it. :)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/8...26f2bb4c_b.jpg

That's a lovely pic Richard :)

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Originally Posted by synsei

That's a lovely pic Richard :)

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Thanks Dave - amazing how buying a new lens re-awakens an interest in photography. :)

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Originally Posted by Gromit

Thanks Dave - amazing how buying a new lens re-awakens an interest in photography. :)

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What lens / camera combo Richard?