The modified SL-1200: understanding the dynamics of 'synergy'....

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Originally Posted by Marco

Lol - I think it was the comments you made on pfm, like this:



....that raised the alarm bells, dude!! ;)

Anyway, you know we're only here to help, and so I'm glad things are looking up a bit now :cool:

Marco.

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Hi Marco

Although i was wrong about the bass , i am having doubt's as to how good my deck/combo is at the moment , it just isn't singing with either the AT95HE or the 1042 which Strat kindly lent me , of the 2 the 95HE seems to be the easiest on the ear but is kind of boring at times but never offensive , the Goldring seems a more exciting cartridge but I'm finding it an uncomforable listen at times , it seems a bit peaky ? Chris did say he prefer's his DNM cartridge to the 1042 , yet looking on the net i read glowing reviews of this cartridge and almost to a man they say finding its sweet spot is tricky but worthwhile .

The DL160 although it had a slightly plummy bass ? had what i percieve to be a lovely midrange , this is lacking in the other 2 carts to my ear's and perhaps there really is no alternative but get a decent MC , now i know you say this Marco , but the experience of trying different carts has been fun and I'm learning something ! But i don't want to spend endless hours trying to get it to sound right :steam:

Oh as an aside , yesterday Richard said he had an LO7D in the boot , just refurbed and fettled for a customer and did i fancy having a listen to it in my system :eek: he wanted to make one last check to see if it was performing at its optimum , i said do you need to ask lol :) but alas we couldn't in the end as it would have taken too long and the chap was waiting !

But its one hell of a deck to behold .

Just a quick update , i think the Goldring is now just about there ! and its err ahem rather good , one small criticism is the treble is a bit wispy and at times sibilant but its a very musical cartridge ! And the bass is err well incredible :eyebrows: and at times scary .

A fine cartridge , though the NAG MP200 might be better at the price ?

Hi Chris,

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Although i was wrong about the bass , i am having doubt's as to how good my deck/combo is at the moment , it just isn't singing with either the AT95HE or the 1042 which Strat kindly lent me , of the 2 the 95HE seems to be the easiest on the ear but is kind of boring at times but never offensive , the Goldring seems a more exciting cartridge but I'm finding it an uncomforable listen at times , it seems a bit peaky ?

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It was certainly very kind of Chris to lend you his 1042, but it's not a cartridge I'm fond of at all, for the reasons you've stated. Despite the strengths you currently perceive, eventually its rather 'spot-lit' top-end, and overall forensic nature, will get on your nerves.

If you're absolutely set on keeping your 309, then *the* cartridge to put on it is an AT-33EV. Audio Technica cartridges (and Lyras) work beautifully on SME tonearms. Fit one of those, and quite simply, your worries will be over.

In your set-up, *that* is where synergy lies, trust me, so stop pissing about with anything else, lol!

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The DL160 although it had a slightly plummy bass ? had what i percieve to be a lovely midrange , this is lacking in the other 2 carts to my ear's and perhaps there really is no alternative but get a decent MC , now i know you say this Marco , but the experience of trying different carts has been fun and I'm learning something ! But i don't want to spend endless hours trying to get it to sound right

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Quite simply, a DL160 is a terrible match with a 309, or any other Magnesium made SME tonearms.

You need an AT-33EV (or a Lyra Dorian), plain and simple, mate, so make do with what you've got just now and save up for one. Once done, the only worries you'll have, will be how many hours you can fit into a day listening to music!

[The Oracle has spoken] ;)

Marco.

Hi Andrew,

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I remember we were going to do this in Jaunary but to be honest I have been bogged down with trying to finish my masters degree off, well at least the proposal for my final bit of research. I will probably have some time from 26th April onwards when the proposal has to be finished. So we could swap then if you wanted.

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Sounds like a plan, mate, so mark it in your diary! ;)

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This may make me decided if I want to spend wonga on a PSU or maybe a Benz / Ortofon / Lyra cartridge. I've got your favourite arm on my techie the SME V :lol: so finding a decent cart for that may be a pain.

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Lol! It's impossible for me to say what moving from a Timestep HE to a Paul Hynes SR5 would do, as I've not done the comparison.

What I would say, however, is that the HE would have to be massively better than the standard version, to live with the SR5, as the latter totally outperforms the standard Timestep PSU.

As for cartridges, as I've just said to Chris, look at the AT-33EV (which punches WAY above its weight), the Lyra range (choose whichever one you can afford) or *some* of the Ortofons. The trouble is, they vary so much!

I'd also look at Shelter. The 501 is an incredibly good cartridge, and can compete with much more expensive designs.

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At the minute I'm having a look at this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/audio-technica...item2eb3b2dafa . I have a local dealer that can get this sort of stuff so I'm just waiting for its delivery

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Nice one. I'm sure that'll sound superb. Your local dealer must be a bit of a risk taker, buying something like that in, unless you've promised to take it? It'll not exactly be an easy thing to shift otherwise!

Personally, if I ran an AT, I'd be looking at one of these, which to give him credit, DC is selling at a very attractive price:

http://www.soundhifi.com/Audio%20Tec...20AT2000T.html

Marco.

MARCO

The audiotechnica that you have just mentioned can be bought for less than £700 so DC is making BIG profit margins!

Andy

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Originally Posted by REXTON

MARCO

The audiotechnica that you have just mentioned can be bought for less than £700 so DC is making BIG profit margins!

Andy

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Andrew,
Not very fair matey IMO, perhaps if you understood the whole dealer issue then you would retract that statement. :)

I run several businesses and understand the concepts of profit margins, costings etc. So, whats said is said! Its my observation about what money can be made on these things. Locally I can walk into my local HIFI specialist shop and get the same SUT for £999, and probably get some knocked off as well.
DC advertises the same SUT for £1120 and then claims because he sells bags of AT stuff he can offer a discount so that it now costs £999. :lol: This is great advertising and a classic way of making the SUT cheaper than it actually is. Suddenly that advertised SUT is not such a good bargain. I'm not having a go at DC I think he's done a lot to push the 12xx techies forward and I take my hat of to him. So statement stays! :eek:

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Originally Posted by REXTON

MARCO

The audiotechnica that you have just mentioned can be bought for less than £700 so DC is making BIG profit margins!

Andy

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Where can I buy it for said amount please?

John

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Originally Posted by prestonchipfryer

Where can I buy it for said amount please?

John

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If they actually have it of course, seems a bit too cheap to me?