AT33-PTG

[Marco]

During the winter it was tracking beautifully at around 1.5g, but with the weather getting warmer, I've had to hike it to around 1.8g as it started sounding a bit messy.

Hi Rich,

That's the opposite of what is normally required. VTF is usually increased as ambient temperature becomes lower. Not to worry, though!

Incidentally, just to make it clear, and this applies to everyone - as I've said on many occasions, I rate the AT33PTG very highly, so please don't think differently. My comments above were aimed solely at a specific aspect of the sound which Dave had referred to and asked me to comment on.

Jason summed it up quite nicely (although 'tone' is more what I'm talking about than just bass):

Compared to the 103, the bass may be a little less, but definitely not thin or lacking. This thing has punch and balls. The high end is were it really shines though. It's spectacular from my limited experience.

Indeed, and probably better than (or at least as good as) 90% of supposed 'hi-end' moving coils at many times the price! Whenever I'm asked to recommend a 'user-friendly', top-notch, affordable MC cartridge, the AT33PTG fits the bill perfectly.

Marco.

[lovejoy]

Hi Rich,

That's the opposite of what is normally required. VTF is usually increased as ambient temperature becomes lower. Not to worry, though!


Marco.

I always thought it was a bit backwards, so that did confuse me slightly. It's always possible that there was some other element involved too, which is always the way with these turntable things ;-).

[MartinT]

Yesterday I was listening to an original 1956 vinyl release on Capitol of 'Swing Easy' by Frank Sinatra, and quite apart from the excellent music, I marvelled at the phenomenal quality of the recording, in terms of how musically 'real' it seemed. It used valve microphones, etc, throughout the (simplicity) of the recording process, compared to the bastardisation which largely happens to music nowadays in studios

Similarly, one of my prized recordings is the 1959 boxed set of Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall. It also used valve mics and has jaw-dropping realism with every tiny detail on and off-stage revealed in a totally fabulous three-dimensional space. I shall look out for the Sinatra - thanks.

By the way, your footer is growing to be longer than some of your posts

[MartinT]

My only slight niggle with it is that it does seem to be quite sensitive to temperature. During the winter it was tracking beautifully at around 1.5g, but with the weather getting warmer, I've had to hike it to around 1.8g as it started sounding a bit messy.

The Vinyl Engine forum is full of the 33PTG's sensitivity to tracking weight. I'm about to install mine (just as soon as my Underwood-modified GCPH arrives) and the concensus seems to be to start around 1.7g and adjust accordingly. I can't wait to get it going - currently admiring it from every angle in its box!

[Peter Stockwell]

Peter, which Nat King Cole album/recording was it? I've got most of them and none sound "syrupy" - far from it!

Somekind of best of, I can't recall the exact title. I've always found Nat King Cole too syrupy, it's the bloody strings with everything that they used to add at the time. Taken in isolation, his voice is not syrupy. The AT33PTG attenuated, for me, the syrupy string presentation. The strings sounded more gutty, as they should!

[Marco]

Peter,

Somekind of best of, I can't recall the exact title.

There's yer problem... It was probably a duff transfer. Compilations are rarely as good as the orignal albums, IME, or (some) audiophile re-mastered pressings of originals.

I've always found Nat King Cole too syrupy, it's the bloody strings with everything that they used to add at the time.

LOL. Well, I'm the opposite - I love the string sections of the accompanying orchestra, which incidentally have never sounded "syrupy", chez-moi. Quite the contrary, actually: more 'crisply defined and steely-real', with shockingly vivid dynamics and massive 'scale', giving you goose bumps, than "syrupy", which is how they should sound. You need a valve amp and a quality big pair of speakers, monsieur!

Taken in isolation, his voice is not syrupy. The AT33PTG attenuated, for me, the syrupy string presentation. The strings sounded more gutty, as they should!

His voice should definitely not be syrupy. If it is, you've (as in 'one has') definitely got a problem with (one's) system. Some of NKC's albums on Capitol are amongst the finest sounding recordings you'll ever hear (ditto with, for example, those of Dean Martin, Elvis and Frank Sinatra on the same label).

For some reason, Capitol got it *so* right in the mid to late 50s (and into the 60s, too) when recording those artists. I'd love to know the equipment and processes they used... Bring them back, I say!

For a truly 'audiophile musical Nat King Cole experience', try one of these:

http://www.vinyltap.co.uk/shop/item/...034536865.aspx

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nat-King-Cole-...08121003r26981



Marco.

[Marco]

Hi Martin,

Similarly, one of my prized recordings is the 1959 boxed set of Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall. It also used valve mics and has jaw-dropping realism with every tiny detail on and off-stage revealed in a totally fabulous three-dimensional space. I shall look out for the Sinatra - thanks.

By the way, your footer is growing to be longer than some of your posts

LOL. Hey, such is life!

I'm not saying that all 1950s recordings were superb; I'm sure many weren't, but experience suggests that some were quite special in terms of recording quality. Those which came into that category, IMO, have rarely been equalled today.

Marco.

[Peter Stockwell]

There's yer problem... It was probably a duff transfer. Compilations are rarely as good as the orignal albums, IME, or (some) audiophile re-mastered pressings of originals.

I wouldn't say it was duff, I was actually quite impressed compared with how I remembered the album. I'm sure that US originals are better, because ...

Some of NKC's albums on Capitol are amongst the finest sounding recordings you'll ever hear (ditto with, for example, those of Dean Martin, Elvis and Frank Sinatra on the same label).

For some reason, Capitol got it *so* right in the mid to late 50s (and into the 60s, too) when recording those artists. I'd love to know the equipment and processes they used!

I have some 80s reissues, maybe 70s, because they don't have barcodes, of Frank. Yes they sound fabulous. Hang on a minute, Elvis was never on Capitol, or was he ?

Truthfully, I'm going to give a NKC another spin shortly, I was quite taken with it last night. I just, as a rule, don't care for string orchestras on pop or jazz recordings, but as you said that might be because I have a naff system

[Marco]

Hang on a minute, Elvis was never on Capitol, or was he ?

You may be right. I was probably getting it mixed up with RCA (Victor), which also produced some superb recordings from the same era.

Yep, give NKC another spin, perhaps when you're getting your 'Nat King Cole', as I believe it is affectionately known in some circles

It may sound rather different this time!

More seriously, if you can get a proper handle on how much better these recordings sound than most of what's produced today, you'll grasp what the likes of a 103SA, SPU, or M3D do with music (when optimised) which no modern MC cartridge, AT33PTG or otherwise, I've heard achieves - and also the type of musical presentation I value and enjoy at home. Those cartridges when used properly are the sonic equivalent of the 50s Capitol recordings we all seem to treasure.

Marco.

[Peter Stockwell]

More seriously, if you can get a proper handle on how much better these recordings sound than most of what's produced today, you'll grasp what the likes of a 103SA, SPU, or M3D do with music (when optimised) which no modern MC cartridge, AT33PTG or otherwise, I've heard achieves - and also the type of musical presentation I value and enjoy at home. Those cartridges when used properly are the sonic equivalent of the Capitol recordings we all seem to treasure.

At the moment, most listening is done via the squeezebox, for a couple of reasons CDs contain my my more recent tastes (New jazz recordings), and secondly I love the convenience of the SB3.

But, when I do put on a good vinyl recording I'm staggered by the palpability. On the other hand there's good modern recordings too, like,(mumbles) Diana Krall. Seriously, about Diana Krall, she's a fine pianist and a good singer, and I first listened to her 90s NKC tribute, went to see her in concert and was dissappointed.

I've since seen (on TV - Mezzo.tv) an Olympia Concert from 2002, and I was impressed. So I bought the best of with the DVD, mostly for "Heart of Sarurday Night". She too, surprised me through my current rig.

How about that for thread digression