Denon DL-S1 MC cartridge

[Marco]

I certainly have no issues with the conclusions Oliver's reached with the DL-S1

Marco.

[Barry]

BTW, it may be worth mentioning that blake's phonostage is quite unusual and for MC cartridges uses a current gain amplifier. Exactly how the gain adjustment pots on the front panel work isn't clear, but any change in perceived sound quality may well be due to a change in some parameter other than gain.

Whilst the Gain controls on the Aqvox are marked in dB, I doubt very much if they are calibrated or if it is possible to interpolate the settings to any more than a dB or so.



Furthermore, AQVOX state in their user manual that the Gain controls do more than act as volume controls; their operation is more subtle:

http://www.aqvox.de/download/SETUP-Info-PHONO2Ci.pdf

(Paragraph 5)

[RobbieGong]

Regardless of whether the setup is 'optimal' for the DL-S1 or not, the system wasn't built around the Kb either.

Both cartridges had an equal playing field. Loading was done correctly (wish I'd kept the notes) and the setup was perfect.

If the DL-S1 didn't do what it's supposed to, how did our resident Denon guru (Marco) manage to concur with my findings? His system was 'optimised' for the Denon so surely if it wasnt able to perform in the conditions here, the only explaination is that I read Marcos mind!!!!

There's no way I'd swap my phonostage so if any cartridge came here and didn't perform, it's the cartridge that's on its way, not he phonostage. I also have no time for SUTs and all that F#cking matching nonsense. A solid headamp or built in thing like my phonostage has does a better job than anything else I've tried.

I think the bigger issue is the lack of acceptance that a lowly () Kontrapunkt b was preferred to the almighty DL-S1.

"Blame the equipment for the DL-S1 being unable to oust the incumbent cartridge!!!"

Any piece of kit that NEEDS some special SUT or HA to perform like some mythical beast, isn't going to make it here.

My sentiments exactly Oli and I agree whole heartedly, hence I've never gone down that road or felt inclined to.

[smangus]

It's all in yo ears dudes.


I chose my NA interspace and Rega arm over a Roxan Xerxses and Moerch arm in a dealer shoot out because I preferred the sound.

That was 10 years ago and I have never regretted it for a single moment. The Roxan combo had more detail but less bass and heft, not for me or the music I play even though it might be considered to be more "HiFi" than the NA by some.

I've never heard a Denon but am very happy with my ZYX so am not going down that road and anyway it would mean me buggering about with the tonearm etc. Knowing Oli I'm sure he knows what he likes and trusts his ears, better doing that than agonizing over whether small amounts of gain etc would influence the cartridge to the extent that would make him change his mind.

I think you will know instinctively whether a piece of kit has the right character for you or not when you hear it, the rest of the tinkering is trying to extract as much of that out of it as is possible. If the essential character of the kit doesn't suit then nothing will really make it float you boat I reckon at least if you know your own mind.

[RobbieGong]

It's all in yo ears dudes.


I chose my NA interspace and Rega arm over a Roxan Xerxses and Moerch arm in a dealer shoot out because I preferred the sound.

That was 10 years ago and I have never regretted it for a single moment. The Roxan combo had more detail but less bass and heft, not for me or the music I play even though it might be considered to be more "HiFi" than the NA by some.

I've never heard a Denon but am very happy with my ZYX so am not going down that road and anyway it would mean me buggering about with the tonearm etc. Knowing Oli I'm sure he knows what he likes and trusts his ears, better doing that than agonizing over whether small amounts of gain etc would influence the cartridge to the extent that would make him change his mind.

I think you will know instinctively whether a piece of kit has the right character for you or not when you hear it, the rest of the tinkering is trying to extract as much of that out of it as is possible. If the essential character of the kit doesn't suit then nothing will really make it float you boat I reckon at least if you know your own mind.

Word(s)

[Bigman80]

Word(s)

[Marco]

If the essential character of the kit doesn't suit then nothing will really make it float you boat...

I completely agree - and the same could be said for women, once you get their "kit" off

Marco.

[Mike Reed]

I completely agree - and the same could be said for women, once you get their "kit" off

Marco.

By which time you've gone too far, but can't quite draw an analogy to hifi at the mo'.

[Marco]

And you've since lost the 'urge'

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

And you've since lost the 'urge'

Marco.

Sounds like a flop