Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers
Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house
Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck
System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.
I agree if you don't like it from the off then you're not likely to grow to like it. On the other hand I have had the odd item that has been impressive at first but on longer and more varied listening has had flaws or characteristics I couldn't live with.
And then there's the dreaded 'synergy'. Something you would like you don't like because it isn't playing nicely with some other part of the system. Rare, but it happens.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Yep, totally agree Macca.
I like the Denon, it's a great cart but I'm more 'tuned' like the Ortofon Kontrapunkt b. Its no fault of the DL-S1, it really is very good. I know it's odd to see someone say "it's very good" but be looking to move it on, but it's just a magic combination with the PMAT1010, SP10 MK2 and the Kb. Synergy is finding that chain which all play nicely together and they really do, as you've heard.
I'm a big fan of that Denon cart but having heard your TT with the Ortofon in I couldn't see how it was going to be better in any appreciable way.
I like both because neither trys to make vinyl sound digital (trying to do that IMO throws the baby out with the bathwater). I don't see the point of that. Marco had a modern SPU on his TT before he got that Denon and that really was not for me. But with the Denon it was bob on.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
I think instant likes and dislikes are paramount and save us a lot of hard earned money
No point listening to something your not a 100% happy with in the hope you'll grow to like it.
I heard Oliver's Monarchy Amp and instantly new i wanted it and the second it went up for sale i bought it.
I would never buy something i was only 95% happy with
As for your Kontrapunkt Oliver, unless your willing to rob a bank, you will never get a cartridge that integrates with your system as well as the kontrapunkt (imho)
I'd like to be proved wrong as I'd love your kontrapunkt myself but it's highly unlikely.
Steve
Turntable; Rega p8
Cartridge; Alpheta mc
Phono Stage; Rega Aria, Bigbottle 3 mm/mc
Amplifier; Rega Elicit
Speakers; Rega Rx3