A battle of D/Ds: Heavily-modified SL-1210 vs. Kenwood L-07D and Nakamichi TX-1000.

[Marco]

Hi Guy,

I'm not sure what impedance the A23 shows the SPU (someone would need to measure it), but it certainly gives more output than using the A23 for the 103 does with the SPU, but it's the way it voices music reproduced that's just utterly stunning!!

Keith Aschenbrenner really does have a great ear for this kind of stuff.....

There's a bounce and 'impetus' to the way the SPU now handles rhythms, underpinned by serious visceral heft and a lovely top-end clarity, which drives music along with a rather infectious flow, simply putting a big smile on your face. Make no mistake, the SPU/A23 (SPU) maxes out the fun-factor in music.

Jeez, this is an infectious listen!

You really must get one for your 12" Jelco, as trust me, with the right SUT you'd L O V E it, mate!

Marco.

[DSJR]

It'd be interesting to know what impedance their SPU transformer presents to the cartridge. iirc their 103 tranny gave a step up of about 1:22 so was showing the cartridge 100 ohms when loaded by a 47Kohm mm stage.

Does this new transformer give more output with the SPU? I'd expect it to be showing a lower impedance and therefore giving a higher step up ratio.

Guy, you market a step-up tranny don't you? I appreciate you not wanting to blow your own trumpet, but I think it's important for this one to be represented as well. How does it compare with the A23 for example and how much better than, say, my old AT630?

[Marco]

Dave,

I've done a direct comparison with the A23 (103) and the T10 in my system, using the 103SA, as Guy kindly loaned me a T10 for a while.

I'll describe my thoughts after I've finished my dinner

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Post of the year

Regards D S D L

[Marco]

Shut it, daftee, and go and write your (LONG overdue) tuner review!!

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Dave,

I've done a direct comparison with the A23 (103) and the T10 in my system, using the 103SA, as Guy kindly loaned me a T10 for a while.

I'll describe my thoughts after I've finished my dinner

Marco.

Thread drift

Finish your write up first then start a new thread for this one


Regards D S D L

[Spectral Morn]

Shut it, daftee, and go and write your (LONG overdue) tuner review!!

Marco.

Slightly different my good man. You have done your listening and I mostly have not + I have 20 + tuners to do you just had three TTs.

"Go finish your write up".....says he shaking his head as he walks away sighing.


Regards D S D L

[pure sound]

I also heard the T10 in comparison to the A23 (103 version/100 ohm) at Marco's place. I preferred it although I think Marco preferred the A23's presentation. They were both good with the 103SA although personally I felt the A23 sounded slightly grainy in comparison.

The T10 has the provision to show 38 or 150 ohms to the cartridge. (these values can be altered using shunt resistors across the outputs of the transformer if fine tuning is thought to be required). Of course such adjustment can be made to any transformers.

The 38 ohm setting seems to work very well with the SPU based on brief experience I've had with the combination at a friend's place but also in the view of a couple of SPU using customers.

I don't feel any immediate urge to get an SPU again. I did have one back in about 1991 and enjoyed it immensely. I still like them when I hear them now regardless of (perhaps because of) the fruity character they undoubtedly add. However, at the moment I'm enjoying the Technics EPS310 which probably retrieves more from the record and yet still presents it in a charming way. This was an exceptional cartridge which many people will not have heard especially not in a conventional pivoted arm.

[John]

Might be good to share a bit more about the Technics EPS310 I have not heard the cartridge and sounds like it might be another bargin

[Marco]

Hi Guy,

Yes, I remember when we did the comparison. Initially, I actually preferred (or rather I could hear something I liked about the T10), hence why I asked to borrow it from you, but found with extended listening that the A23 was voiced more to suit the 103, perhaps because of how both SUTs loaded the cartridge.

I never did play around with loading on the T10 to optimise it with the 103, other than with the options available as standard, as it's a D.I.Y job with shunt resistors, so that may have made a difference. Regardless though, it's a very good SUT and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

The graininess you're referring to was resolved by upgrading the phono sockets on the A23, which as standard uses 'American type' sockets, which have a shorter 'stub' than usual, and this wasn't making a proper connection with the RCAs on the Mark Grant G1000HD cables I was using, thus signal integrity was compromised.

It'll be interesting what you're impressions are of the SPU when you visit again later in the year (presuming you're going to the Practical Hi-fi/Audio T Manchester show, as usual?), as IMO, there is nothing 'fruity' about the presentation of the SPU in the context of my system, and nor did it possess this characteristic in Dave Anderton's with his L-07D. If it did, he would've hated it and run a mile, as Dave likes a lively, up-front type of presentation with his music. He does, after all, use DBLs.....!

Have you heard a current, new batch, SPU? I believe that the new wood resin body-shell removes the coloration imbued by the older headshells.

Perhaps you could bring the Technics EPS310 with you, and we could fit it to my deck and make some comparisons? I'd find that most interesting, as I'm sure you would do, too

We could also compare M3Ds and see if you feel I'm getting any different results with it than you are.

Marco.