step up transformers and active head amps

[WikiBoy]

Well, I think it's fair to say a lot of people miss JV, but the fact is he's dead now and meanwhile the company has to move on. I actually do like what their new offering does; the convenient load adjustment certainly adds to its appeal, IMO. The price tag, on the other hand, err....doesn't!!

You miss the point!

What is the point of having load adjustment when you don't need it, apart from to pander to the Baa-lambs, which is what I was refering to. With a transformer yes and very audible, as it is working at the limits of what is possible. BUT with an active stage you have so much headroom the load changes become insignificant with good design. Naim almost had that with the old circuit though splitting the rails would have helped.

IMO this is marketing pure and simple. It gives an itch in the pockets for all the "if its made in Salisbury it must be best" brigade. They are milking a captive market and that is always a very short term strategy.

Anyway John enjoy, take no notice of me, just try and keep an open mind.

[JonR]

Anyway John (sic) enjoy, take no notice of me, just try and keep an open mind.

I'd like to think that I am at least doing the latter - by considering a valve-based device in my system for the first time!!

[Steve Toy]

Let's not get into any sheep bashing eh?

IMO this is marketing pure and simple. It gives an itch in the pockets for all the "if its made in Salisbury it must be best" brigade. They are milking a captive market and that is always a very short term strategy.

I can think of one guy who is a bit like that but to me it isn't a question of being best, just suitably different. I think even now they are just that - different and distinctive. I guess it is only expensive if, like me, you just can't afford it. They aren't all sheep. Some are genuinely discerning.

[pure sound]

Nice one Jon. Well within budget!

[JonR]

Cheers Guy - yeah it's a bit of a result, I'd say!

Now - to secure a P10 to try it out with....!!

[pure sound]

It should certainly be more than good enough. I'll try to look up what the exact spec was. I found my Mk1 OC9 liked to see 30 Ohms but the T-10 will I'm sure do what you want.

Finding a P10 might be harder! There are none here at the moment. try Noteworthy, Radlett Audio (now in Saffron Walden) or Walrus.

[JonR]

Will do Guy, thanks.

[pure sound]

looks perfect. (see the first table)

http://www.vinylengine.com/step-ups-...rtridges.shtml

[JonR]

looks perfect. (see the first table)

http://www.vinylengine.com/step-ups-...rtridges.shtml

Profuse apologies for my ignorance Guy, but I tried following the table and understanding what it meant, but am having some difficulty relating the information it contains to my own cartridge. Please could you explain what you mean? Thanks in advance!

[Mike Reed]

After perusing these postings and wading through a Frenchman's impressive but (to me) incomprehensible thesis, it's dawned on me that most of this stuff refers to upping the voltage to mm levels.Mostly by passive means.

This surely is not pertinent to feeding a line level on my pre.. I have gleaned that an active phono stage is for me (similar to my power-supply driven Prefix, I guess).

I appreciate (as someone pointed out) that too many permutations of impedance and capacitance may compromise sound quality and most would be redundant. However, Naim is not known for stinting on sound quality in favour of bells and whistles!.

£1600 or thereabouts. Expensive, someone said. Really? Not if it does the job. There are phono stages out there (a handful) costing well in excess of ten grand. Even the Tom Evans ones can be over two grand!. I think my Prefix is a bargain, but even that's not bargain basement with a decent power supply, which is mandatory.

I had hoped for recommendations (from suscribers' experiences) of other phono stages that CAN be configured for other loads etc. without changing the internal gubbins