Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[jandl100]

Ha ha!! - no way, Martin.

We shall have to disagree on that one!

[jandl100]

... I do understand where you are coming from, though.

Perhaps it comes down to the question of how a component "should" sound.

Is it with isolation taken to the ultimate? Is that how the designer voiced the component? - 9 times out of 10, I bet it isn't! Perhaps it was intended to have that extra bit of 'liveliness' in the sound.

[MartinT]

Artificial liveliness = distortion in my book!
Take it away and you get more of everything.

[jandl100]

Well, that doesn't address the designer's intention - but that's fine, I'm happy to disagree!

[MartinT]

Yep, I know where you're coming from. Isn't the Linn LP12 in its fruitbox 'tuned' state such a device, with designed-in liveliness? Probably why I dislike it as it sounds so artificial.

[jandl100]

Umm -- well, yes. But I dislike (actually, detest) the LP12 for that same reason.

So, where are we coming from here? - why the disagreement?

Ultimately, it's the sound that you hear in the room that matters. All else is just a means to that end.
I am happy to accept that you, Martin, have a more finely tuned system than me. We have a very different balance of component / ancilliaries in terms of budget.

So, yes, maybe in my system - which is far more of a 'plunk down and play' device - a little accentuation here or there is a good thing, subjectively, whereas with your relatively high priced regenerator, cables and ancilliaries providing the foundation for your system more of a purist approach is beneficial.
I've invested most of my money in the speakers; quite unbalanced, and it breaks some established 'rules' I am sure, but it does it for me. I've not heard a system I would rather listen to.

It really would be kool if you could pop in sometime, Martin, so you can hear where I am coming from in this.

[Marco]

Perhaps it comes down to the question of how a component "should" sound.

Is it with isolation taken to the ultimate? Is that how the designer voiced the component? - 9 times out of 10, I bet it isn't! Perhaps it was intended to have that extra bit of 'liveliness' in the sound.

Yup, but the designer can't allow for the effects of the environment you put the T/T in, especially what it's sitting on... Therefore, that bit is an unknown quantity.

I think we're in danger of focussing too much on the isolation thing, since you're obviously enjoying the sound of the SL-150, but I can certainly guarantee from experience that *any* T/T prone to the level of acoustic feedback you've described, will definitely benefit when that effect is reduced, regardless of how that is achieved

Marco.

[MartinT]

It really would be kool if you could pop in sometime, Martin, so you can hear where I am coming from in this.

Still in my plans, Jerry. Hopefully sometime this summer when I next go to Malvern to visit family.

[User211]

Just thought I'd state the obvious - a Gyro with an Orbe upgrade kit don't sound like a Gyro anymore. It probably doesn't sound like an Orbe either but should be close to one ish I'd have thought.

TBH I am angry I sold my Gyro platter. It would have been nice to flick back and forth just for the hell of it. Might order one but we'll see if I feel the inclination. Really not spinning much vinyl these days. It's for those "retro" sessions really and TBH my setup is too good for the use it gets. But I'm not going to downgrade it.

It still makes me wonder sometimes as some pressings just sound so astonishingly good!

[jandl100]

Oops, yep, I forgot you had the Orbe upgrade, Justin.

Me? - I'm playing more vinyl than ever at the moment, and really enjoying it.
For some reason the moving magnet Shure V15iii seems to have taken up residence in the arm - it's definitely a bit lower rez than the MCs (Orty MC25FL and Zu DL-103), and doesn't have their imaging capability, but there's something just inherently nice about the sound. I dare say I'll get over it!