Empire EDR9 cart into Lehmann Audio Decade phono preamp, sounds awful


I've just installed Empire EDR9 cartridge on my Jelco SA-750E 10 inch tonearm, and connected it to my Lehmann Audio Decade phono preamp. The sound I got from this cartridge is shockingly bad. Dull, wimpy, limp, barely any highs or any slam or body.

I have set my Lehmann Audio Decade phono to work beautifully with my modded Denon DL-103 cartridge. I was curious to hear how would Empire EDR9 compare to DL-103, but it sounds so ridiculously bad, that it's not really worth comparing.

My Lehmann Decade is set to 100 ohms (seems to work fine for DL-103). I haven't touched the capacitance.

What am I doing wrong? I can't believe that Empire EDR9, which has a pretty hot reputation in audio circles, would sound so horrible.

 

crazybookman

If I had high audio knowledge levels I wouldn't have the need to ask the questions here, would I?

Forget about it. You learned something even in the midst of the criticism.  You might benefit from reading some of the various books or papers that will enlighten you further.  None of us knows all there is to know on the subject.  Meantime, I hope you are enjoying your new cartridge as a result of your inquiry.