Guess it's hard to be either regarded or to enjoy music when your system has a trash cartridge and equalizer components. Plus, since you probably don't agree (and shouldn't), I guess we can assume that your inexperienced, don't care about music, and disagreeable in this regard. Oy....why am I not surprised? Further evidence for the advisability of checking in here even less often. Sorry ad010685, welcome to the inane. |
Ad010685 -- phono first. You mention (Marzio's?) Euridice and a Linto... If it's the Euridice I think it is, it's in a different leadue than the Linto -- excellent though the Linto may be. Since you're diy-ing I would suggest that the Euridice, with a little tinkering to add a phono stage, {perhaps going overboard using a LR circuit with suitable gain stages} would easily better the Linto and most other phonos by far. There's a chap in Italy who offers matched LR de-emphasis circuits called Stefano Perugini (PAEng design). Can't find his url. Also check out T Loesch's toccata. That will give you body, texture and detail, etc. TT: the Scheu TT is very good IMO. Keep it. OTOH I don't know about the mechanical compatibility of yr arm (BTW, I like that SME) I have always listened to Scheu + unipivot (Tacco, Morch, Clearaudio). I would agree that the Denon, outstanding for the price, can be bettered (for a higher price). So, keep it and work on a good phono stage. |
The Tacco was slightly better (slightly more neutral & slightly more extended -- probably better mechanical compatibility) than both the cheap Morch and the Clearaudio. OTOH, the beginner's Schroder was better. Please note that in these cases the cartridge used was one of the new line Clearaudio MC that costs $~500. Sorry, don't remember the model. The Scheu had the big platter. There's s/thing missing in yr post? |
Well, considering the Denon is part of this discussion, I think I'll jump in! You wrote "I heard the same set up with a Audio research ph1 phono stage and to my memory the sound was thicker and more real." Sounds to me like you like the tube sound, and so this is the thing lacking that you seek. I don't agree that the Denon can be bettered for greater $$$, there are things it does - drive, mid-bass, tonal balance, musicality/gestalt/PRaT - which it does better than any other MC, regardless of price, which is why it has Classic status, it's not just a matter of value for money but of unbeatable strengths (sorry Raul ;-)). Yes it can be bettered in terms of frequency extension and detail (where it is still surprisingly good, however), but these are more in the way of unnecessary extras rather than substance, musically-speaking. I don't think you are stupid at all to be in love with the Denon, this is how if affects many: it appeals to the heart first, like a transducer of music should (not that it is a slouch at the usual audiophile characteristics). Start listening to various tubed phono preamps, and don't listen to those who advise you to abandon the Denon. |
