2. analog
  3. 135066-90127

Ugraditus is calling....again. Phono stage?

There is likely nothing wrong at all with present phono stage but you know how it is.

Present analog front end consists of.

Nottingham Analog Spacedeck with Spacearm.
Shelter 501 mk3 cartridge with maybe 250 hours on it, regularly treated with Lyra.
Dynavector P75 mk3 phono stage.
Feeds into Lyngdorf 2170 via Nordost Red Dawn RCA cables.

My thoughts were that possibly the Dynavector is the weakest link and would pay most dividend on an upgrade but.....

What do I perceive I am lacking right now?
Really hard to say as this is highest quality analog front end ever owned.
Possibly lacking a little in sheer scale and dynamics? Bass is very very good, instruments are well separated and defined.
Just as an overall presentation I feel it lacks that final wow factor as a whole.
Not sure if that makes any sense?
Please comment honestly especially if you feel it is another area that may reap larger benefits. Or if should just leave well alone....lol.

Oh btw I am fairly sure it is setup correctly in regards to vta etc, at least to the best of my abilities right now. And yes setting it up correctly from initial purchase did make considerable gains in sq.
128x128uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Well the ZYX RS30 showed up today so of course I had to fit it right away!
First thoughts, thank heaven for the ph10! Needed to scroll through various setting to get the sound as I preferred it, not something easily done when you have to keep opening a box up and moving jumpers around!.
So first impression of the cartridge.
Quite a bit brighter and detailed than the Shelter. So far I like it with 0db gain( it is 0.24mv) and loading of 470 and the America Columbia curve.But this may change as it breaks in and I cycle through a few more albums.
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
Uber,

Congrats on the new cart.  That is always fun and exciting, but the burning in part, not so much.

Do you have an ETA on the Art-9?
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
The ART is coming from Germany, it is in transit but that is all the tracking says.

Rookie mistake on the zyx yesterday.
Set the alignment, set the vtf and dropped the needle to play as excited.
Doh, did not set the vta! And the zyx is a lot shallower cart than the Shelter so needed a lot of change.
Then it sounded much better, nowhere near as bright as previous and a lot more tonal midrange really noticeable on male vocals and acoustic guitar.
Same settings on ph10 apart from curve to riaa now.
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
My PH-10 always stays on RIAA curve.  I don't think I own any records that are more than 20 years old, so no need (yet) to make curve adjustments.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
I do have a number of 60,s and 70,s records and some of them need help....lol.
Tbh the America Columbia curve tames the brightness and harsnhess a fair bit.
Which is why the zyx sounded better but ONLY because the vta was way to steep.
Once this was corrected riaa regular sounded the best.
Certainly glad to have the flexibility of the ph10 and think it was a very good choice for my new phono stage.
All those changes in seconds with immediate confirmation from listening not 10 minutes memory.
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