Yes, it could be the phono pre due to noise, lack of headroom. Records should have detail in the highs. If you start to enjoy vinyl, then make incremental upgrades such as better phonostage and cartridge. If you feel vinyl will be in your future, then move up to the next level.
My book shelves/ audio center.
I had posted about my intentions to build bookshelves and a console for my system and I have finally finished. The end product is pictured below.
A few details:
The amp sits on the bottom shelf. The shelf under the amp has openings the size of the heat sinks open to the floor so it can draw air up through its very large open heat sinks. It stays quite cool.
The top shelf where the turntable sits comes off completely for access to the pre-amp underneath. On the back wall behind the pre-amp is a heavy duty power strip so with the top shelf off I can access most of the cables.
The speaker cables come out underneath the bookshelves as seen in the picture.
The turntable (low end) sits on a marble slab which in turn sits on 4 sorbothane pads. I know that's like putting lipstick on a pig but I had the marble anyway.
My primary concern is the tube pre-amp. As you can see, it has plenty of clearance and airflow beside it and there is plenty behind it (it is very deep). There is adequate space above it and so far it is not getting any hotter than when it was on top of a cheap audio rack. But, its winter. We'll see how it does in the summer. If I feel like it is getting too hot I will install some fans on the sides of the console to pull cool air across it.
The old iMac to the left is my music server.
There are no other special features to enhance SQ but it is quite sturdy. I can stand on it with no problem.
Yes, I realize the room dynamics are not ideal but it is what it is. As mentioned in another thread the distance from the walls and bookshelf looks inadequate but after lots and lots of positioning the sweet spot is closer than they absolutely have to be. Material cost was about $350.
https://images.nikonians.org/galleries/data/3564/medium/IMG_1126_1.jpg
A few details:
The amp sits on the bottom shelf. The shelf under the amp has openings the size of the heat sinks open to the floor so it can draw air up through its very large open heat sinks. It stays quite cool.
The top shelf where the turntable sits comes off completely for access to the pre-amp underneath. On the back wall behind the pre-amp is a heavy duty power strip so with the top shelf off I can access most of the cables.
The speaker cables come out underneath the bookshelves as seen in the picture.
The turntable (low end) sits on a marble slab which in turn sits on 4 sorbothane pads. I know that's like putting lipstick on a pig but I had the marble anyway.
My primary concern is the tube pre-amp. As you can see, it has plenty of clearance and airflow beside it and there is plenty behind it (it is very deep). There is adequate space above it and so far it is not getting any hotter than when it was on top of a cheap audio rack. But, its winter. We'll see how it does in the summer. If I feel like it is getting too hot I will install some fans on the sides of the console to pull cool air across it.
The old iMac to the left is my music server.
There are no other special features to enhance SQ but it is quite sturdy. I can stand on it with no problem.
Yes, I realize the room dynamics are not ideal but it is what it is. As mentioned in another thread the distance from the walls and bookshelf looks inadequate but after lots and lots of positioning the sweet spot is closer than they absolutely have to be. Material cost was about $350.
https://images.nikonians.org/galleries/data/3564/medium/IMG_1126_1.jpg
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- 9 posts total
@lowrider57 "If you start to enjoy vinyl, then make incremental upgrades such as better phonostage and cartridge." Agreed. Now for a little revelation that I'm ashamed to admit: Tonight, just now in fact, I was listening to Alan Parson's Eye In The Sky. Don't know anything about the LP except that it was purchased right when the album came out. I rarely listen to music at higher volume so I've played this album before at the same volume that I listen to most well produced CDs (not overly compressed/loud). Well, for some reason I cranked it up a bit and boy did it open things up and the SQ seemed a lot better, more depth, more precise. Not sure if this is a 'thing' but it sure made an immediate impression with this specific album. |
Update: Now that summer is here and this room tends to run a little warmer than the rest of the house I began feeling the top of the pre-amp. I might be paranoid but it feels a little hotter than it did during the cooler months. So I bought this: https://www.acinfinity.com/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/ I put it over the warmest point of the pre-amp with it blowing out the front and it works like a charm even on the lowest setting. The whole top of the unit is noticeably cooler. I may get two more to put on the amp. It is solid state and has huge heat sinks but these fans are cheap and can be daisy chained. |
- 9 posts total