2. analog
  3. 150881-90127

Ceramic insulator cone under phono stage shocker!

I have used small ceramic insulator cones underneath my phono stage for quite some time.
Previous phono was a Gold note ph10 and it did not make ANY audible difference I could detect which way up the cones were so I had left them cone upwards.

When I changed my phono to a Manley Chinook I just left the cones same way.
This afternoon I decided to flip them over so cone down just to see.

I honestly could not and cannot believe the difference!
I may have lost a smidge of low bass but everywhere else is improved in spades.
Much more detail, resolution, air, imaging, dynamics.
Just completely shocking how much better a small change has made.

But I am perplexed why such a huge change on the Chinook where I noted nothing on the ph10?

Any theories here?
uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
I cannot disagree with the logic of cones down, HOWEVER as I stated in the OP, under my SS PH10 phono I could hear no difference.

So I am more intrigued by that as much as to why they work so well in present orientation on the tube phono.
slaw's avatar
slaw
23,249 posts
 
@uberwaltz,

Tubes put out more tenny vibrations than SS in general. They are also more succeptable to taking on vibration from outside sources. A tube is a circuit encased in a glass enclosure. On (top) of that it's just out there, swaying in the wind...... think of a skyscraper and how much they move just because of their height, dealing with, as GK puts it, "Seismic vibrations" & wind etc...This all needs to either be tamed/drained/or both.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
@uberwaltz, the reason could be as simple as the tubes in a component pick up any mechanical or acoustical sound/noise and introduce it into the circuit. Relating to Almarg's comments, all tubes are inherently microphonic to some degree however small. I don't mean in the sense a tube has become "microphonic" due to damage, poor design, etc. But the fact that if you touch a tube, you will still hear the sound thru the system.

This type of noise/vibration would not be present in a SS component.



lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
OMG @slaw ,  We're posting the same thoughts again.

slaw's avatar
slaw
23,249 posts
 
Yes sir...I love it!
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