2. analog
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Soundsmith Straingauge cartridge taken to the next level

After a long pause, my analog was reinstalled 6 weeks ago.
This pause gave me the chance to go to the next level on my Straingauge.
Atm, Straingauge is a great performer, but IMHO it’s let down by it’s cheap and nasty 24V DC wall warts.
Initially I upgraded these to Red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery psu which gave a great upstick in SQ, but at expense of ongoing unreliability.
So 9 months ago I commissioned Peter Downs of Alternative Audio in SW of U.K., www.alternativeaudio.co.uk
to make a bespoke psu to the cart.
And after many prototypes the finished version, with specialist transformer, oversized choke and best choice of caps etc, was delivered and installed.
Together with a sister psu to replace the stock one on my Trans Fi Salvation rim drive motor.
6 weeks of burn in, and I’m in Seventh Heaven re the SQ impvts these psus are bringing to the party.
Will report more at next post. But I can’t praise Peter enough in what he’s created, it’s truly taking my analog to the next level.
spiritofmusic
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
Over two years on since my last report, and my LPSd Straingauge continues to totally delight. It really seems to get out of the way of the music, so good is it's tonal and timbral discrimination. It is insanely fast and yet provides really naturally fleshed out textures.
But IMHO, it's great claim to fame is that every lp sounds totally different to the next. That is testament to it's true neutrality and transparency. But unlike other carts where this can end up sounding tame and anodyne, the Straingauge is truly engrossing and immersive.
craig
84 posts
 
spiritofmusic:

I am curious as to how many hours the stylus lasts.  Any idea or estimate?  Also, are you running the SG directly to amp or through a preamp (if latter, which one, and if not, which model of SG did you get to avoid the preamp).   Any comments in this regard?  THANKS
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
Craig, there's a little device out there that counts stylus hrs...I should get it.
I play 3 lps/day on average, and am managing about 2.5 yrs at a time on each stylus.
I'm taking more care to clean my records w Degritter US unit,  cleaning stylus, more fastidious cart setup/tracking wt, so looking to last longer w next set of stylii.
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
Craig, I just run the cart and energiser box...going to the SG preamp made no sense in my system since I was already running my tubed Nat Audio Utopia pre.
Maybe if I'd have been a vinyl-only listener w no preamp, the SG amp would have made sense.
Can't offer any advice on that Q.

SGS6 beats the 5 in every way other than ease of setup. Azimuth critical.
craig
84 posts
 
Thanks spiritofmusic!

How do you like the Degritter?  How often do you clean the records?


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