What is the “World’s Best Cartridge”?

This is an instance where the necessary aspects of the AES48 can exist at the source and the load but in order to operate 'properly' the interface cabling must also be done to the standard (twisted pair with a shield) and I have only experienced a few cases where using this interface worked the same or better than the 'conventional' method.  

@intactaudio 

You may have misinterpreted my post.

I use the word symmetrical deliberately rather than the word balanced. Mikes phono cables are single ended. I believe through both listening experience and electrical theory that the cable loom between the MC and SUT should be symmetrical in construct.

This is my issue - quote from WBF on the LFD phono cables

The hot and the cold conductors are totally different from each other which is used to enhance the sound quality. This cable can be exclusively voiced to suit various systems RRP £16995.

Why an asymmetrical construct for a  symmetrical source and destination. Its like having a highway with 4 lanes going north and a B road going south. What is the science here ? How is there a benefit from loading +ve and -ve legs on the MC differently.

Voiced ? really, 16000 uk pounds for "voiced".

Do we want Freddy Mercury on helium, do we want Beyonce's lower treble whine that gets removed on the mixing desk to be accentuated, who decides what voice to present when manipulating these wires ?

All cables degrade the signal, no exceptions. Best cable is no cable.

Next best is the one that does the least damage to the signal.

Unfortunately in audio the least damaging would be one designed and built specifically for the source and destination components actually used, and backed up by measurement . In fact MIT used to offer this service many years ago - if you provided them the components they could measure them and build the optimum cable loom.

I know I could improve the $16k LFD cables audibly just by removing the plastic shroud for starters, getting rid of the heavy metal connectors and baubles and other jewellery hanging off of these wires.

Anyone out there can prove this easily - if they have speaker cables with plastic/polyproylene shroud - cut the plastic shroud off and listen. Those gaudy multicoloured plastic shrouds do a lot of damage to the signal, as do oversized heavy metal connectors. This is just for starters. Even heat shrink can degrade the signal.

My reference phono cable is around $20k US. It is not the price I have issues with, its the asymmetrical construct of the cable in this application. along with no explanation of the science other than - its a mixed bag of lollies, carefully selected after 30 years of eating lollies. Oh and if you have a favourite lolly I can mix a new bag of lollies with your favourites included.

Compare this LFD scenario to a friend who designed and built his own speakers amps etc.

One day I found he had some new speaker cables that he had constructed - the positive and negative legs were asymmetrical. I asked him what was the science.

He gave me an answer that included 2 points -

The +ve and -ve speaker cables were designed as part of the crossover and built/measured so that each of the speaker drivers saw the precise loads and crossover slopes he intended.

Secondly he explained that relative to the incoming power from the mains the +ve speaker wire was on one side of the mains transformer and the -ve speaker wire was on the other side directly connected to the mains. Ask @atmasphere about finding the centre point of a mains transformer.

That is what I call science, not I tried some wire and found one that sounds good.

 

 

 

 

If SQ is perceived as poor, increasing SPL makes mediocre SQ less tolerable, in my experience.

Bang on.

And it could be distortions from the system or components, or room itself that is the issue.

In some cases the listeners ears.

If you ask an audiologist you would be surprised at how non linear most folks hearing is, and of course often times people are unaware of hearing damage that may be sensitive to certain frequencies.

In relation to the reference to a db metre used.

These occurrences when arranged are purely Social Activities and used to extend a selection of individuals encounters and experiences, it is all done under the guise of Good Company, Good Food and Good Music, note Music is the least of the importance on a day like this, friends catching up is the fundamental goal. 

Attendees bring along their own Vinyl LP's as part of having a range of familiar materials being presented during an assessment of items put forward to be experienced where a common interest is shared.

Individuals I know, enjoy the occasional opportunity to measure a choice made for an item in comparison to an alternative item.

Individuals are also keen to hear their donated LP for the occasion at a SPL the are quite familiar with, when not experiencing it at such a level, there can be a settlement period to adapt.

 The db metre in use is not a scientific tool, it is basically a tool, to show to all attendees, the presentations are near parity in the SPL during a demonstration.

As said, ' Only when all is done and dusted in the comparisons, will the listeners ask to hear a replay of choice at a level they are accustomed to '.   

There will not be any items exchanged for assessment at this stage, but a curiosity might need to be nurtured if an item that is not familiar has impressed and is wanted to be experienced in use that is in keeping with one's usual practices.

If we as a group, were all to agree to add a period to see who could supply the best comedy, I will be the first to suggest that the methodology in use is not fair, and we hook up an oscilloscope, obviously, this will need to be immediately followed by passing the Tissues to assist with the Mopping Up the Eyes Streaming Tears, as a result of the fits of laughter. 

@rauliruegas 

I was banned not only one but twice from that forum

now i remember why i should not post here or attempt to interact with you. 

note to self; don't take the bait again.🙄

@dover 

I use the word symmetrical deliberately rather than the word balanced.

Ahhh... point taken.  If the SUT were truly symmetrical as you state then one could reverse the polarity of the primary and net the exact same frequency response at the secondary.  Some SUT's behave better than others in this manner but one polarity will always measure 'different' than the other.  As for the cartridge we already have the interesting wrinkle that by necessity the L & R coils are out of polarity with each other so this is a much grayer area.  In both cases I would expect these to be far easier to observe phenomena than the behavior of a symmetrical vs. asymmetrical cable.  It is important to note that jut because phenomena are measurable in the real or theoretical world doesn't equate to them being meaningful.

dave