@ghdprentice which direction would you think if heading in re- Phono upgrade?. I do like the sound of he EAR.
Can I get more out of my Koetsu ?
Hi Team,
This might be one of my only discussions on here so pls take it easy on me🙏.
My current dilemma is, as the title suggests, I don't know if I am doing one of my carts (Koetsu Rosewood Standard) justice.
Current setup is:
Koetsu > Yamamoto HS-5 headshell 18.4g > Technics 1200GR standard arm W-achromat > EAR MC4 > EAR Phonobox Classic > Leben 600x > Devore Fidelity 096;
The MC4 SUT is a new addition and it is all sounding pretty magical to me right now. Previously I was using the SUT in the phono stage.
I know the Koetsu is meant to be on a high mass arm and that is why I added the HS-5 head shell. It is heavy and brings the resonance calculation to acceptable range. I do have to add the added counter weight for the technics arm but with it everything tracks perfectly.
My other cart is a Hana ML low output MC cart. I like that one too but it only requires a medium mass arm which the Technics is so theoretically a better match.
The Koetsu already sounds magical and better than the Hana to my taste but how do I know if It could be sounding even better?
The way I see it:
- somehow hack a high mass arm onto the technics (don't think this would be easy and maybe not recommended)
- Upgrade to technics 1200g (better arm but still not high mass. actually think its less mass than the GR)
- Start a new journey with another table with high mass arm (possible but $$$)
- Just be happy with what I got and buy more records 😃
Strategy advice on how to navigate this problem and if new turntable is the answer some suggestions on how to approach that.
I am not fussy about audio equipment that looks like it can take me to the moon. I am more into older style equipment that just sounds lush, magical and gives me technicolor dreams.
Thanks in advance!!!
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- 34 posts total
@kdogsy , you did exactly the right thing. As @lewm suggests you might try adding even more mass to get the resonance frequency down to 8 Hz. Adjust your antiskating so that the tonearm drifts very slowly towards the spindle in the run out area between grooves. Soundsmith make a really nice set of graded cartridge screws which you can use to adjust the effective mass of the arm. The only significant improvement (easily noticeable) would be to go to a better phono stage. The Koetsu has a very low impedance, 3 ohms and would mate beautifully with a current mode phono stage like the Sutherland Little Loco. You will certainly notice an improvement in bass definition. |
OP, looking over your system… sort of anchoring on your speakers. I would say complementary components (if carefully chosen) would be about $5K each. For a Phonostage, I would go used. Audio Research PH8 would be my choice, or new Pass XP17, or Presto.
My strategy, if I were you, would be to swap my components to be up to the level of my level of speakers. Hence, I would upgrade with the objective of taking me out of the market with each purchase. So, the phonostage should take you out of the market. I would you upgrade your TT next, this would net you a substantial gain. Your integrated amp is probably at the level of your speakers. So, that would be at an optimal level. Typically, I’ll live there for seven to ten years until my financial situation improves and I can think about the next level.
FYI, I own an Audio Research Reference 3. I brought home a ARC Reference 3SE this weekend to audition. Very notable improvement. So, I will send mine back to the factory to upgrade it to SE. clearly worth the money. |
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- 34 posts total