What Does It Take To Surpass A SME V?

@neonknight : So, during LP playback the 3.18uS in the inverse RIAA eq. curve  in the phono stage " stop " the fall down to infinite of HF that’s how it comes in the LPs.

Other that one of your units comes to my memory that Top of the line Dartzeel phonolinepreamp comes with the 3.18uS too along other units out there.

R.

I bought balanced Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 interconnects and also grabbed a couple of pairs of Wireworld Micro Eclipse 8 tone arm wiring with XLR terminations with straight and SME style DIN plugs. This way I can also use the SME V or the Dynavector DV505 with this phono stage if I choose so. 

With the Verismo I also found it beneficial to select the medium, +7dB I believe, setting. A little more drive opened the sound up and provided a more dynamic and lively presentation. 

One thing I wonder about is the Neumann RIAA setting. I have read a bit about this, and it seems that some folks think its inaudible,

@neonknight 

The Neumann thing is a misnomer. Neumann never had any such thing in their EQ curve.  see:

https://www.stereophile.com/features/cut_and_thrust_riaa_lp_equalization/index.html

Regarding the interconnect cables, when running balanced, one of the reasons for balanced operation is to minimize cable interaction and artifacts. Unless your cables have high capacitance I would not expect any serious differences in their 'sound' unless they are miswired.

miljostyn wrote:

If you are looking for the ultimate pitch stability you need to check out vacuum clamping.

I wonder, how would this help me, unless the LP slides or does not stay stuck to the platter? I use a center clamp and see no friction. Maybe you mean that a vacuum clamp can make the LP flatter, reducing pitch variations due to imperfect pressings?

Likewise, the phono cable stays the same, Kimber KCAG soldered to the DIN plug to the arm (a bit tricky). 

What?!!  How is it possible to use the KCAG which is not shielded and have much hum?
Many claims have been read and heard that this lead is good for high signal connections but is not good for plugging into the output of a turntable and even I who own it have found it a source of severe hum; so how is this possible?

best-groove

How is it possible to use the KCAG which is not shielded ... this lead is good for high signal connections but is not good for plugging into the output of a turntable and even I who own it have found it a source of severe hum; so how is this possible?

It's certainly possible when using a truly balanced (differential) phono stage.