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Win Labs strain gauge cartridges

Hi,
would anyone out there know where I can get a circuit diagram for the power supply for these cartridges? I got two in vgc this week, basically free, and am curious to hear what they sound like.Im an electronics tech, so I can build most things, but with something as small and delicate as these, I'd rather have a circuit diagram, rather than risk vapourising them.

The few opinions I've read on the merits / drawbacks of these designs seem to be very polarised, but no one has ever said they own, or have owned one. Are there any current / past owners who can give an opinion. I'd be very interested in hearing what you have to say on them.

Thanks in advance,from a newbie to this forum, (1st post)
Brett
analograven
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ivanj
35 posts
 
I can't tell you about the power supply but I have owned two of them. Sonically they had incredible bass - like a Decca London - but tracked well. They need a very rigid arm. I measured the frequency response of one and it had response flat to the limits of the test record at both frequency extremes - another had a rising low end. I'd say they were a Technicolor(tm) experience, wonderful, transparent but not especially neutral. For the time incredible transient response - like a thunderclap but nevertheless had very little tracing noise. We called them the "Strange Gauge." I hear that Sao Win still supports them but I do not have an address. Good luck and keep us up to date on your experiments!
analograven OP
2 posts
 
Thanks.Most of what i listen to, isn't neccessary tonally accurate anyway ( rock, folk,bluegrass,blues ), but it sounds like it might bring you into the music like the Decca ( and few others )can. Good to hear about them sounding like a Decca.My other main cart is a Garrott Decca London Gold. Funny, but I don't have any problems with tracking on mine.2g in a SAEC 407, on a Gyro.
I need another arm. Do you think a Rega 300 would be a good match, especially OL/incognito?Any other suggestions? relatively low priced please,but preloved is ok as the exchange rate here (Australia) is crap.
Cheers!
Cheers
sedond
1,387 posts
 
analograven, i recommend the o-l modded rega rb-250 a fully-modded arm direct from them, or from stoneaudio-uk, will run ewe <$300 usa, & that will include shipping, prolly even to 'roo-land. i have one on my oracle, & it's wery nice. o-l sez this arm is better than any of their other rega-mod arms, even the rb900, due to a more sturdy mointing system on the rb250. they say that, even tho the other rega arms have better bearings , the more rigid mounting structure on the 250 really responds to their mods...

lawyerad8d
10 posts
 
I had one of those for a while. I always thought it sounded a little strained. No, I'm not trying to be funny. That's just my best word for that and other strain gauges sounded to me. My other friends liked them, though. I guess it always had a little of that rosin bow on violin strings to me, only in a not good way. BTW I love violin music.
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