Trying to get back into Lps, I seem to be throwing

Power55 – I owned a Project Perspective turntable with Benz Mc20E cartridge for many years, this was my first step into serious vinyl. The Perspective is a great sounding table when set up properly, and once set-up you can pretty much forget about it. I think “Rushton” is one the right track, it’s the set-up. I had mine professionally set-up, it’s the best $60 I could spend. I started using a Parasound Phono preamp but it sounded dull, I also tried the phono sections is my McIntosh C-28 & MX 113 preamps. These sounded better but fell way short to my EAR 834P which I am currently using. So check the set up, try a different phono stage, get a VPI 16.5 RCM and enjoy!!!!!

I agree with the above regarding proper setup of the table and cartridge. There is one way to rule out a faulty setup--spin a few CD's. How does your system sound when you are using the digital playback? If there is a marked difference for the worse then you have isolated the table and cartridge as the source of the problem. If both sound bad the problem is elsewhere. If you are getting really bad sound my first suspect would be the room and setup of the loudspeakers. Have you tried moving things around? If the sound is simply not as good as you heard in the showroom with the same equipment then I would concentrate on the room/speaker interaction. If the sound is just a little lackluster then I think the problem may be your amp and speaker interface. I extensively auditioned the Aerial 7B's twice. The first time with a 60wpc Macintosh tube amp. The sound was warm but really slow and lacking in dynamic energy. In fact, I was ready to walk out of the demo after a few discs. We then hooked up a 200wpc solid state amp and holy cow did those speakers come to life. The Aerials are warm anyway so they don't really need tubes--they need POWER. If the sound you are getting is overripe, sluggish and lacking toe tapping excitement, try a different set of electronics. The Aerials are nice but they really need some juice--I don't think your Mac is doing them justice.

Hi Nrchy. Don't like the message? Trash the messenger. That approach never convinces me of anything.

Powers55...
If you have not used the phono preamp for many years the components in the RIAA equalization network may have changed so that the frequency response is as you describe.

Cranking up the volume control is no problem. All it means is that the phono preamp line level output is less than your CDP. When you crank up the volume control you really don't increase the gain of the circuits...you just attenuate their gain less. Probably better.

Dear Powers: I agree with your friend: your C37 preamp is not up to the task. You need a better phonopreamp.
Your Blackbird is really a very fine cartridge that outperform easily your CD sound, but needs a lot better phonopreamp.

Btw, I don't know nothing about your Project TT/tonearm performance that " count " for the quality sound reproduction.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.