Would Like To Hear From Strain Gauge Owners

I have been following this thread with a bit of reluctant curiosity. I was, at one point, going to chime in and encourage responders to cut Raul a little slack; but only a little. Reason being that as a person for whom the English language is a second language, I understand all too well how sometimes one's statements, particularly those made in writing, can sound more severe and austere than what was really meant; due to a certain linguistic aukwardness. I can't recount how many times I have had to mediate misunderstandings between my Anglo wife and Latino mother; all due to the in-law's less than perfect command of the English language. But alas, after upwards of twenty posts, I think Raul has made his point perfectly clear; language aukwardnesses and all. While I admire anyone who is so passionate about audio as he is, I just happen to think he misses the boat. One comment he makes I think says a great deal:

"...when you play a recording that was recorded with ( before ) a non RIAA eq. standard then you heard a totally different performance of what is in the recording that comes with a different equalization curve."

Absolutely not true. It will be different as far as frequency response goes, but as we all know there is far more, and arguably far more important, to the proper (I deliberately did not use the word "accurate") reproduction of a recorded performance besides absolutely accurate frequency response. In fact, as I understand Peter's comments (and I confess to limited technical knowledge), a deliberate choice was made to make some sacrifices in absolutely accurate frequency response, in order to gain the potentially more musically significant advantages of fewer phase problems. Makes sense to me.

What doesn't make sense to me is how it is possible that one of the most prolific writers on this forum, one with such strong opinions about audio, and the reproduction of sound, one with over seven hundred responses in various threads, has not made one single contribution on the subject of MUSIC.

Thanks for the advice on hearing the cartridge for myself. I actually have heard it at the RMAF in 2007 and 2008. I admit it was very limited exposure, but I was very impressed with what I heard. I was also very impressed with Peter's "The Voice" cartridge. I was just trying to get opinions of those who have the SG in their systems at home and have had long term exposure to it.

Dear Frogman: How is that?, are you telling me that a recording being played through two different equalization curves have no different quality performance?, I'm not talking or posted anything about " accurate frequeny response " I speak and posted about different frequency response that's different of what you states.

IMHO two different frequency response curves give you at least two different tonal balance spectrum to the same recording and two different " all " music presentation.

Frogman, those facts have nothing to see with accuracy but differences on the equalization curves, example: one curve with + 1-2db on 60hz, 900hz, 3khz ( these deviations affects almost three octaves each one ) and the second curve with deviations at + 2-3db on 45hz, 360hz, 780hz, 1.8khz,5.5khz and - 2db at 3.5khz, please tell me: do you think that the quality performance that you hear through your system are not different on each one? because that's what I'm saying all the time: different quality performance.

I don't think that I'm missing the " boat ", some of you try to move it but the " boat " is still firm.

About the MUSIC contribution I have a lot lot to share but I don't have enough time to a second forum.

Slowhand/Mosin: when I posted my first post in this thread I had no idea that the SG device does not conforms according the RIAA standard, it was after a research when I take in count ( fortunately ) and share my findings: it was not exist a previous agenda like you think.

Now, I already receive several emails ( in the last 36 hours ) where the people give me " thank you " to put some light on the subject, I know that like me many of you read for the very first time on those findings about and this fact for the good or the bad IMHO is a learning " episode ".

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Slowhand/Mosin: when I posted my first post in this thread I had no idea that the SG device does not conforms according the RIAA standard, it was after a research when I take in count ( fortunately ) and share my findings: it was not exist a previous agenda like you think.

in your first post you said this

I always said that the RIAA eq deviation makes a great differences in a MC or MM quality performance and only when you hear cartridges in a phono stage with a RIAA eq deviation lower than 0.1db can you understand how important is that subject.

If you didn't understand the situation, why did you profess accuracy?

dave

Slowhand, I bought The Voice Ebony after hearing it at this year's RMAF. It's really a wonderful sounding cartridge. A local friend also bought one at this year's RMAF and he's a huge vinyl-phile re-discovering his large collection. Anyway, it stands up to long-term, repeat listening.

It works great with 40dB of gain, 47kOhms and 400pF capacitive loading. I tweaked the azimuth tonight and got rid of a little stray sibilance.

Peter's great to work with. He even called me from his hospital bed to make sure that I got my setup right, particularly stressing loading and azimuth. Peter loves his music and makes great products.

Who knows, maybe I'll buy a SG one day, but The Voice is making me very happy right now.

Dave