Riaa curve

Dear Raul,
>>> ... in some way this part tolerances are the limits to. <<<
Exactly, what was on my mind also, tires have tolerances so have measuring gauges.
Pushing the envelope is fine by me - but maybe not always quite 'reasonable'?

I listen to CD on my 390S and then listen to a +/- 1dB 'quoted'/spec. RIAA module, and all I hear is NO colouration other then what the different carts produce.
The least colouration CD vs. vinyl is provided by my Windfeld, known to be very neutral.

Then I listen to a S1000ZE/X that has colouration (more low end than any same CD), but it is nicer than CD.
I actually cannot easily assimilate how +/-0.0075dB error is going to make this any different.
Maybe if I put my head in vice?
The variations in moving my head will actually be bigger than that 1% RIAA error... hm.

Raul....Do you know the spec on the RIAA equalization when the LP is cut, and the frequency response of the cutter, its electronics, and the recorder that made the master, and the microphones?

Dear Axel: IMHO all your statements are out of my main/deep point of view, please re-read my post and try to understand what I really mean because maybe I can't explain in the right way.

Btw, I understand that you can't imagine how could you hear a tiny deviation in the RIAA when you never experienced on the same phono stage making RIAA deviation changes. Well, over the time in our design uit I have the opportunity to have that kind of experiences and that's why I know that we can hear those tiny RIAA deviations.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Eldartford: I think that you miss my point somewhere because I posted ( between other things. ):

+++++ " I don't care what happen after or even before the phono stage link the subject is that in that phono stage things must be working/processed with accuracy in the right way. " +++++

IMHO I think that any audio device/item designer/manufacturer out there first than all take care what is " happening or not happening " with their designs trying that their designs can be of the best quality performance/accuracy at any level.

An amplifier designer can't design thinking that because the accuracy on the speaker/room is of only 10 db ( deviations. ) then the amplifier accuracy can be at 9-10 db on frequency deviatins, at least I don't thnk that is the way to design/build high-end audio items.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Raul:
I actually think you explained your position VERY WELL, and I also believe what you say when referring to your testing and listing --- AND I also think that the better tolerance is a better thing to have, --- if it makes commercially viable sense. This is here, where we are at X purposes.

If 0.01% RIAA error HAD TO BE, you could 'trash' just about every phono-pre under sun, except the 3160 --- and this is where I beg to differ.
Simply because a GOOD non-RIAA replay unit like a CD player sounds 1:1 with a 1% error spec. phono-stage.

I think, I would first have to look very seriously at my speakers to be able to appreciate ANY difference.
Call it a question of the right priority?
Yet, I also know that the Burmester 961's have a VERY linear frequency response also, so then it'd be back to my room?
But now I also know that I have very good room lock / good diffraction / no standing waves...
OK, now we need a much bigger listening room first and I would not disagree but my pockets do :-)
And all this so I can truly appreciate a better RIAA spec?

Again, there is NO, ZERO notable difference in tonality between CD and Vinyl recordings OTHER than provided by different cartridges.
The more neutral the cart the closer in tonality to the CD, with the difference in vinyl adding some more LIFE, simply by the analogue's higher resolution of micro details, e.g. hall information, etc.

We all can agree, that the RIAA error does impact tonality but NOT resolution, (given that L/R are ~ <0.75dB out)