2. analog
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OK, I said it...

Just got the new turntable running this morning. Installed the Kontrapunkt B on the Rega P9; a most nerve wracking job. Well I can't find a crow and I am not yet ready to eat some, but here are my very preliminary findings based on listening to one side of two albums (one brand new, Art Blakey's "Indestructible"), one that's been on hand for a while, (Dire Straits "Communiqué"):

my greatest peeve, surface noise: way less, but still a bother on softer cuts or portions of pieces where the volume is low;
soundstage: quite incredible;
layering of instruments: quite incredible;
natural tone of the instruments: stunning;
treble: well the cymbals are back the way I like them; sharp attack and decay when hit near the centre, sharp attack and shimmering decay when hit nearer the edge;
bass: not the subwoofer-type of bass, but the overtones are more present, that is an acoustic bass has that plummy quality.

Well I am not a "convert", in the sense at looking at the experience as crossing a threshold from where you never go back. I still think that digital is better at doing silence, which is so necessary in music, and, in letting the sound of soft music come out without the anxiety of tick and pops.

So far, I have not listened to enough music to have a real hard opinion about the merits of better analog equipment. Suffice it to say that in answer to the post wondering if any progress has been made in the last twenty years, I would have to say quite a lot. This is based on a very quick, very subjective appreciation at the moment. What is the table's, what is the arm's, what is the cartridge's contribution in all this: very hard to say, and will never be known since I have no intention of playing mix and match.

Am still using the Sumiko Phono Box for the time being. The next move is a new phono section. Is there another level yet to be achieved with that upgrade? I while back I would have been extremely sceptical, now I hope there is. What bugs me, is to have to make another leap of faith.

Well, I will keep you posted. Good day.
pbb
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Congats on the new phono stage. I suppose a SE version will show up someday.

Raspy noises may be warp-related in that warped spots are harder to clean and rinse effectively. I've heard warp-protected groove grunge many times. Wash and rinse the record thoroughly. Twice. :)

I have a recording of Beethoven's 9th that looks like a potato chip. Had to wash it four times, but now it's as silent as any other LP. Cueing is scary but that's another story.

Humans simply cannot hear warps directly, and if we could no one would describe the sound as "raspy". Do the math. 33.333/60 = .555 Hz for a single warp. A record would have to have 36 warps to reach 20Hz. Unless your woofers are pumping 20+ times/second only whales and elephants can hear them. Be careful if you live near the zoo!

BTW, if surface noise is more pronounced in the right channel near the outer edge, your antiskating may be too high. Rega arms are famous for inaccurate antiskate scales. Try reducing it a bit.
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lugnut
1,190 posts
 
The right channel raspy sound clearly indicates you have a setup or defective cartridge issue, Pbb. Regarding ever so slight edge warp and the associated problem with the first 1/2 inch of the recording being noisy, I have never had such a complaint in well over 30 years even with edge warp that is of questionable playable quality. The woofers pumping nervously indicate that you may have a low frequency feedback issue which requires proper isolation of the turntable. I realize that the tweaking that remains may tax your patience but stay with it to reap the rewards. It's worth repeating again that cleaning your records properly one time will remove most of your noise complaints. Honest. Good luck. You've obviously come a long way.
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
I think Pbb has very acute hearing and is probably noticing stylus drag/speed changes produced at the warp. You seem to me like a modded 1200 candidate, where the analog sound will approach closer that of CD, but w/out artifacts.
pbb OP
1,140 posts
 
My speakers are indeed vented and I experimented by putting my hand over the vent and, lo and behold, the woofers mostly stop their pumping. What I hear appears to be the sound made when the very compliant woofers extend in and out to about their maximum. It is quite audible on soft passages and very annoying. Why did this not happen with my former tt (AR ETL/RB 300/Shure V15Vmr? Is it the lack of suspension in the Rega? Are there speakers or speaker types to be avoided with analogue or at least with Regas? Any thoughts would be appreciated. BTW I have some old Nak in- line filters that I could put between the phono section and line stage that would maybe cure or alleviate the problem, but would there be a downside. Thanks..
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