2. analog
  3. 1064785054

Advice wanted on mid range setup

Hi,

Having heard an SME 30 setup blow away a DCS elgar digital at Sound by Singer last year, I am finally ready to get back into analog. (BTW, it was an all out assualt: All boulder electronics, into the JM labs grand utopia using a chesky reissue lp against the same recording on CD. It only took about 10 seconds to come to the conclusion, it was by no means a sublte difference)
My idea was to see if I could find software, stating this weekend. So far, after 2 days of hunting, I have about 70 lps. Cost: Zero.

People will just give this stuff away, amazing. So, I am humbly asking the advice of the analog denziens here for ideas on a rig that will be of matching performance to the rest of my system.

Currently, I have ARC electronics (LS16 MK2, VT100 MK3, CD), running through audioquest cabling (diamond X3 silver balanced interconnects, Caldera Biwire for the speakers) Speakers are Martin Logan Ascents and room treatment is by ASC

I Would like to spend an upper limit of $7,000, including phono stage (tubes, if possible), arm, TT, cartidge, and interconnects. I would be looking for used stuff here on Audiogon, with the possible exception of the cartridge. I have some reservations about buying a pre owned cartridge: is this a valid fear?

Thanks in advance for all you help.
rlips
rlips OP
105 posts
 
Ya know, $400 is what, 5% of 7k? Seriously, I don't think it would be a stretch to tell my wife I came in on budget. If +/- 5% is good enough for the electric utility, it's good enough for me.

Still wondering about the ARC PH3, seems like the 54db is just on the shy side for .4mV output.
Ron
aceto
273 posts
 
Can't improve on TWL, but you might have the pace of acquisition or playing to use Disc Doctor's manual system of terry cloth, purified water, miracle cleaner and brushes until you want to spend more for a machine cleaner. And dont forget the Last preservative to cut friction and noise.
reb1208
518 posts
 
You could get away with 60db for your .4mv cart. 54db is too low- it will sound distant. I am using 64db at 15k loading with my .35mv cart into the LS-25mk1. The LS-25 is set at 18db gain and this is just about right. It is a much better synergy to have proper gain in the phonostage than apply excessive gain in the linestage. The dynamics and information lost can't be recovered. There is a limit to the amount of voltage input before clipping- that the LS16 can handle. The set-up I use just brushes up against that threshold- so be aware of that.
rlips OP
105 posts
 
reb,

Thanks for your ideas, i agree, i want to take as much gain as possible in the phono stage. Any one have any recommendations for very high gain, affordable (1 to 2 k used) tubed phono stages? Or will the very high gain part rule out use of tubes? (gasp)

What is the conventional wisdom about step up transformers?

(BTW, the LS16 will probably become and LS25 in the future, but after i get the analog rig)

thanks again,

ron
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Let's visualize for .4mV cartridge to find an interface between LS16(22dB gain, 120mV input sencitivity)...
After short calculations it figures that the output from discussed PH3 phonostage will be slightly less than 180mV it's not sufficient since there are different levels and even traction speed throughout the record surface may make the cartridge voltage vary one way or the other with sacrifice to detail and dynamics.
If you can get away with used SS Pass X ono or Pass Aleph ono with Twl's sugested the rest of analogue setup than you will have some extra left from your budget to buy records.
More to discover