Post by sub on May 11, 2018 17:35:04 GMT 12
Oh my,, this is an amazing phono pre. Arrived today and it is superb. lets step back. Last year GaryM refurbished my Plinius 8150 integrated amplifier, and in our email discussions I asked, tongue in cheek, why didn’t they make an affordable phono pre like the old Plinius Jarrah (which I had used many years ago and loved). He surprised me by saying that a well priced pre was in the pipeline, and to check back with him in April this year. He said it would not be a Jarrah clone, as that pre did have some shortcomings. The new model would be much more refined in performance. I asked in April if the new Pre was ready for audition yet. Gary said, not quite ready yet, BUT, they had something t here I may be interested in. A prototype PureAudio Vinyl, with early boards, some hand hard wiring, but in all respects identical in specs to the latest production model. The catch, it was configured for MM only. I talked to MichaelW via the message board here, even though my heart was already saying YES, and he confirmed how excellent his one is. On another topic here, there is a discussion about MM and MI carts, where Deano1974 enthusiastically praised MM carts. After that I did not need persuading, and bought it. is housed in a brand new casing, and was given the option of silver or black finish. I choose silver. It arrived today. Set it up, first LP Perlman & Ashkenazy playing Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano. Superb. The dynamics I was craving, and missing with my Denon DL103R through the MC input on the Plinius 8150, were there in spades, instrumental tone absolutely pure, and the music just ebbed and flowed in an absolutely natural way. i am saving for a new, good quality MM cart, and my initial listening is with a budget Shure M75B. Next LP up, Jennifer Warnes Famous Blue Raincoat. Again, dynamics spot on, music flowed, although the revealing nature of the Pre demonstrated the budget nature of the cart with Jennifer’s voice just a tad lacking refinement. Also have a better quality cart here, a Linn K18, but haven’t got around to the tedium of setting it up on the TT as yet. Wet weekend coming, so may try the K18 then. But, I really must get a more upmarket cartridge installed. Very impressed about the quality of finish, the way the amp was packaged, and the clear instructions. Wish I could afford more of their products!   
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Post by michaelw on May 11, 2018 18:30:17 GMT 12
woo hooooooo glad you like it 
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Post by Owen Y on May 12, 2018 12:03:44 GMT 12
Great score! 
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Post by sub on May 13, 2018 13:45:26 GMT 12
Got the Linn K18 cart set up and fitted after much bumbling and fumbling! Fitting a cart onto a Headshell is never easy, especially with this cart as the little nuts do not fit in the groove on the cart body. Which meant the hole in the nut did not line up with the hole in the body, so had to install the screws upside down, which made for awkwardness when lining things up with my alignment protractor. Then had trouble setting playing weight and anti skate, so went back to the manual and found I was doing it wrong!
Finally able to play a record, but no sound from L spkr! Close inspection revealed in my fumbling I had dislodged the L earth wire from the little connection on the headshell.
This experience certainly lifts the Ortofon 2M carts to the top of the preference list, because of their predrilled bodies not requiring fiddly nuts for installation.
Have been listening to Satchmo, Verdi, Clapton, Gillian Welch, among others. Slightly more refined than the Shure M75B, but not a lot in it. Mind you, the K18 hasn’t been used for more than 12years, so may need time to loosen up.
Though there is a bit more clarity in the voices. For instance, in the 1959 recording of Satchmo singing “Uncle Satchmo’s Lullaby” I was able to hear clearly that 12 yr old Gabriele, it was apparently a famous duet in Germany, was singing in German language!
Haven’t played around with the externally accessible configuration switches yet. Switch 1 down = 200pF, while switches 2 to 6 add loading resistors of the following values -
1kOhms, 470kOhms, 220Ohms, 100Ohms, 47Ohms.
Currently using all switches up for 47kOhms. Being non technical, I wonder what, or if, any difference in sound would be heard by changing configuration?
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Post by Owen Y on May 13, 2018 14:47:59 GMT 12
Not familiar with the K18, but being a MM cart, 47k Ohms is the usual load R. 200pF is often a suggested value for MMs, but try without - it may make a difference to treble tone.
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Post by michaelw on May 13, 2018 17:05:59 GMT 12
ask gary how this phono stage is MM only.
is it just in the gain ?
modern MM stages usually have no facility to change loading.
are the loading switches active ?
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Post by sub on May 13, 2018 18:16:57 GMT 12
Yes, that is what I was wondering - probably not, will ask him next week.
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Post by sub on May 14, 2018 10:48:38 GMT 12
Checked with GaryM. All configuration switches are active. MM only because of the set gain.
Guess this would tick all of deano1974 boxes, because of its ability to select a variety of loads, and the option of two capacitance settings - 100pF or 200pF
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Post by Owen Y on May 14, 2018 10:54:37 GMT 12
Try 100pF too & note any change in treble tone.
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Pundit
Post by garym on May 14, 2018 11:34:54 GMT 12
Great that it is being enjoyed. This unit was a pre-production one that was modified to ascertain the appropriate resistor values to set the gain for moving magnet. It still has the standard MC loading components installed. Apart from that everything is as per the production units. We've had exceptional reviews for this product over the past 5-6 years. We were happy to let it go to someone who would appreciate it at a very good price. :-)
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Post by sub on May 14, 2018 13:03:47 GMT 12
Try 100pF too & note any change in treble tone. Am using standard setting with all switches up, which sets capacitance at 100pF. Switch 1 down gives 200pF. I haven’t tried that yet. Want to get familiar with the sound I am hearing before making changes.
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Post by michaelw on May 14, 2018 18:43:58 GMT 12
Checked with GaryM. All configuration switches are active. MM only because of the set gain. Guess this would tick all of deano1974 boxes, because of its ability to select a variety of loads, and the option of two capacitance settings - 100pF or 200pF fiddle away ! top load setting is still 47k ? back in the day some of those pesky MMs were happiest at 100k ohm, which the top Japanese amplifiers offered.
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Post by sub on May 16, 2018 10:36:24 GMT 12
Well, I am knocked sideways! The above discussion about the MC loading components still being installed, encouraged me to fit my Denon DL103R MC cart. Selected 100 ohm resistor on the Vinyl Pre, Music issued forth! Had to turn volume up to 12 on the dial compared to 9 for MM.
Compared to the Linn K18? Very similar dynamics and tone, but the Denon was more nuanced and presented the quiet passages with precision and emotion - was listening to Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio, Du Pre/Barenboim/Zukerman. Superb performance.
Reviewed my emails with Gary to see where I got the impression this pre was for MM only. His first offer said “set up for MM”, quickly followed by another, saying “Oops, I see you have a Denon MC”.
I took this to mean it was for MM only and I answered, inter alia, that was ok as I had two other, both MM, carts. And from there we proceeded to conclude the transaction.
Totally surprised and very pleased to say the least. Will still go ahead and get a classy MM cart to add to the collection. Had intended to sell the Denon, but it is now a definite keeper!
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Post by michaelw on May 16, 2018 10:54:51 GMT 12
gary has a denon 103 too !
according to gm the pav has enough headroom to handle a high output cartridge.
i tried mine with an ortofon p-mount mm in my technics sl7 while trying to fix a tracking problem.
the cartridge was rubbish, much worse than my ortofon mc200 and it didn't fix the tracking problem.
but the phono stage handled its output without fuss.
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Post by sub on May 16, 2018 12:21:52 GMT 12
Well, the Denon DL103R has very low output of .25mV, and it plays perfectly via the pav with switch 6 down selecting a resistor load of 100 Ohms!
Just finished listening to Miss Ronstadt singing on side 2 of For Sentimental Reasons. Just perfect, the timbre of her voice and its presence - shut your eyes and you can almost imagine her in the room.
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Post by sub on May 19, 2018 17:38:25 GMT 12
Ok, the low output 103r has its limitations in this set up. As per above, I have to turn the volume control on the Plinius 8150 up to 12 o’clock to get volume equal to that ffrom the K18 turned up to 9 o’clock.
Just played a new copy of Pink Floyd’s wish You Were Here, and while the presentation via the 103r was perfectly nuanced, it wasn’t loud enough. I think the issue is the 8150 hits full volume around 12 o’clock. It does go louder up to say 1230, but after that no increase in volume, rather the sound seems to “harden” up, but never distorts.
Changed back to the K18 cart, volume turned up to 1130 and hard ass rock was again being played in my room!
So, the 103r is perfect for chamber music and less demanding pop/rock. Havent played any real jazz yet, apart from Satchmo and Linda Ronstadt singing standards, but
probably ok for small ensembles as well. I need a good all-rounder. Will be listening to a few carts soon, so hopefully nirvana is just around the corner!
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Post by andrewp on Dec 18, 2019 15:57:03 GMT 12
Santa Garym is flying over my place tonight as Ive been very good and eaten all my veggies, been nice at least once in the last month to someone somewhere and have even let my son win at chess... The Lyra is very much looking forward to seeing Santa too....
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Post by michaelw on Dec 18, 2019 16:19:50 GMT 12
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Post by andrewp on Dec 19, 2019 16:45:27 GMT 12
I havent hooked it up as yet but Garys people learned their boxing skills in at the school of Esoteric! Tripple boxing. Very well packed for the ride with Santa.
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Post by michaelw on Dec 19, 2019 20:40:18 GMT 12
gary drop it off in person ?
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Pundit
Post by neilsan on Dec 19, 2019 21:35:19 GMT 12
Guess I get my P75/4 back now!
Unless you prefer it to the Vinyl!!
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Post by andrewp on Dec 19, 2019 22:00:36 GMT 12
No you cant have it back at all...I sold it to Owen for $50
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Pundit
Post by neilsan on Dec 20, 2019 17:34:38 GMT 12
That's OK. I grabbed your speakers for ransom. Had to make 2 trips though!
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Post by andrewp on Dec 24, 2019 15:41:01 GMT 12
So....
My people have been over and hooked Santas newly delivered black box over yesterday and the single word I would use is "More"....simple really
Neil M very kindly loaned me a new Dynavector while Santas men were busying themselves with my new one.
It has more of everything. I dont need to get into the specs etc as you can all do that if that is what is important. A simple single power light in the front tells me its ready for business and thats it. All the goodness enveloped in Garys folded case work. Its quite a deep unit but sits nicely next the bulk of the OMA slate plinthed 401.
The Vinyl has extended the sounded in every direction. The newly fitted Lyra clearly is very happy with its new running mate too!
Couldnt be happier with this,definitely a keeper here for me!!
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Post by michaelw on Dec 24, 2019 15:51:49 GMT 12
nice ! you know the drill... photos
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Post by Citroen on Dec 24, 2019 15:54:19 GMT 12
No! No photos please. Its just going to make me green with envy... 
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Post by andrewp on Dec 24, 2019 16:07:40 GMT 12
Photos are a menace to load and Im too stupid to work it out!!
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Post by michaelw on Dec 24, 2019 21:28:54 GMT 12
hahah photos are easy using a third party host like imgur. signup for a free account add your photos, best to resize to say 15in monitor size to keep images at a reasonable size. then just copy and paste the BB code to your post and enter your reply. simple
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Pundit
Post by garym on Dec 24, 2019 21:37:30 GMT 12
Nice Christmas Eve report this. Seasons Greetings! 🎅
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Pundit
Post by harvey on Dec 25, 2019 7:31:01 GMT 12
Photos are a menace to load and Im too stupid to work it out!! If you view the forum on a mobile using Tapatalk all you need to do is select the photo from your gallery. It's as easy as attaching a photo to a txt or email. Merry Xmas everyone!
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