Post by cooksferry on Jan 24, 2017 7:03:11 GMT 12
Short and sweet with my room system as very little has changed since AE days several years ago. Turntable- Project RPM10, original version. Can't think of a good reason to change and it'll see me out. Cartridge at present DV20XL Project Speed Box- Dynavector P75 MK3 phono stage. Digital is handled by a Cambridge 752BD-purchased this after MichaelW review on AE , nice being able to play my growing collection of SACDs etc. Amp-Melody SPR9 Speakers still Monitor Audio RS6- I have thoughts from time to time about replacing these but since adding the Cambridge player and a TV to my room I find them quite good for watching movies so they'll probably stay for a while longer. Headphone amps- Oppo HA-1 and Yamamoto HA-02. Neither get as much use as they used to but they're probably here for the duration now. Headphones(in music room) Audeze LCD-3, Audio Technica ATH-W100 and W100X Majority of ICs are now the new KLEI zero series. accessory additions-Mapltree line router which I couldn't live without and added last year a Mapletree Stereo/Mono switch custom built for me by Dr Peppard. Speaker cables- a pair of bi-wired custom length from Cloth Ears. Rack-Soul to Sole multiple image hosting
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 24, 2017 8:02:37 GMT 12
Still a nice Music Den, cooksferry. And a great collection. I remember the Audio Physics. Not using the 'cans' so much these days? The h'phone/amp collection is pretty minimal now I see. Cheers.
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Post by cooksferry on Jan 24, 2017 8:33:25 GMT 12
Mainly use the headphones in my bedroom system Owen. Rega Saturn cdp, Violectric V200 amp and usually Oppo PM-1 headphones although I also have Oppo PM-3 and Grado SR60 phones in there as well. Most headphone use these days is on my walk to work, currently with Grado GR8 IEMs. That's been a bit of a journey which I'll post on in the appropriate forum at some stage.
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 24, 2017 9:44:00 GMT 12
Indeed, I'd like to hear about the headphones again & the amps. And some pics of those lovely ATs & the extraordinary planar magnetic Audeze.
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Post by cooksferry on May 9, 2017 7:40:07 GMT 12
A few changes to the system , must be onset of winter prodding me from my usual lethargy when it comes to updating my setup.
The P75 phono stage has been replaced by the Project Phono RS as detailed elsewhere on the forum.
Of equal importance is a change away from the Dynavector DV20XL I've been using for several years now. I started with an original version and changed to the MK2 model I was surprised to see as far back as 2011. With my fairly low weekly use I'd reckon the cartridge would have around 1600 hours up, so maybe past time to change ?
I have two cartridges on the way, a Dynavector XX2 , a taste of higher end, or maybe just as far as I'm willing to go with my TT/arm etc and a Hana SL. Simon was out of the SL model but I have purchased a low hour demo cart with the option to return and exchange for a new one when they arrive. Just as a side note, dealing with him was a pleasure, the quickest service I've ever had in my audio life. Intention is to run the Hana first for a couple of weeks and see how I feel about it and make a decision to go for the new one. A plus with this is that the SL should have enough hours up that it will be showing its full potential without having to work through any run in process.
The XX2 will have to take a back seat for a few weeks but I'll be looking forward to making a comparison against the DV20 and hopefully realise a recognisable gain in sq.
i live in hope that these two carts will see my vinyl adventures out. If and when father time makes a move to a smaller home inevitable there wont be room for stereo systems and hundreds of lps.
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Post by guitardude on May 9, 2017 9:28:42 GMT 12
Please let us know how you get on with the SL cooks. All this talk of retirement and downsizing round here gets me wondering about the demographic here. We are all old codgers aren't we, in fact apart from Mr Heathen is there anyone else here under the age of 40 ?
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Post by cooksferry on May 9, 2017 9:34:42 GMT 12
Please let us know how you get on with the SL cooks. All this talk of retirement and downsizing round here gets me wondering about the demographic here. We are all old codgers aren't we, in fact apart from Mr Heathen is there anyone else here under the age of 40 ? Will do. It appears I may have spoken too soon about the XX2 as Soundline are out of stock. No matter, waiting is good for the soul and decades of ordering from overseas teaches patience if nothing else. Sadly it does appear the audio/hifi as we know it is a pursuit of mainly middle aged plus men. Most of the audio focused younger generations are now lurking on Headfi and the like.
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Post by cooksferry on May 12, 2017 16:58:46 GMT 12
Well after a series of slight misadventures which included wrong length cartridge bolts, leaving the phono on mute and having to reset the lifter arm after adjusting VTA I finally managed a quick listen to the Hana SL. I'm not totally happy with final setting (Baerwald using the Dr Feickert protractor), there's probably a few micro adjustments to do yet. Once I finally got sound there was another wtf moment before I realised I had set the front loading knob around 400, not very nice. Resetting to 40 produced a much better sound, finally getting in the game but again there's some more testing to be done there. Only had time to play part of two albums, the recent Trinty Session (2xlp) Cowboy Junkies and the reissue of Jeff Buckley's Grace (ORG 2xlp@45rpm) Sound compared to the DV20, not the bass weight or what I'd call exuberance of the Dyna . Not lacking in bass, better focused and maybe better control of individual notes . Mid range very good,nice reproduction of voices and instruments with just the hint of breakup very very occasionally at the top end. A final tune in of the cartridge may solve any potential problems there. I'm struggling a little to find the right term to describe the Hana and the best that springs to mind right now is controlled. I said above that I found the DV20 quite dynamic/exuberant with a little too much energy at times, the Hana reigns that in without committing the sin of blandness. This is very early days but I can hear plenty of potential in the SL and once it's dialed in it could be on the arm for quite some time. Impressively quiet in the grooves as well with nice black backgrounds in quiet passages.
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Post by Owen Y on May 12, 2017 17:45:09 GMT 12
Hi cooksferry - be sure to start with the Phonobox RS set on 'V' & Input Imped on '30', for the Hana SL. 2gm VTF or a bit more 2.2gm I recall seeing a reviewer recommending (the latter will drop VTA a bit, less brightness, more warmth). Try also Input Imped at 20 & 60 also - note dynamics may change a bit. VTA should be good for starters with level cart top plate.
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Post by cooksferry on May 12, 2017 18:35:55 GMT 12
Hi Owen, that's pretty much the settings I have at this stage although Input Imped is around 40 for now. Shame that doesn't work by a remote, sit in the seat and dial in the changes. Will def play with VTF, always thought the Dyna worked better at the top of its range. Away from home for a few days from tomorrow so wont get a chance for more play till next weekend.
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Post by Owen Y on May 13, 2017 18:26:18 GMT 12
Of course, you will have the 'rocker switch' 1 set to '10R' (not '47k')? As per instructions for Low-output MC.
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Post by cooksferry on May 22, 2017 7:23:58 GMT 12
Big thanks to Owen for sending me a pair of cartridge screws which enabled me to fit a small spacer(as supplied by Simon@Wand) between the arm and cart body. After fitting the Hana I'm resolved to never, ever buy any cartridge that doesn't have have threaded inserts and parallel body sides. My eyes and hands sure aren't what they were twenty years ago when I was super detailing 1/43rd scale model cars. Having dropped one screw twice and nuts three times I was getting used to crawling over the carpet. Fortunately my eyes still work quite well although the nylon washer was a real bugger to find. . I initially used the Dr Feickert protractor for setup but because of the position of the table I found it difficult getting a good angle and in the end resorted first to using the old Hi Fi News protractor and lp then did a final check and set with the DB proctor which has bigger grids that the Feickert . After all that the Hana sounds pretty much as before although I'm wondering if its still settling in as from time to time there's a distinct change in tone from track to track , especially on the new Nick Cave best Of, although that may be explained by it being a compilation with tracks mixed around from various times, studios etc. Still another moth or so till the Dyna XX2 arrived so time to give the Hana a fair workout and evaluation. Owen, at this stage running input impedance at 30 sounds best to me.
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Post by Owen Y on May 22, 2017 10:30:05 GMT 12
Phono Box RS, further settings to try: (i) As the Hana SL has coil imped of 30 ohms, according to specs I see, it should perform well with 'V' (variable) settings up to 20 times that, ie. anything up to around 700 ohms (on the rotary Ohms selector knob). Try them all, if you haven't already done so.....overall dynamics & tonal balance. (ii) Try also regular 47k setting (as Michael's usual preference) - select 'F' (fixed) & flick the rocker switch down to '47k'. (iii) You could also try the 'alternative' low MC setting mentioned, ie. select 'F' & '10R' - unlikely to be suitable for a 30ohm MC, but you never know! The Phono Box RS has comprehensive settings, but I imagine, could be confusing
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Post by michaelw on May 22, 2017 11:40:28 GMT 12
amen on threaded inserts and parallel sides. ever try aligning a cartridge with a round body ? or securing with round nuts ? colour me 47k, i'm a straight-in kinda guy
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Post by Owen Y on May 22, 2017 16:03:36 GMT 12
ever try aligning a cartridge with a round body ? Or a tonearm with rounded, all-enveloping headshell, like an SPU or FR64 ....
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Post by Owen Y on May 30, 2017 16:55:57 GMT 12
cooksferry - how would you describe the overall sound of the Hana SL now? Overall & also in comparison with the DV20XL?
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Post by cooksferry on May 31, 2017 7:03:52 GMT 12
Haven't had a lot of playing time Owen and it seems to change from time to time. Definitely not as muscular(?) to my ears as the DV20. After living with two DV20s for several years it is requiring some adjustment. I don't know that I'd call it an ideal cart if you just listened to heavier rock music as I feel it lacks a little in the bottom end, not in depth but weight and slam for want of better description. I always thought that the Dynas were quiet trackers but if anything the Hana puts up a blacker background. I could definitely live with it as my only cartridge but I think that there might sometimes be a feeling that I was just missing a little. I've played around with settings for at least a couple of hours and feel that I have things pretty well lined up but maybe it's a bit fussier than the DV20. Starting a couple of weeks annual leave on Friday so hopefully get some music time in. My actual time spent listening to lps is only a couple of hours per week usually. I have a bundle of stuff that I still have to listen to Unfortunately my listening sessions with Foveaux are few and far these days as I'd enjoy hearing his impressions as another DV20 owner.
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 26, 2017 15:56:34 GMT 12
The Dynavector XX-2 finally arrived today. First look provoked an Oh Dear moment, so fine and fragile looking around the cantilever, will definietly have to pick a day when the hands and eyes are working together before attempting fitment.
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Post by guitardude on Jun 26, 2017 16:07:09 GMT 12
Handy Hint #3. Wear a short sleeve shirt, and don't drink too much coffee beforehand !
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 26, 2017 16:28:47 GMT 12
Yes, and hide the whiskey bottle would probably help as well.
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Post by guitardude on Jun 27, 2017 13:35:36 GMT 12
I dunno, a wee dram to calm your nerves beforehand.....
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Post by foveaux on Jun 27, 2017 15:23:35 GMT 12
You'll nail it cooks... What I'm (we're) REALLY interested in - is how it sound in your system - right out of the box and as it settles in. Looking forward to your progress reports f
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2017 5:31:54 GMT 12
I'd be happy to offer a steady pair of hands... But alas, the only stylus I've ever broken belonged to guitardude ...oops. A very humble and forgiving chap.
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 28, 2017 7:35:42 GMT 12
I'd be happy to offer a steady pair of hands... But alas, the only stylus I've ever broken belonged to guitardude ...oops. A very humble and forgiving chap. Obviously he's a gentleman of the highest order. No muttering under his breath, no counting to 10? I hope to work myself into a frenzy this weekend and fit the cart but there's a winter section cleanup to complete that ranks higher at the moment.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2017 10:43:16 GMT 12
Poor chap counts to ten every time we speak... Good luck with the mount anyhoo. From hard work comes reward they say...
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 3, 2017 7:55:05 GMT 12
The heavens piddled down yesterday so perfect time to mount the Dyna XX2. The actual physical mounting to the arm took about a minute, score one to Dyna over Hana. Set up alignment using the Dr F gauge then followed up with a recheck using the DB protractor. Rather than aligning with the cartridge body I used the cantilever and think I have it pretty well dialed in, if it's out it'll only be micro amount. As a final check that everything was wired up used various tracks on the HiFi News test disc and then good to go. The Project Phono RS I have left pretty much the same as the Hana SL setting with impedance set just a hair over 30 Ohms. Did try raising that a small amount , didn't seem to make a discernible difference but possible further experimentation there in the future. At this stage I have set tracking weight in the middle of the suggested range of 120-220 gram.
Initial thoughts after a couple of hours use- very quiet background like the Hana but the XX2 tames the occasional etching at the higher end I found with the SL. Lovely midrange but lacks a bit of the bass weight my previous DV20XL had . On the other hand the XX2 exhibits tighter control so that individual notes have a beginning and end rather than smearing into each other. I know it's early days yet to make any snap judgments but for sheer boogie factor I'd have to give a slight nod to the Hana SL as it's the one cartridge I've had that seems to have a direct line from the record to my feet.
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 3, 2017 10:46:56 GMT 12
cooksferry - I may have put you wrong on the Impedance knob setting on the Phono Box RS, for the Hana SL (& the XX2).... The Phono Box manual gives the example of an Ortofon Quintet Black & suggests setting the variable Impedance at 7 ohms. This I can only assume is to match Coil impedance of the Quintet, which is specified at 5 ohms. IOW the Impedance knob is to match cartrdige coil/source Impedance, not the recommended load impedance for the cartridge (which is specified >20 ohms for the Quintet). But I could be wrong! The knob settings from 10 - 1200 ohms, seem to be interpreted by most other people as meaning input load impedance. If this is the case, then.... For the Hana SL (coil imped 30 ohms I believe) - recommended load Impedance is >400 ohms. For the XX2 (coil impedance 6 ohms) - recommended load impedance is >30 ohms. Anyhow, the Phono Box RS allows you to change this while listening, a nice feature. YMMV but usually, at the lower end of recommended loading range, HF becomes sweeter (taming of the ultrasonic peaking of the MC cartr), but bass becomes softer. So, you can adjust to suit your system/ear. Normally, for most low output MCs, like the XX2, start at around 100 ohms loading - then adjust up/down & listen. Let us know how it works out.
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 3, 2017 10:53:21 GMT 12
Tried the Hana up around the 400 ohms and higher, didn't like it at all.
Noticed in my earlier post i said the tracking range was 120-220 gms, oops should be 180-220. I'm set at 200 gms for now.
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 3, 2017 10:59:12 GMT 12
Is that 1.8 - 2.2gms? Yes, start at higher end of tracking force, for a new cartridge suspension. Also, many low compliance MC carts are sensitive to cold temps - my fussy MC sounds immensely better when I heat the room ambient temp above 22degC! More lively, more dynamic, better tracking..... etc etc
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 3, 2017 11:28:01 GMT 12
this time of the year Owen the heater in my music room gets turned on about an hour before I venture out to play. It is fully insulated as well.
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