Ah the joys of audio;and once more a lesson in believing your own ears and not somebody elses - who should of course do likewise! I agree with everything written here except the conclusion; where I take the reverse tack for similar reasons that Ekobesky has returned to his favourite DL 160 whilst I hunt round for a used Elys 2!
Although I cannot confirm the equivelence of the Elys 1 to the Signet/AT 440ML. Interestingly I've seen reviews where that Cartridge's strengths echo those of the DL-160 rather than the Elys!
I got an Elys 1 with a Linn BASIC LVX arm which I planned to replace the Profile unit on my venerable Systemdek. When dismounting the Profile I discovered this big 22mm hole...the perfect fit for a REGA arm! Re-sell the LVX and buy a 300 - LVX didn't fit anyway! Mounted my old Grado "Brown"(Green body, Gold stylus). Disappointment: this is a "Class B" arm??!! Swizz!!
Then I noticed the 3rd hole in the Elys(which I'd hung on to!) with bolts. I also discovered what a doddle cartrige mounting is with that 3rd hole and a protractor. Bingo! Now I can renew my subscription! Everything opened out, and while not more lively certainly dug deeper into the grooves and I noticed a particular synergy with Drums and Bass, not to mention all Orchestral Woodwind instruments. This was matched with a most satisfying attack on Piano works. My system swung in other words, and Music which had done nothing to me previously took on a more positive perspective.
Then the stylus lost it's edge quite suddenly and it was back to normal. but the 1 had been replaced by the 2 and the price had jumped considerably. Then a used 2 with low hours turned on UK ebay and I got it for 1/3 full price! But it wasn't broken in..50 hours later...YESSSS! As the one but MUCH greater inner detail(better stylus?)But both cartridges lacked good lateral Stereo Imaging(depth good though, but I've tubes in the loop so...) and placement was imprecise on many records: classical in particular. Stylus went again(18 months).
Found a DL-160 that some poor guy was getting rid of cos the stylus was gunged up. I cleaned it with some effort, mounted it with equal effort-MISS that 3rd hole routine - and WOW! Pretty damn spectacular! Even more so after replacing my old Mission 770S's with Magneplanar MG 1.4's I picked up for $400 on Craigslist.
But after a while I began to find it fatiguing to listen to as I did with digital. I began - and still do - to yearn for the Ely 2's beguiling rendition of all types of music. Mind you, now I've tube buffered my phono preamp output and rolled a pair of Electro-Harmonix 12ax7EH tubes into the paired mono MIC amps I'm using for the purpose, the harshness has diminished somewhat! Sometimes experimentation and the recommendations of others don't always pan out. But what to do? I got the Elys 2 from a guy that got a deal on an Exact he couldn't pass up...so it goes...
Current(subject to change!)Set-up:
DUNLOP SYSTEMDEK IIX w/Acrylic SOTA SUPERMAT&REFLEX CLAMP, above Nonfelt base mat. HEED ORBIT PS(45rpm at the flick of a switch: WUNDERBAR!)
REGA RB300: Cardas rewired & Pete Riggle counterweight, REGA
vta nut with armnut ABOVE board.
Denon DL-160, Elys 2
ART DJ Pre II phono preamp; 2# ART STUDIO TUBE MP (mono)Mic preamps w/ TRS-RCA cable(pkg works with Digital and between pre-pwr too!).
B&K CS115 LINE PREAMP: running Passive mode for Acoustic/Active mode for Electric music.
B&K ST-140(blk&gold:105w) PWR AMP
Magneplanar MG 1.4 speakers.
Knukonceptz "KRYSTAL" interconnects & "KASA" 12awg silver on copper speaker wire.
PS if anyone has an ELYS 2 low hours...!!!
Although I cannot confirm the equivelence of the Elys 1 to the Signet/AT 440ML. Interestingly I've seen reviews where that Cartridge's strengths echo those of the DL-160 rather than the Elys!
I got an Elys 1 with a Linn BASIC LVX arm which I planned to replace the Profile unit on my venerable Systemdek. When dismounting the Profile I discovered this big 22mm hole...the perfect fit for a REGA arm! Re-sell the LVX and buy a 300 - LVX didn't fit anyway! Mounted my old Grado "Brown"(Green body, Gold stylus). Disappointment: this is a "Class B" arm??!! Swizz!!
Then I noticed the 3rd hole in the Elys(which I'd hung on to!) with bolts. I also discovered what a doddle cartrige mounting is with that 3rd hole and a protractor. Bingo! Now I can renew my subscription! Everything opened out, and while not more lively certainly dug deeper into the grooves and I noticed a particular synergy with Drums and Bass, not to mention all Orchestral Woodwind instruments. This was matched with a most satisfying attack on Piano works. My system swung in other words, and Music which had done nothing to me previously took on a more positive perspective.
Then the stylus lost it's edge quite suddenly and it was back to normal. but the 1 had been replaced by the 2 and the price had jumped considerably. Then a used 2 with low hours turned on UK ebay and I got it for 1/3 full price! But it wasn't broken in..50 hours later...YESSSS! As the one but MUCH greater inner detail(better stylus?)But both cartridges lacked good lateral Stereo Imaging(depth good though, but I've tubes in the loop so...) and placement was imprecise on many records: classical in particular. Stylus went again(18 months).
Found a DL-160 that some poor guy was getting rid of cos the stylus was gunged up. I cleaned it with some effort, mounted it with equal effort-MISS that 3rd hole routine - and WOW! Pretty damn spectacular! Even more so after replacing my old Mission 770S's with Magneplanar MG 1.4's I picked up for $400 on Craigslist.
But after a while I began to find it fatiguing to listen to as I did with digital. I began - and still do - to yearn for the Ely 2's beguiling rendition of all types of music. Mind you, now I've tube buffered my phono preamp output and rolled a pair of Electro-Harmonix 12ax7EH tubes into the paired mono MIC amps I'm using for the purpose, the harshness has diminished somewhat! Sometimes experimentation and the recommendations of others don't always pan out. But what to do? I got the Elys 2 from a guy that got a deal on an Exact he couldn't pass up...so it goes...
Current(subject to change!)Set-up:
DUNLOP SYSTEMDEK IIX w/Acrylic SOTA SUPERMAT&REFLEX CLAMP, above Nonfelt base mat. HEED ORBIT PS(45rpm at the flick of a switch: WUNDERBAR!)
REGA RB300: Cardas rewired & Pete Riggle counterweight, REGA
vta nut with armnut ABOVE board.
Denon DL-160, Elys 2
ART DJ Pre II phono preamp; 2# ART STUDIO TUBE MP (mono)Mic preamps w/ TRS-RCA cable(pkg works with Digital and between pre-pwr too!).
B&K CS115 LINE PREAMP: running Passive mode for Acoustic/Active mode for Electric music.
B&K ST-140(blk&gold:105w) PWR AMP
Magneplanar MG 1.4 speakers.
Knukonceptz "KRYSTAL" interconnects & "KASA" 12awg silver on copper speaker wire.
PS if anyone has an ELYS 2 low hours...!!!