Table has arrived. Wish I had the cart and I would unpack now :)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35630112@N05/shares/ze0346
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35630112@N05/shares/ze0346
Would love some feedback / Denon DL-S1 / phono match / cart recomendations
Would love some feedback / Denon DL-S1 / phono match / cart recomendations
- Vinyl newbie and need some help
- Friend has a brand new Denon DL-S1 for $600 - good deal?
- I have a Mark Levinson No.326s preamp and just bought the dual mono MM/MC Phono module boards. They are the identical boards from the No,32 preamp and read that was a very nice sounding phono preamp.
- No.326s only has a couple settings 42db or 60 db and 47k ohm or 200 ohm load
- I picked up a used Bob's Device 1131 thinking it would help as my No.326s has limited setting options and read the 1131 might not work well with this cart. That this cart is tough to get the most out of but can be great.
- Should I get another cart? Was it a mistake getting the 1131 SUT. I read the No.326s sounded nice with this SUT so went for it but don't know enough to really know better either way but trying to learn.
- The No.326s phono boards has these little gold terminal screws with easy tighten by hand little knobs on the heads of the screws to add either capacitor or resistor to make the phono very adjustable but would have no idea how to figure out how to use that but thought to mention
- just wondering if this is a bad cart for me to try with my phono and SUT set up and any feedback about anything related to a cart would be super appreciated if anyone reads this. Thanks
more info if helpful below but not need to answer my question just thought to add it :)
______________________________________________________________________________________
I just finished up a full system re-fit with some tweaking here and there still to do but I am extremely happy with the sound I’m getting today from my new to me system. I sold my entire old system that was tubes and high efficiency speakers and got new to me: speakers, amp, preamp, speaker cables and upgraded digital transport and got a new turntable. Kept my DAC never changing that. Love my DAC.
This system is the best I’ve personally ever had. I’m pretty psyched - so psyched I just added a turntable.
A modern Version of the VPI Prime Aries with HRX Feet, 10" 3D Arm and Base, Prime Signature Platter, Ring and Motor.
I am looking for a cart and my friend has a new Denon DL-S1 for $600 he also has a used but good shape Clearaudio Accurate mc cart for a few hundred but i never heard of this one and a van den Hul blackheart grass hopper which I know nothing of.
I thought because the Denon is new never used that was the best option but any of you know anything about the other let me know please.
Would love some feedback / ideas / thought recommendations and help. I’m a digital guy and want to give vinyl and honest to goodness try.
As stated above I just purchased the dual mono Phono board modules for my
Mark Levinson No.326s linestage so it’s now a full function Preamp and added a Bobs Device 1131 SUT and both were attained a very reasonable cost which was great!
Just not sure if these carts will go with my phono and SUT.
Rest of my System:
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5160
- Magico S5 Loudspeakers
- Pass Labs X350.5 Amplifier
- Mark Levinson No.326s Preamp/phonostage
- Bricasti M1 Special Edition DAC
- PS Audio P10 Power Plant
- Kubala-Sosna Emotion SC’s
- Nordost/Cardas IC’s
- Assorted PC's Verastarr/Cardas
- Digital PC based front end that I have been tweaking and evolving:
- Sonore microRendu 1.4
- Full Suite of UpTone Audio Gear
(2) x LPS-1 Ultra Capacitor PS
JS-2 Linear Power Supply
(2) Regens - ISO/Amber
- (8) Canare / Oyide DC cables
- (2) Breeze Audio 12v LPS
- Tellurium Q Black Diamond Reference USB cable
- Curious Regen Link USB Cable.
This Digital Front End beat out: Lumin, Antipodes, Naim and Auralic servers. It needs everything to work so well but man does it work great. My hope is that a turntable can complete and wish some luck I end up liking it better. That’s why I’m asking for help. I want to put my best vinyl foot forward
** Back Ground info**
** Room is **
14 x 24 w/Cathedral Ceilings - 16 Foot a peak
** Music likes **
Assorted Music but no metal or loud hard rock anymore really - not much Large Scale classical either but everything else. I listen just loud enough to sound its best but not a loud listener. I enjoy normal levels.
** Likes / Priorities **
Transparency - Delicacy - Linear - High resolution - microscope but not sterile not etched or lifeless -some natural warmth and life to the music is key but love that see through transparency and love precise soundstage - remove as many layers without being clinical - tight bass - hate flab - but don’t need worlds greatest slam but love speed and accurate bass while being musical.
** Perspective **
I’m only a couple months into this new system and I was struggling to get the right Preamp and tried a half dozen or so searching for the right balance and the one that could bring my new system together like only the perfect matching preamp can do. Each system is different so really it must be heard to know it’s what you want. I believe in the Preamp and knew If I could find the right match it would change everything. Well that was the hope.
To make a long story longer the Mark Levinson No.326s preamp did this and more. I was hedging my expectations based on the disappointments of the others I tried and failed but the No. 326s nailed it and honestly it an incredible Preamp and then some. I was so happy I decided to upgrade and add the built in phonostage option and SUT and Turntable here we are trying to chose a cart.
Really appreciate any help you can provide! I know this is kind of long but wanted you guys to know where I’m coming from! If you would like more info please let me know - all comments and feedback are most welcome and deeply appreciated :)
- Vinyl newbie and need some help
- Friend has a brand new Denon DL-S1 for $600 - good deal?
- I have a Mark Levinson No.326s preamp and just bought the dual mono MM/MC Phono module boards. They are the identical boards from the No,32 preamp and read that was a very nice sounding phono preamp.
- No.326s only has a couple settings 42db or 60 db and 47k ohm or 200 ohm load
- I picked up a used Bob's Device 1131 thinking it would help as my No.326s has limited setting options and read the 1131 might not work well with this cart. That this cart is tough to get the most out of but can be great.
- Should I get another cart? Was it a mistake getting the 1131 SUT. I read the No.326s sounded nice with this SUT so went for it but don't know enough to really know better either way but trying to learn.
- The No.326s phono boards has these little gold terminal screws with easy tighten by hand little knobs on the heads of the screws to add either capacitor or resistor to make the phono very adjustable but would have no idea how to figure out how to use that but thought to mention
- just wondering if this is a bad cart for me to try with my phono and SUT set up and any feedback about anything related to a cart would be super appreciated if anyone reads this. Thanks
more info if helpful below but not need to answer my question just thought to add it :)
______________________________________________________________________________________
I just finished up a full system re-fit with some tweaking here and there still to do but I am extremely happy with the sound I’m getting today from my new to me system. I sold my entire old system that was tubes and high efficiency speakers and got new to me: speakers, amp, preamp, speaker cables and upgraded digital transport and got a new turntable. Kept my DAC never changing that. Love my DAC.
This system is the best I’ve personally ever had. I’m pretty psyched - so psyched I just added a turntable.
A modern Version of the VPI Prime Aries with HRX Feet, 10" 3D Arm and Base, Prime Signature Platter, Ring and Motor.
I am looking for a cart and my friend has a new Denon DL-S1 for $600 he also has a used but good shape Clearaudio Accurate mc cart for a few hundred but i never heard of this one and a van den Hul blackheart grass hopper which I know nothing of.
I thought because the Denon is new never used that was the best option but any of you know anything about the other let me know please.
Would love some feedback / ideas / thought recommendations and help. I’m a digital guy and want to give vinyl and honest to goodness try.
As stated above I just purchased the dual mono Phono board modules for my
Mark Levinson No.326s linestage so it’s now a full function Preamp and added a Bobs Device 1131 SUT and both were attained a very reasonable cost which was great!
Just not sure if these carts will go with my phono and SUT.
Rest of my System:
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5160
- Magico S5 Loudspeakers
- Pass Labs X350.5 Amplifier
- Mark Levinson No.326s Preamp/phonostage
- Bricasti M1 Special Edition DAC
- PS Audio P10 Power Plant
- Kubala-Sosna Emotion SC’s
- Nordost/Cardas IC’s
- Assorted PC's Verastarr/Cardas
- Digital PC based front end that I have been tweaking and evolving:
- Sonore microRendu 1.4
- Full Suite of UpTone Audio Gear
(2) x LPS-1 Ultra Capacitor PS
JS-2 Linear Power Supply
(2) Regens - ISO/Amber
- (8) Canare / Oyide DC cables
- (2) Breeze Audio 12v LPS
- Tellurium Q Black Diamond Reference USB cable
- Curious Regen Link USB Cable.
This Digital Front End beat out: Lumin, Antipodes, Naim and Auralic servers. It needs everything to work so well but man does it work great. My hope is that a turntable can complete and wish some luck I end up liking it better. That’s why I’m asking for help. I want to put my best vinyl foot forward
** Back Ground info**
** Room is **
14 x 24 w/Cathedral Ceilings - 16 Foot a peak
** Music likes **
Assorted Music but no metal or loud hard rock anymore really - not much Large Scale classical either but everything else. I listen just loud enough to sound its best but not a loud listener. I enjoy normal levels.
** Likes / Priorities **
Transparency - Delicacy - Linear - High resolution - microscope but not sterile not etched or lifeless -some natural warmth and life to the music is key but love that see through transparency and love precise soundstage - remove as many layers without being clinical - tight bass - hate flab - but don’t need worlds greatest slam but love speed and accurate bass while being musical.
** Perspective **
I’m only a couple months into this new system and I was struggling to get the right Preamp and tried a half dozen or so searching for the right balance and the one that could bring my new system together like only the perfect matching preamp can do. Each system is different so really it must be heard to know it’s what you want. I believe in the Preamp and knew If I could find the right match it would change everything. Well that was the hope.
To make a long story longer the Mark Levinson No.326s preamp did this and more. I was hedging my expectations based on the disappointments of the others I tried and failed but the No. 326s nailed it and honestly it an incredible Preamp and then some. I was so happy I decided to upgrade and add the built in phonostage option and SUT and Turntable here we are trying to chose a cart.
Really appreciate any help you can provide! I know this is kind of long but wanted you guys to know where I’m coming from! If you would like more info please let me know - all comments and feedback are most welcome and deeply appreciated :)
- ...
- 136 posts total
@fsmithjack , i assume you selected all your components by yourself? If so why do you need our advice for the cart? What you need is the opportunity to hear some also for your self. The carts are the most subjective parts in the whole chain so each advice will only reflects the subjective preference of the adviser. The curious case of our ''dualistic nature'': I want to own the best (possible the most expensive) cart which nobody else can afford but I also want YOU to own the same cart. There is no consistency in such ''double attitude'' (grin). |
Nandric - Thanks Yes and No... lol Every decision I’ve made in my life is my own so no dobt there. I’d like to think I’ve made more good ones than bad ones but heinsight can be such an unfair critic but also a good tool for growth when not too harshly overly employed. One needs to cut oneself some slack for not having a faultless crystal ball if for no other reason than inner peace :) With Audio I’ve found these decisions can be helped with getting information from other people that have first hand experience. Especially Audiophiles and more so on Audiogon. Of course a healthy pinch of salt is required in some instances but most all of it can be enterned into ones own mental algorithm to be employed toward the final decision as long as each part is stratisied to remove as much of the personal opinion as possible. Your just not not going to find a more intelligent, thoughtful, helpful group of people anywhere in any other hobby in my opinion. Maybe the common denominator is a genuine love of music whith all its color and beauty tends to make one want to help. People that so throughly enjoy such beauty and appreciate the challenges of bringing the highest quality of it into our own homes for ourselves and our families seem quite willing to help one another and this common pursuit. This in itself is a fun part of the hobby. Of course the incredibly made and engineered equipment makes it fun also and getting it all to match just right well that’s the challenge and in my opinion one best pursued by pooling our knowledge and experience. i wish had this same pool of knowledge and intelligence to draw from with all the decisions I make in life. My bet is that crystal ball would be less valueable :) I look at he specs and understand or interpret to the best of my ability and then ask for some opinions when I don’t really understand or need some more clarity. That said each time I’ve a taken a bit more time when the opportunity to take it presents itself it helps when the brows are taken in proportion to what I’m trying to learn. All this said if you look at my profile you will see I’ve asked for feedback on my amp, Preamp and Speakers and always got great helpful feedback so this is a decision making tool I find to be invaluable for making better informed decisions regardless of much of it being other folks personal likes or dislikes. It’s still super helpful info. We all love the best sound we can get. :) |
My Gosh I provoked lyrical feelings by @fsmithjack so he wrote an poem in prose about our hobby. The characteristic of modesty and politeness is to ascribe a part of merit to others. In my case this does not apply for my MC search and choices. I deed this on my own (grin). The case is that we have an huge MM- but not an MC thread. |
Dear @fsmithjack : @folkfreak posted to you: """ Of course it will be fun to learn but don’t expect it to be easy and you should do everything you can at this stage not to make it more complicated than it needs to be.... """ he is rigth and problem here is that the LP alternative is the more imperfect one from the recording pick-up signal at the microphones all over when that signal comes out from the speakers. Now, taking in count that fact and that you said are a roockie in the LP alternative then : how can you discern between somany different opinions in different analog subjects when you have " no idea " of any of them? In your thread there are true experts like @dgarretson , @enginedr1960 or @folkfreak and other gentlemans that I really don't know their " pedigree " level about and as always exist the stupid one like me. You and no one I knew or I know can learn and has deep contros in the LP alternative through fforums because is truly different than the digiotal alternative or choose electronics. You will need not months but several years to achieve a quality level performance that can competes against today best digital alternative. Perhaps the fastest gentleman to learns in deep about the LP alternative was and is @dougdeacon and he took some years for that. Btw, that A90 on sale was compared by the owner against the Goldfinger Statement 2 that its price tag is over 15K, this sole comment by him deserves your personal attention. Ortofon was the first that brougth a comercial LOMC cartridge but additional to that one of the best regarded cutting head machines used in the LP recording proccess were the Ortofon ones ( Ortofon had/has one of the best test recording made directly by them in D2D version. ) and this both characteristics gives Ortofon a pedigree level that no other cartridge designers can't ( for now. ) even yet. Here you can read some information of that A90 that between other things comes with the Ortofon exclusive Replicant 100 stylus shape: https://www.ortofon.com/mc-a90-p-634-n-4873 In other side your Pass/Magico combination brings to you power of healthy 120 watts of pure Class A, so normally you will listen it almost all the time in that regarded amp class design. Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
- 136 posts total