I own a prime with a Soundsmith Carmen MKII. I also have a decent DAC, and I can tell you that it does compete with the digital. I listen to my LPs about 80% of the time.
HELP PLEASE - VPI Classic Signature 3D Arm or Dr. Feickert Woodpecker Jelco Arm
Need some help guys from the well informed analog folks.
VPI Classic Signature w/3D arm - New Open Box - Soundsmith Carman MKII Cart is brand new
or
Dr. Feickert Woodpecker Jelco arm static demo - Dynavector 20x2 Cart is brand new
Both tables are either static demo’s or open box and mint and from reputable dealers the carts are brand new and will be mounted for me.
Both are around $4,400 price all in.
I’m open to other options but landed on these two for best for the price I thought and these are the carts for this price target that each dealer can offer. Trying to not make things too crazy option wise but I always get great info from you guys so please share any and all thoughts. What one would you get? Either?
Here in my situation:
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.
Best I’ve personally ever had. I’m pretty psyched - so psyched I want to add a turntable and a decent / competent but reasonable priced cart to startout and then if needed I can upgrade later.
Will these tables have a legit chance to be at least as good as my Digital do you think?
Could they sound better or no chance? Everyone says vinyl is better when using decent enough equipment so I’ll list the rest of my rig below to get your opinions.
Would love some feedback / ideas / thought recommendations and help. I’m a digital guy and want to give vinyl and honest to goodness try.
For my phonostage I just purchased the dual mono Phono board modules for my
Mark Levinson No.326s linestage so it’s now a full function Preamp with built in phonostage as well which was done at a reasonable cost which is great!
Here is some other info that may be relevant. Thanks so much for the help!
** 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 here we are :)
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 for the budget it listed as I already own the Phonostage so my budget is for table, arm and 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 :)
VPI Classic Signature w/3D arm - New Open Box - Soundsmith Carman MKII Cart is brand new
or
Dr. Feickert Woodpecker Jelco arm static demo - Dynavector 20x2 Cart is brand new
Both tables are either static demo’s or open box and mint and from reputable dealers the carts are brand new and will be mounted for me.
Both are around $4,400 price all in.
I’m open to other options but landed on these two for best for the price I thought and these are the carts for this price target that each dealer can offer. Trying to not make things too crazy option wise but I always get great info from you guys so please share any and all thoughts. What one would you get? Either?
Here in my situation:
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.
Best I’ve personally ever had. I’m pretty psyched - so psyched I want to add a turntable and a decent / competent but reasonable priced cart to startout and then if needed I can upgrade later.
Will these tables have a legit chance to be at least as good as my Digital do you think?
Could they sound better or no chance? Everyone says vinyl is better when using decent enough equipment so I’ll list the rest of my rig below to get your opinions.
Would love some feedback / ideas / thought recommendations and help. I’m a digital guy and want to give vinyl and honest to goodness try.
For my phonostage I just purchased the dual mono Phono board modules for my
Mark Levinson No.326s linestage so it’s now a full function Preamp with built in phonostage as well which was done at a reasonable cost which is great!
Here is some other info that may be relevant. Thanks so much for the help!
** 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 here we are :)
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 for the budget it listed as I already own the Phonostage so my budget is for table, arm and 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 :)
- ...
- 26 posts total
Dear @fsmithjack : """ because I just know so little and would like a turntable that would sound better than my digital and has that great sound everyone speaks of. """ Years ago was more easy to define which analog rig beats the digital alternative but today the top digital alternative is unbeatable not only by the analog/LP but even by the R2R one. Digital alternative growing up to today very high status and does not stops there, almost every day digital is improving where analog/LP just " stays " as 10 years o more status: no true/real improvements and with almost no hope to improves. I’m a music lover and analog lover too but I can’t close the sun with one finger to tell that analog beats digital alternative when in true reality is the other way around: like it or not to we analog lovers. I speak in that way because my main target is to be/stay nearer/truer to the recording and the endless imperfection characteristics in the recording and playback of the analog/LP alternative preclude to be nearer to te recording ( on what the microphones pick up. ) as the digital one. This is a fact, no discussion about: it’s useless and in this same forum we analized more than one time that true. Why audiophiles are in love with analog/LP? because almost all of us are accustomed to the analog/LP high distortions levels. We are not accustomed to the real true that’s what digital shows to us. In the next link you can read this by the OP of the thread ( a truly " modest " system vs yours but.....says a lot. ): """ But recently I got a PS Audio Directstream Jr Dac and it’s blowing my mind - for the first time in my life I am listening to way more digital than analog. """ the link: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/vac-sigma-160i-se-or-arc-ls26-primaluna-dialogue-premium If I was you what I make is to invest in continue fine tunning the room/system including that digital alternative at software/hardware levels. These money and consuming time will gives you more enjoyment/rewards than the best analog/LP experience in that system. Now, looking your very nice audio system I see that you have two subwoofers that I don’t know how are connected . Your speakers cross over to the mid range at around 300 hz that’s to high frequency that develops intermodulation distortion level that are higher than what is desired ( even with the Magico " pedigree ". ) So, the subwoofers for stereo listening is a must to have and not as bass reinforcement but to lower in significative levels that intermodulation distortion and harmonic distortion level too . To achieve that those two subwoofers must have be connected in true stereo fashion crossing at around 80hz-85hz to the Magico’s. This means that the Magico will handle the frequency range from 80hz-85hz to 50khz that is the S5 hig limit frequency and the subs will play from 80hz-85hz and down all the bass range. Doing this will gives you non-imaginable rewards in the whole quality level performance of your Stereo system. Till you do it you can’t know what I’m talking about. You can be sure that your system will shines as never before. As always the best judge is you because the " ball " is in your court side. Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
- 26 posts total