2. analog
  3. 135066-90127

Ugraditus is calling....again. Phono stage?

There is likely nothing wrong at all with present phono stage but you know how it is.

Present analog front end consists of.

Nottingham Analog Spacedeck with Spacearm.
Shelter 501 mk3 cartridge with maybe 250 hours on it, regularly treated with Lyra.
Dynavector P75 mk3 phono stage.
Feeds into Lyngdorf 2170 via Nordost Red Dawn RCA cables.

My thoughts were that possibly the Dynavector is the weakest link and would pay most dividend on an upgrade but.....

What do I perceive I am lacking right now?
Really hard to say as this is highest quality analog front end ever owned.
Possibly lacking a little in sheer scale and dynamics? Bass is very very good, instruments are well separated and defined.
Just as an overall presentation I feel it lacks that final wow factor as a whole.
Not sure if that makes any sense?
Please comment honestly especially if you feel it is another area that may reap larger benefits. Or if should just leave well alone....lol.

Oh btw I am fairly sure it is setup correctly in regards to vta etc, at least to the best of my abilities right now. And yes setting it up correctly from initial purchase did make considerable gains in sq.
uberwaltz
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
466 posts
 
Uberwaltz,

I have tried singled ended with both the 2170 & Micromega, but prefer balanced outs feeding both.

The S/N ratio on the Micromega’s balanced inputs are about +3db quieter than the singled ended inputs, and the extra gain using balanced outputs allows me to set the PH-10 at -3db gain which has a much quieter noise floor. Using singled ended outputs, I have to set the PH-10 to 0db or +3db to get the same dynamics, but can’t stand the extra noise that goes with it.

The balanced combo has sounded the best everytime, no matter which cart I’m using.


uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
4,946 posts
 
Interesting.
I did a back to back on both and it was not noise floor or dynamics that were the issue.
The xlr just gave me a very bright brittle sound with loss of mid and bass. Very tipped up at the top. no manner of adjustment cured that at all.
I ran xlr at -3db and rca at present 0db.

Matched db levels with the 2170 input sensitivity but to no avail. Just sounded horrible on xlr in my system.
Very odd.
I wonder if I am missing something in 2170 setup as my OPPO was the same results although much more pronounced on the ph10
You do not have to change anything on the ph10 for the balanced output do you?
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
4,946 posts
 
I have considered the possibility of something being wrong using balanced but this would mean 1 of 3 things.

1/ Goldnote wired their xlr plugs incorrectly direct at factory.
2/ Lyngdorf wired their xlr plugs incorrectly direct at factory.
3/ Wireworld wired their cables incorrectly direct at factory.

None of those seem likely but who knows and short of opening things up I am not sure how you can easily test for mistakes like that and how to nail down which would be the culprit if this is the case.
Post removed 
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
466 posts
 
Could possibly be the cables being used.

@auxinput made the pair I've been using for the past 9 months, between a few different phono stages/DAC.   DH Lab BL-Ag with Furutech gold XLR connections.  They have always sounded superb in every integration.

What balanced cables did you try?


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