2. analog
  3. 138595-96357

Difference in sound using different carts when digitizing vinyl record?

Hello A'goners .......

I hope I am posting it in the right forum!

Here is my question - this is a hypothetical situation - if I digitize my vinyl record  while the record is played using any cart (cart #1) and then again play and digitize the same record using a different cart (cart #2), am I going to hear any sound difference typically attributed to two different carts? Everything else remain same in both cases i.e. the turntable, phono stage, DAC, preamp, amp, speakers, and all cables. The software to digitize is the same with identical setting. 

Did anyone of you do this or similar experiment? I am curious to know.

I bought a Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-1. I am wondering because of the conversion to A to D and then again D to A, it there a possibility that the sound differences from different carts are not so significant anymore?  Right now I do not have two carts, so can not do the experiment myself and report the results here. That is why I am asking the question and hoping to get some reasonable answers.  Please pardon my lack of technical knowledge.  

I would appreciate if we stay focused on the topic while discussing this. I do not want a debate of why I or anyone wants to convert analog to digital or one format is better sounding than the other.

Thanks and have a good day :)
 


128x128confuse_upgraditis
tkr
55 posts
 
Ok, as promised, here are the files:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/opg3udisptsys73/Dire%20Straits%20Koetsu.flac?dl=0
and:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cj8asa4xolyvxd8/Dire%20Straits%20Decca.flac?dl=0

The first file is Dire Straits´ Walk of Life played through a Koetsu Coralstone/SAEC WE 308 L combo, the second one is the same song through a Decca London Reference/SME V . Phono preamp is a Manley Steelhead. Both files have been normalised to -1 dB to nullify volume differences because of differences in output voltage of the two cartridges.
The files were digitised at 16 bits 44.1 kHz. ADC is a Metric Halo ULN8.
tzh21y
1,377 posts
 
I would say that the most important is the Table, then the tonearm, then the cartridge.  However, I would say that the cartridge and stylus do influence the sound tremendously, more so than the table and the tonearm, but you have to have that table and tonearm first or you will never know the potential of any given cartridge. I myself feel that in my modest system, the Lyra Delos is about as much cartridge as I will ever need.  I do not have a 200K+ system where a better cartridge than that will make that much of a difference. diminishing returns to say the least. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
2,482 posts
 
People swap cartridges more often, not a turntables @tzh21y  
We have more cartridges than turntables anyway, most of us
Some people have many tonearms, but not as much as the cartridges
This common practice is a proof of the importance of the cartridge (matched to a tonearm) as the main factor in analog. I know audiophiles with 1-5 turntables maximum, but with 30+ cartridges.    

 
solypsa's avatar
solypsa
43 posts
 
I bought a Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-1. I am wondering because of the conversion to A to D and then again D to A, it there a possibility that the sound differences from different carts are not so significant anymore?
OP is asking a different question, which has only been touched on in the discussion. A simple test for the OP is to play one of their better records with and without the sugarcube inserted. Does the sound quality change ? In what way? Does the sugarcube obscure or gray-wash detail and microdynamics? If yes then you have your answer.
tzh21y
1,377 posts
 
Chakster, from your perspective, I agree but you still need that turntable and Tonearm to thoroughly enjoy those 30 cartridges.
More to discover