Waxwing Phono Preamplifier Thread

Hi All, im new to the forum so this is my 1st post.

I received a Waxwing last week. Been playing around with it and thats the trouble playing with it!!! What is everyone using as their Hi/Lo settings? The defaults are 20khz and 25hz

I am using a Hana ML cart so set the 0.4mv and load of 200 but i have read elsewhere that you can use the Air setting to tune in/dial in your cart - has anyone else done this?

And reading from above im not sure if its actually been answered but is there any sonic differences between rca out vs digital out?

Thanks Red

redrawwear said:

Hi All, im new to the forum so this is my 1st post.

I received a Waxwing last week. Been playing around with it and thats the trouble playing with it!!! What is everyone using as their Hi/Lo settings? The defaults are 20khz and 25hz

I am using a Hana ML cart so set the 0.4mv and load of 200 but i have read elsewhere that you can use the Air setting to tune in/dial in your cart - has anyone else done this?

And reading from above im not sure if its actually been answered but is there any sonic differences between rca out vs digital out?

Thanks Red

Click to expand...

I use the stock low and high pass. I have played with the various EQ settings but usually leave them off. Magic gets used for my rare "scratchy" record. One has to decide whether to "play" with settings of just listen to music.

External DAC I use only to get the volume levels close to my music server levels - I use balanced out on my DAC to do this. Comparing DAC's is difficult if the output levels don't match. Our brains tend to pick the "louder" source unless something is seriously "different". Comparing NOS to OS with matched levels should be easy to differentiate - for example.

I use a touch of Air on my Soundsmith since it’s ideal loading is higher than the two base settings on the Waxwing. For my SAE, I do not use Air.

I have a very minor PEQ in place to counteract a room mode around 250hz. I leave Magic on at all times.

I get the impression that optical will give you the best quality since it avoids an additional digital to analog conversion, but I have had absolutely no complaints about the sound quality. Sounds spectacular to my ear.