Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

Rowan said:
The rega arm doesn't have vta adjustment so if that enabler adds 1 or 2 mm to the cart body you may need a spacer... Which kinda defeats the point of going for an easy swap with the exact and means you definitely have to take the Tone arm off the deck (it's a piece of piss to do still and makes fitting the cart less fiddly) but you can avoid it by, you know, not fitting a cart enabler.
Click to expand...
Omg, thanks so much for telling me that! That saves me so much of a hassle! I’ve just ordered a tracking gauge force, so all I need to worry about is changing my cartridge and then making sure my cartridge is set to the correct weight :)

I know there’s alignment things I can do, to further make sure my turntable setup is accurate, but it’s all very confusing to me!

PS - Are you still coming to Australia soon? I can’t wait to play with your super happy dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thackeraye said:
Mounting my first cartridge is going to happen within the next week - Santa got me an AT-VM95E and a MoFi Geo-Disc. Reckon the AT is dirt cheap, so it's a good one to test the waters - a fuck up is inexpensive...

I've struggled to find good how-to videos on YouTube for the Geo-Disc though - it looks straightforward, but it would be good to see a step-by-step - any links would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
My dealer called to say the Geodisc I bought now won't be with me until Mid Jan!
No new AT cart being fitted this Xmas!
Enjoy your new cart. Let me know how easy the disc is to use.
 
AnthonyI said:
D-E is a little tricky depending on the cart. You're looking for the stylus "shaft" to be lined up with D-E.

So lets say the blue box is the cartridge, you want the yellow line, which would represent the stylus shaft to be straight along the D-E line, you should also line up the cartridge front with the grid on the GEO Disc, looking straight down on the cart, (White Line). Usually, lining up the white line will drop D-E into place, but it's always worth checking.
View attachment 81621
Click to expand...
Explains it perfectly. Many thanks!
 
Mrjay07 said:
My dealer called to say the Geodisc I bought now won't be with me until Mid Jan!
No new AT cart being fitted this Xmas!
Enjoy your new cart. Let me know how easy the disc is to use.
Click to expand...
Will do. First thing I need to do is replace the V-blocks on my turntable - basically the rubber bits my tonearm pivots on. It's a Lenco specific thing, so getting that done first is essential. If I don't bugger that up then I'll move on to the cart. I've already changed them on another table, so it should be fine.
 
NathanRicaud said:
Omg, thanks so much for telling me that! That saves me so much of a hassle! I’ve just ordered a tracking gauge force, so all I need to worry about is changing my cartridge and then making sure my cartridge is set to the correct weight :)

I know there’s alignment things I can do, to further make sure my turntable setup is accurate, but it’s all very confusing to me!

PS - Are you still coming to Australia soon? I can’t wait to play with your super happy dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Haha, mate I couldn't face putting him into quarantine. And as I keep telling you. Don't be fooled by the cheeky grin and his one floppy ear. He's a bit loco is this little fella
 
Rowan said:
Haha, mate I couldn't face putting him into quarantine. And as I keep telling you. Don't be fooled by the cheeky grin and his one floppy ear. He's a bit loco is this little fella
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, true! Better to wait until things go back to normal! 😃

I can’t wait to be crazy with him!!! I’m going to hype him up and play with him so energetically and will be so playful with him! And I’m gonna run with him on the oval and just be so wild with him!!! No joke! I can’t wait to be crazy and laugh so loud and be so cute with your dog!!! 😍🙈🐶💥

Can’t wait to meet your dog!!! 😁😈
 
Those of you with small kids and bookshelf speakers what are your suggestions for stands?

I don't want to have these on stands on the floor at the moment. I've seen a few short stands that you can set on your kallax for example, I was thinking of doing that to tide me over for the next few years.

Edit: I should mention I have my turntable and all other electronics in a separate rack, so they wouldn't be sitting on the kallax as well.

Edit: had something like this in mind The Drunken Snipe Hardwood Speaker Stands (Pair)
 
Zephyr Star MIMC ES Vs. ART-9 (old) update:

I ran them back and forth at least 7 times yesterday. (Which is a lot of setups and I've gotten much better at that now) Keep in mind the SS was open box so I guess it had some play time, but I've no idea how much. Whereas the ART has maybe 500 hours on it.

The ART is warmer. The low mids are more forward and there is a slightly round quality to them. Not muddy at all but just enough to be musical for me. You can still hear everything clearly down there like double kicks and fast bass rhythms.

The ART has just as much resolution. At first I thought the SS had more but as I went on it came down to EQ. They are both giving you as much detail. It's just arranged differently.

The ART has the highs and guitars/toms slightly more forward, but the highs here are more clear and less bright sounding.

The SS is not bright per say. I think it's very warm just not as much as the ART. I suspect this is down to the elevated low mids on the ART.

The SS has tighter bass but plenty of it.

The SS has more extended highs, but not harsh, and not quite as clear as the ART.


Both have a similar sound stage and resolution, and both have good imaging, but the ART's imaging feels holographic in my system. With the SS you can hear things moving left to right around the room, but with the art you feel they are in the room.

If I could replace the ART one to one I would stick with it, but as they are fading I think I will stick with the SS a while. The SS also may change with time to be even better on the imaging front. If that's true then I would choose it. As of now I would choose the ART in a perfect world. At the very least I will have backups when one needs to go in for fixing in a year or so.

A note on loading and volume: I prefered the SS with 200ohm vs the 1000ohm @HiFi Guy mentioned. I would really like to try it as its recommended 470. At first I thought the SS had less energy, but this was down to output. SS asks for plus 60db. I can only give it 60db. This came down to six clicks on the amp up and down between the two. Once the SS is turned up its got that same energy.

All in all they are more similar than different, and if I'd never heard the ART-9 I would be in heaven. As it stands Im strolling around outside the gates hoping to be let in soon.
 
VMPKJ said:
Zephyr Star MIMC ES Vs. ART-9 (old) update:

I ran them back and forth at least 7 times yesterday. (Which is a lot of setups and I've gotten much better at that now) Keep in mind the SS was open box so I guess it had some play time, but I've no idea how much. Whereas the ART has maybe 500 hours on it.

The ART is warmer. The low mids are more forward and there is a slightly round quality to them. Not muddy at all but just enough to be musical for me. You can still hear everything clearly down there like double kicks and fast bass rhythms.

The ART has just as much resolution. At first I thought the SS had more but as I went on it came down to EQ. They are both giving you as much detail. It's just arranged differently.

The ART has the highs and guitars/toms slightly more forward, but the highs here are more clear and less bright sounding.

The SS is not bright per say. I think it's very warm just not as much as the ART. I suspect this is down to the elevated low mids on the ART.

The SS has tighter bass but plenty of it.

The SS has more extended highs, but not harsh, and not quite as clear as the ART.


Both have a similar sound stage and resolution, and both have good imaging, but the ART's imaging feels holographic in my system. With the SS you can hear things moving left to right around the room, but with the art you feel they are in the room.

If I could replace the ART one to one I would stick with it, but as they are fading I think I will stick with the SS a while. The SS also may change with time to be even better on the imaging front. If that's true then I would choose it. As of now I would choose the ART in a perfect world. At the very least I will have backups when one needs to go in for fixing in a year or so.

A note on loading and volume: I prefered the SS with 200ohm vs the 1000ohm @HiFi Guy mentioned. I would really like to try it as its recommended 470. At first I thought the SS had less energy, but this was down to output. SS asks for plus 60db. I can only give it 60db. This came down to six clicks on the amp up and down between the two. Once the SS is turned up its got that same energy.

All in all they are more similar than different, and if I'd never heard the ART-9 I would be in heaven. As it stands Im strolling around outside the gates hoping to be let in soon.
Click to expand...
Really nice to hear your impressions. I hope the Soundsmith continues to ripen with use!

For what it’s worth, I tested at both 475ohm and 1000ohm and ended up sticking with 1000ohm on my system. That said, it’s been some time since I first set it up and I can’t specifically recall what changed between the settings. I feel like the cart was a bit bright with less loading, but that could be a false memory.
 
VMPKJ said:
Zephyr Star MIMC ES Vs. ART-9 (old) update:

I ran them back and forth at least 7 times yesterday. (Which is a lot of setups and I've gotten much better at that now) Keep in mind the SS was open box so I guess it had some play time, but I've no idea how much. Whereas the ART has maybe 500 hours on it.

The ART is warmer. The low mids are more forward and there is a slightly round quality to them. Not muddy at all but just enough to be musical for me. You can still hear everything clearly down there like double kicks and fast bass rhythms.

The ART has just as much resolution. At first I thought the SS had more but as I went on it came down to EQ. They are both giving you as much detail. It's just arranged differently.

The ART has the highs and guitars/toms slightly more forward, but the highs here are more clear and less bright sounding.

The SS is not bright per say. I think it's very warm just not as much as the ART. I suspect this is down to the elevated low mids on the ART.

The SS has tighter bass but plenty of it.

The SS has more extended highs, but not harsh, and not quite as clear as the ART.


Both have a similar sound stage and resolution, and both have good imaging, but the ART's imaging feels holographic in my system. With the SS you can hear things moving left to right around the room, but with the art you feel they are in the room.

If I could replace the ART one to one I would stick with it, but as they are fading I think I will stick with the SS a while. The SS also may change with time to be even better on the imaging front. If that's true then I would choose it. As of now I would choose the ART in a perfect world. At the very least I will have backups when one needs to go in for fixing in a year or so.

A note on loading and volume: I prefered the SS with 200ohm vs the 1000ohm @HiFi Guy mentioned. I would really like to try it as its recommended 470. At first I thought the SS had less energy, but this was down to output. SS asks for plus 60db. I can only give it 60db. This came down to six clicks on the amp up and down between the two. Once the SS is turned up its got that same energy.

All in all they are more similar than different, and if I'd never heard the ART-9 I would be in heaven. As it stands Im strolling around outside the gates hoping to be let in soon.
Click to expand...
Good info. And I’ve cancelled my order for the SS and have gone back into research mode. I’m still sorely tempted by a couple of cartridges I’ve previously owned- the Audio Technica OC9/MLII and the Dynavector DV20x2 Low Output. I’ve actually not owned this exact Dyna before- the current one has a Microline stylus (which I favor) mine had an elliptical. The Hana ML is on the list too.
 
kvetcha said:
Really nice to hear your impressions. I hope the Soundsmith continues to ripen with use!

For what it’s worth, I tested at both 475ohm and 1000ohm and ended up sticking with 1000ohm on my system. That said, it’s been some time since I first set it up and I can’t specifically recall what changed between the settings. I feel like the cart was a bit bright with less loading, but that could be a false memory.
Click to expand...
It will get more bright as the impedance goes up. It’s kind of backwards to what one initially thinks, but the cartridge is actually loaded more at lower numbers. 47k is “wide open” and keep in mind 0 ohms is a dead short if that helps wrap your head around it.
 
HiFi Guy said:
Oops. My bad. The EVO-100 is $2400. The previous Classic was less expensive. That said, my recommendation doesn’t change.

Lots of info here. And I was on the same boat when I bought my PL. Did I want to spend $4400? No way in hell. Do I regret it? Not in the least. PrimaLuna amps are worth what they cost, and then some.

www.primaluna-usa.com

PrimaLuna Evo 100 Tube Integrated — PrimaLuna USA

www.primaluna-usa.com www.primaluna-usa.com
Click to expand...
So is there any noticeable difference between the EVO-200 and EVO-100? It looks compatability with KT150 tubes was the only one I saw. Is that something worth the extra $500?
 
VMPKJ said:
Zephyr Star MIMC ES Vs. ART-9 (old) update:

I ran them back and forth at least 7 times yesterday. (Which is a lot of setups and I've gotten much better at that now) Keep in mind the SS was open box so I guess it had some play time, but I've no idea how much. Whereas the ART has maybe 500 hours on it.

The ART is warmer. The low mids are more forward and there is a slightly round quality to them. Not muddy at all but just enough to be musical for me. You can still hear everything clearly down there like double kicks and fast bass rhythms.

The ART has just as much resolution. At first I thought the SS had more but as I went on it came down to EQ. They are both giving you as much detail. It's just arranged differently.

The ART has the highs and guitars/toms slightly more forward, but the highs here are more clear and less bright sounding.

The SS is not bright per say. I think it's very warm just not as much as the ART. I suspect this is down to the elevated low mids on the ART.

The SS has tighter bass but plenty of it.

The SS has more extended highs, but not harsh, and not quite as clear as the ART.


Both have a similar sound stage and resolution, and both have good imaging, but the ART's imaging feels holographic in my system. With the SS you can hear things moving left to right around the room, but with the art you feel they are in the room.

If I could replace the ART one to one I would stick with it, but as they are fading I think I will stick with the SS a while. The SS also may change with time to be even better on the imaging front. If that's true then I would choose it. As of now I would choose the ART in a perfect world. At the very least I will have backups when one needs to go in for fixing in a year or so.

A note on loading and volume: I prefered the SS with 200ohm vs the 1000ohm @HiFi Guy mentioned. I would really like to try it as its recommended 470. At first I thought the SS had less energy, but this was down to output. SS asks for plus 60db. I can only give it 60db. This came down to six clicks on the amp up and down between the two. Once the SS is turned up its got that same energy.

All in all they are more similar than different, and if I'd never heard the ART-9 I would be in heaven. As it stands Im strolling around outside the gates hoping to be let in soon.
Click to expand...
Carts have to be the hardest part of the system (and is also a fun part) in my opinion, personal preferences, system synergy, long term cost and a slew of other variables can get daunting. What I'm realizing is that in carts, in my opinion, that point of diminishing returns is the steepest of all of a systems components......it's not gradual, it's a cliff. Again, just my opinion ;)
 
wmeugene said:
So is there any noticeable difference between the EVO-200 and EVO-100? It looks compatability with KT150 tubes was the only one I saw. Is that something worth the extra $500?
Click to expand...
What's funny is that @HiFi Guy and I had a conversation about a scenario like this. Meaning, is saving a few hundred worth forgoing what you might really want. I think if you can afford to go up the ladder and give yourself the flexibility, you'll be happier. One thing I've realized over the years is the statement "I'll probably never use and or need......" XYZ has a tendency to bite you in the ass. ;)
 
wmeugene said:
So is there any noticeable difference between the EVO-200 and EVO-100? It looks compatability with KT150 tubes was the only one I saw. Is that something worth the extra $500?
Click to expand...
You can actually use KT-150s with the EVO-100. It’s in the EVO-100 video I believe. The tube cage won’t fit though, so if you have small children, that’s a consideration.

The two differences are the bigger chassis on the 200, and improved output transformers. I’m not sure I’d go $600 more though.
 
AnthonyI said:
Carts have to be the hardest part of the system (and is also a fun part) in my opinion, personal preferences, system synergy, long term cost and a slew of other variables can get daunting. What I'm realizing is that in carts, in my opinion, that point of diminishing returns is the steepest of all of a systems components......it's not gradual, it's a cliff. Again, just my opinion ;)
Click to expand...
I hear ya. I look at it this way. There is a big jump at the range I’m in currently and you don’t have to pay full price. I have yet to do that. But most people are paying more than 350-650 a year - far more - to upgrade a system in the first place. Might as well get the cart you want to run it at that price per year. A whole bunch of hobbies cost more than that annually.


as far as diminishing return on sound - cart has been as big a change as my amp or phono I would say it’s worth it.

Also it’s not like I’m stuck. If times change I can already go down the ladder.

I agree the cliff is huge. The edge of that cliff is different for everyone and I’m at the edge but not over currently.
 
apholden said:
The Loxjie has a built-in volume control, which is half a preamp already. You need a phono preamp for your turntable and maybe an input selector if you want multiple sources.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I would love to switch between my speakers and loxjie without removing cables. Do you have any input on a good phono pre amp and/or a switcher for under $200?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top