Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
Slimwhit33
Well-Known Member
Catching up on some threads and thought I’d chime in here since I currently run both of these tables through the same equipment.
If I’m being honest when I want to critically listen, especially to Jazz or more mellow music, I have been turning to the UD w/the Nagaoka MP500. It’s so quiet and smooth. And though not for everyone, the Fender finish is stunning. Just a killer table IMO.
When I want to spin more upbeat rap or rock music, the 1210GR w/the ART9XI is also awesome. I also switch in the Hana SL and the Shure wJico SAS and have a ton of fun listening for the differences.
One can’t go wrong with either of these tables IMO,
Slimwhit33
Well-Known Member
I have been running anMP500 on my MoFi all summer and absolutely love it. Can’t imagine you getting anything better for $300.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Thanks, @Slimwhit33. Did you run the MP-500 on your previous PLX-1000? If so, did the KAB damping trough make a difference?
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Noted on another thread that removing the KAB damper really improved the sound of the MP-300 on my PLX-1000. Feeling a lot more confident now about upgrading to the MP-500 stylus when the MP-300 wears out.
Slimwhit33
Well-Known Member
I don’t recall running the MP500on the PLX. I did have the KAB dampener installed on the table, as I do on the 1210GR. I have yet to find a combo on either the PLX or the 1210GR where I liked the sound better without the dampener compared to with it.
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
Very much how I feel about vinyl playback in a nutshell - belt drive for mellower, direct drive for energy. And my apologies to all those I just fed the fire in getting a second deck
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Having two decks with different drive systems has been a pleasure. Fixing the mass/damping imbalance with my direct drive fended off a desire for an unneeded upgrade. Gotta keep a lid on that FOMO, which hits the wallet hard.Very much how I feel about vinyl playback in a nutshell - belt drive for mellower, direct drive for energy. And my apologies to all those I just fed the fire in getting a second deck
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Very much how I feel about vinyl playback in a nutshell - belt drive for mellower, direct drive for energy. And my apologies to all those I just fed the fire in getting a second deck
I gotta be honest, it was a lot of fun having two completely different systems, but it was also a little eye opening in that some of the differences aren't as big as I may have thought.
All that said, now that I've got this system singing, I've hit a wonderful calm when it comes to gear/systems and I'm just sitting back and enjoying it
HayesWeighsIn
Well-Known Member
You have impeccable taste in turntables - no need to upgrade!
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Let's try this again, I had posted this earlier and it seems to have deleted itself, lol
One of my wife's coworkers is getting divorced and her husband is in the process of selling off some components, one of which was a Musical Fidelity M5si. He was nice enough to lend it to me for the day and I got a chance to listen to it on my system, in my room. It sounded great, it sounded just as great as the M2si, honestly, I couldn't really tell the difference between the two amps. They both had the same sound characteristics and outside of the volume knob not having to go too far to get it loud, I was really surprised that there wasn't noticeable difference. That said, my M2 doesn't go past 11 and is plenty loud.
The M5si runs about $2200 while the M2si is $1000, just as a point of reference.
I even posted the question to an MF group when I got it hooked up to see if there were any common threads as far as the sound being different between the two, and the feedback I got was that the M series shares the same sound signature across the board, what changes is the power and functionality. I can't really disagree with any of the input I got, one person even commented that "If your at 11 and it's plenty loud, your fine. No need to upgrade for sound quality"
So, if you're in the market for a really nice "nuts and bolts" amp and don't need any bells and whistles, the M2si should be taken into consideration. I've been really happy with mine, but I have to admit the thought of going up the ladder has crossed my mind...............until now.
This little day experience not only saved me some money, but gave me peace of mind.
That is all
One of my wife's coworkers is getting divorced and her husband is in the process of selling off some components, one of which was a Musical Fidelity M5si. He was nice enough to lend it to me for the day and I got a chance to listen to it on my system, in my room. It sounded great, it sounded just as great as the M2si, honestly, I couldn't really tell the difference between the two amps. They both had the same sound characteristics and outside of the volume knob not having to go too far to get it loud, I was really surprised that there wasn't noticeable difference. That said, my M2 doesn't go past 11 and is plenty loud.
The M5si runs about $2200 while the M2si is $1000, just as a point of reference.
I even posted the question to an MF group when I got it hooked up to see if there were any common threads as far as the sound being different between the two, and the feedback I got was that the M series shares the same sound signature across the board, what changes is the power and functionality. I can't really disagree with any of the input I got, one person even commented that "If your at 11 and it's plenty loud, your fine. No need to upgrade for sound quality"
So, if you're in the market for a really nice "nuts and bolts" amp and don't need any bells and whistles, the M2si should be taken into consideration. I've been really happy with mine, but I have to admit the thought of going up the ladder has crossed my mind...............until now.
This little day experience not only saved me some money, but gave me peace of mind.
That is all
dirty hands
Well-Known Member
How accurate is the RPM app? I had suspicions that my tt was running a little slow, possibly from leaving the belt on 45 and stretching it. The app had given me readings from high 32 to low 33. 33.12 was the fastest I believe. I have a Rega Planar 2 that had the white belt upgrade added which has been on since purchase. I was going to just get a new white belt but it went out of production by the time I was ready to get it. The newer Rega EBLT was released and from what I could tell it was a suitable replacement so I finally pulled the trigger and it arrived today. Comparing the two in size it was easy to see the white belt was longer. I put the new belt on and now I’m getting readings on the app up to 34. Does it need time to wear in?
Edit: played a digital alongside a song on the tt and did indeed start to go out of sync. So the app is correct in that it’s now faster.
Edit: played a digital alongside a song on the tt and did indeed start to go out of sync. So the app is correct in that it’s now faster.
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It’s not super accurate. It shows my TT running fast and I know from multiple independent test reports that it’s perfect.
dirty hands
Well-Known Member
MikeH
Well-Known Member
I ended up placing an Ikea order for one of their new shelves. I quite like it (it's the one with the metal frame and wood shelves). As part of moving my gear around, I've decided to buy one of the butcher block acoustics wooden platforms to place under my TT. Should have maybe just ordered the ikea cutting board, but am very curious to see how it sounds or if it makes any difference...
MikeH
Well-Known Member
Put an Ikea cutting board under my turntable just to see if there was any difference as I await the Butcher Block Acoustics board I ordered. Ordered some of these yesterday and they already arrived too so I put them under the Ikea cutting board:
Maybe I'm just going slightly crazy, but seems like the sound has been altered for the better. The bass seems more focused and tighter.
Maybe I'm just going slightly crazy, but seems like the sound has been altered for the better. The bass seems more focused and tighter.
Diaper Baby Escape Plan
Well-Known Diaper Baby
Link to new shelves? Not looking but always interested in what's around.
MikeH
Well-Known Member
posted in the vinyl storage thread, but i got this one:
Products
Browse our full range of products from dressing tables to complete modern kitchens. Click here to find the right IKEA product for you. Browse online and in-store today!
www.ikea.com
and a bunch of other stuff in that collection. they did a kallax as well with compartments for amp/separates too.
Products
Browse our full range of products from dressing tables to complete modern kitchens. Click here to find the right IKEA product for you. Browse online and in-store today!
www.ikea.com
and then more accessories (speaker stands for a desk, record stand, etc.)
Diaper Baby Escape Plan
Well-Known Diaper Baby
@Joe Mac or anyone else who might have insight.
Awhile back you mentioned the ifi zen stream. Is it just something you are aware of or have you used one?
Basically I'm looking for something to stream my 200+GB digital music library. I don't plan on using my PC (although the files are on there too). I am going to set up a NAS to my router and the Zen Stream looks like it should fit the bill.
I don't use any online streaming services so I don't need anything like that.
Not super concerned with whatever it uses for digital-to-audio, as I'm going to use a digital-in on my Marantz SA-KI Ruby.
Also looking at a Yamaha WXC-50 that is ~$100 more. However, it includes some features that are superfluous to me and it is a bigger form factor (although it can be set up vertically). The Zen Stream is a nice, small unit. Basically, not looking for a real estate hog.
Thoughts? Anyone feel free to chime in.
Awhile back you mentioned the ifi zen stream. Is it just something you are aware of or have you used one?
Basically I'm looking for something to stream my 200+GB digital music library. I don't plan on using my PC (although the files are on there too). I am going to set up a NAS to my router and the Zen Stream looks like it should fit the bill.
I don't use any online streaming services so I don't need anything like that.
Not super concerned with whatever it uses for digital-to-audio, as I'm going to use a digital-in on my Marantz SA-KI Ruby.
Also looking at a Yamaha WXC-50 that is ~$100 more. However, it includes some features that are superfluous to me and it is a bigger form factor (although it can be set up vertically). The Zen Stream is a nice, small unit. Basically, not looking for a real estate hog.
Thoughts? Anyone feel free to chime in.
MikeH
Well-Known Member
I seem to recall people being anti the ifi zen, but the digital thread would probably be your best bet to find info!