Sutherland Club House

Curiosity can be a taskmaster. I pulled out the Insight and loaded it at 100 ohms for the Hana ML tonight. I had to don the headphones for late night listening; I’m generally much more of a loudspeaker guy.

Upon first listen, I recalled instantly why this phono is so compelling. It simply sounded great. The Hana ML was still sounding a bit etched and sterile, though. But, into the third track, something changed.

The stridency I was hearing earlier seemed that it took a step down and the cart sounded more relaxed. I finished the first side of “Buhaina” with a smile on my face.

I then put the Bryston back into the mix. Yep, it still sounded better. I may have never known it without a back to back test, though.

So the SUT within the Bryston was still working magic. However, the gap seemed closer on the headphones with the ML at 100 ohms than with the SL at 1000 ohms on the speakers.

I’ll plan to keep the Insight nearby to continue comparisons over the next several days. The Insight continues to impress even in facing much more expensive competition.
 
Hi Folks - First post here - appreciate the info shared previously, and happy to be here.
Decided to get back in to hifi and vinyl from over a 10 year break at the beginning of the year. Sold my complete collection in 2014 for a couple good reasons. And while I kick myself for doing so when I look at the prices of the records I once owned, I am seriously enjoying re-engaging with one of my passions and starting fresh.

In January I bought a Feickert Volare, DV 20X2H, and a KC Vibe, and started to enjoy my very small but rapidly expanding record collection.
It was better than vinyl had ever sounded at home, but I quickly thought I could be getting more out of my TT, so returned for a 20/20 in Feb and added the LPS just a couple weeks ago.

I'm only able to spin to what amounts to a record a day on average - life is just a bit busy, and I believe I've got ~50 hours of playing time on the TT, with about 30 or so on the 20/20 right now.

There's a bit of a darkness on the 20/20 right now, and so I've ordered the Granite Audio Phono Break In cd, and I plan to utilize it to enhance the break in.

So, long pre amble for a short question - for you new Sutherland owners, what have you experienced regarding break in periods, and what have you done to hasten your phono stage break in?

I should state that I've had the settings at 1000 ohms and 46 db gain, as the 47k sounded a little bright, and the 1k setting tamed that a bit. I plan to change the settings to 47k and 40 db gain following using this break in cd.

Thanks in advance for your shared wisdom! :)
 
Welcome, @Baemer !

How does the break-in CD work? It would seem off-hand that a 2000 mV input signal from a CD player would overload the input to a phonostage that would typically be looking for something less than 10 mV. The output spec for the DV 20X2H is only 2.8mV.

Since I purchased my Insight used, break-in time was not an issue for me. However, break-in time for my new cartridges typically has been 50-100 hours. Per the spec on the Dynavector, you may find 1000 ohms/46 dB to be a permanently better loading and gain than 47k/40 dB with extended listening.
 
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Thanks, @Angsty!
I was advised by my audio consultant who shared that this route would assist in getting the 20/20 w LPS fully burned in. His company doesn’t sell them, he pointed me to another channel to purchase the disc.

Apparently it delivers a RIAA adjusted program at a signal level of 4.33mv from the cd player through the phonostage. You connect the cd player to the input of the phono stage, put the cd player on repeat while keeping the amplifier off and let it run for a good number of hours to facilitate a proper burn in.

I’m not technical, but it theoretically seems like a good approach to get burn in complete and only use my cartridge for listening to music.

I’ll report back on progress.

If anyone else has experience to share regarding burn in of their new Sutherland phono stages, would love to hear.

Thank you!
 
This is what the 20/20 owners manual says about break-in:

Break-In Time

After just an hour or so, the musicality of the 20/20 will open up. Often users stress about break in time. Don’t worry about it!!!!

Performance is very good early on. Just enjoy the music and let the subtle break in changes happen on its own schedule.
 
This is what the 20/20 owners manual says about break-in:

Break-In Time

After just an hour or so, the musicality of the 20/20 will open up. Often users stress about break in time. Don’t worry about it!!!!

Performance is very good early on. Just enjoy the music and let the subtle break in changes happen on its own schedule.
Thanks to both! I can say Can’s Tago Mago was sounding excellent tonight. :) Appreciate your guidance.

~B
 
I’ve had my eye on the Little Loco for a couple of years. However, I have not pulled the trigger because the Bryston phono I got as an interim has been so pleasing. The experience with it went up a notch or so with a new Luxman table.

Anyone have a “knock their socks off” experience with the Little Loco? I’m feeling really contented now with my current setup.
 
I’ve had my eye on the Little Loco for a couple of years. However, I have not pulled the trigger because the Bryston phono I got as an interim has been so pleasing. The experience with it went up a notch or so with a new Luxman table.

Anyone have a “knock their socks off” experience with the Little Loco? I’m feeling really contented now with my current setup.
Really contented?
 
Really contented?
Well played. I just dropped a bundle for the turntable which had also been on the wishlist. That gave my system a lift that makes me question whether I should pursue a Little Loco at all.

Then there’s the factor of my kid starting college this fall…
 
Ron Sutherland keeps doubling down on transimpedance; now he’s introduced the TZ Direct to complement the TZ Vibe, Little Loco and Phono Loco.

Anyone given one of these models a test run yet?
 
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