Vinyl nirvana for me tonight!!

Rob S. · April 27, 2011, 10:47:32 PM

I've been struggling with my vinyl setup for over a year and now I've finally had it all come together. BobM suggested I would need to step up to a better cartridge to get me a piece of vinyl heaven. I had a Benz glider and then stepped up to a Benz Ruby 3. Something still wasn't clicking. I moved up the line and it was a little better, but still short of magic. I made a change tonight to an ortofon cartridge and my jaw dropped. Everything that I wanted landed in my lap.

My buddy Chris came over to audition my system tonight, hear it in it's current form with my (VPI classic, Benz Ruby 3, Art Audio vinyl one with the PSvane black treasure tubes, yada yadda, etc.) Then our plan was to change out the cartridge to an Ortofon Cadenza Black. My thoughts were that it just didn't have the magic of what I've heard elsewhere (friends systems, RMAF, Axpona, etc) . Mine was lifeless, dull, flat sounding. i was questioning everything else in my system but since I had life in my digital setup, i knew it had to be the vinyl side.

Setup went well. We were back up and spinning vinyl in about 40 minutes or so. It took about 2-3 minutes to determine I had the right cartridge. Music became alive, open sounding. Still smooth and detailed but had an air and open-ness to the music the Benz could not deliver. IT sounded as though a wet blanket was taken off my speakers.

Lucy Kaplansky and John Gorka , and Gilkyson on RED HORSE sounded real, just as they sounded live on MTN Stage a month ago. We followed up that lp with Chris' Talking Heads "naked" which sounded vibrant and full of energy. WE noticed the percussion had superb detail ( blocks, chimes, triangle, etc.) were much improved over the Benz. Freddie Hubbard and Herbie Hancock sounded crisp and clear on Takin' Off. Several other albums and then I wanted to hear strings so I put in a new $.99 clean lp i just bought, Rimsky Korsakov, Capriccia Espagnol. Richidoo- you have got to hear classical music on clean vinyl now. It gave me goose bumps- brass/ violins, flute, scary real. Brought tears to my ears. the Raal tweeters are now happy.- there is now an ambience and realism i didin't know they could produce

Ok, I better stop going on and on, I just had to share my joy.

I now get it. but better get some sleep.

topround · April 28, 2011, 03:03:50 AM

Rob,
Welcome to the vinyl world

There ain't nothing like it, especially when you get good vinyl.
If you stick with vinyl long enough you will begin to hear what digital can't do.

Once that happens..your ruined!
Even a low priced Denon 103 can sound glorious in the right setup.
Next try step up transformers Woo Hoo!
Enjoy!

Mike

etcarroll · April 28, 2011, 04:01:46 AM

That's good news Rob!

Just had a like experience, though for me it was buying a WyWires JuiceII power cable for my phono-pre, the music just came alive.

richidoo · April 28, 2011, 05:02:56 AM

Glad to hear it Rob. God knows you have worked hard for it, and deserve it!

tmazz · April 28, 2011, 05:55:42 AM

I love it when a plan comes together.......

BobM · April 28, 2011, 06:47:52 AM

It's all about system synergies, that and proper setup. Glad it's working out for you Rob. Now sit back and enjoy the music for a while.

rollo · April 28, 2011, 09:23:36 AM

Well thats nice to hear. Just out of curiosity what were loading the Benz at ? Do you have a MM or MC phonostage or both. I owned a Benz for a long time and loading was key to its performance. It does have a warm and smooth character.
So the Benz is for sale ?

charles

Rob S. · April 28, 2011, 07:34:14 PM

rollo- I don't really know if the loading was correct or not. I have an Art Audio Vinyl One phono pre. Synergy wasn't there, it was real smooth with a touch of warmth, but in my room w/my equipment it was too much. Tube amps, tube phono, more warmth in cartridge just was too much..

Last year, Richidoo took out some RCA 12sn7's from my mapletree 2a Se tube preamp and replaced them with sylvania tubes for a more lively presentation. This seems to be what the ortofon has done to the overall presentation like the sylvania tubes.

Yes, I have both a Benz glider LO and a Benz Ruby 3 which I'll list for sale very very soon. Pm me for more info on age and condition.

Rob S.

Carlman · April 29, 2011, 05:48:50 AM

That is really awesome news, Rob. Do not expect every record to give that big of an emotional hit again.. your brain adjusts and wants more.. hence the nervosa.

But, take a psycho-emotional snapshot and know that it can happen.. look back on it from time to time and treasure that moment when it all came together. I get to go through my 'mental scrapbook' when I'm listening to tunes and hear little things I remember coming together over the years. That helps keep me from changing things to get the rush.

Regardless, I'm happy for you.

rollo · April 29, 2011, 09:56:51 AM

Quote from: Rob S. on April 28, 2011, 07:34:14 PM
rollo- I don't really know if the loading was correct or not. I have an Art Audio Vinyl One phono pre. Synergy wasn't there, it was real smooth with a touch of warmth, but in my room w/my equipment it was too much. Tube amps, tube phono, more warmth in cartridge just was too much..

Last year, Richidoo took out some RCA 12sn7's from my mapletree 2a Se tube preamp and replaced them with sylvania tubes for a more lively presentation. This seems to be what the ortofon has done to the overall presentation like the sylvania tubes.

Yes, I have both a Benz glider LO and a Benz Ruby 3 which I'll list for sale very very soon. Pm me for more info on age and condition.

Rob S.

Gotcha. Just that the Benz is sensitive to loading. 1000 ohms does the trick. Track at 1.9 grams. Yes it has a warm character but improper loading can deaden it further. Anyway glad to hear the Ortofon is working out for you. Ortofon phono leads with 7N copper are quite the leads try them. $50 a set. Just ordered a set myself for the new Goldnote Boboli MC cart. Actually recommended by Goldnote.

charles

thechairguy · May 02, 2011, 08:26:34 AM

Love when that happens

BobM · May 02, 2011, 09:59:04 AM

Do I detect another new face in the crowd these days?

welcome

Rob S. · May 02, 2011, 10:47:01 AM

anyone know the phono leads from ortofon that Rollo is talking about? can't find them.

Welcome chairguy and fellow classic owner.

Rob S.

richidoo · May 02, 2011, 11:30:56 AM

http://www.needledoctor.com/Brand-Stores/Ortofon-Headshells-Leads

tmazz · May 02, 2011, 01:21:51 PM

Quote from: Rob S. on May 02, 2011, 10:47:01 AM
anyone know the phono leads from ortofon that Rollo is talking about? can't find them.

Welcome chairguy and fellow classic owner.

Rob S.

Another VPI guy?

Vinyl nirvana for me tonight!!

thechairguy