Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 26, 2013 21:29:00 GMT
Since I replaced my Mini-Ts with a pair of what is known on here as AK Class A monoblocks my ex-ebay (one man in a shed) phono pre-amp has not been able to give me any usable volume so off to the fixer it went, armed with some guidance from Frans (what would we (I) do without him? ). In short 4 resistor replacements by lower value ones was the chosen fix and whilst I now have better volume I still need to whack it up to maximum to get it reasonable. I now plan to lower these values even further to see if I can regain (sorry ) even more volume. For those that understand the implications of such things, the original resistors were 620 value and I have now got them down to 330. The main point I wanted to make is that all the various lower value resistors gave me much lower and more bass than I ever remember previously. The lower value the resistors got the tighter/tauter the bass got whilst the treble seems unaffected (and very good) and the more volume became available. I'm hoping that going even lower with the resistor value will tighten up the bass yet further, give me more volume whilst also leaving the upper end unaffected. Just thought I'd share this with you 'cos I find it surprising, particularly the effect on the bottom end. I have 'always preferred the sound of vinyl to that of CDs and the 'new' phono pre-amp has really reinforced this view - maybe not as convenient but much more satisfying - this from a man with around 1TB of FLAC files on his PC. Cheers (and thanks again to Frans), dave.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2013 21:54:08 GMT
Dave, Have you ever listened to the same album on vinyl and then from PC on flac?
If so, what, if any, differences did you find in the SQ, or tone, between the two?
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 26, 2013 22:34:46 GMT
Dave, Have you ever listened to the same album on vinyl and then from PC on flac? If so, what, if any, differences did you find in the SQ, or tone, between the two? Hi, I'm not the best at describing sound perception but I have listened to both sources on some albums. My impression is that the sound is richer, warmer somehow, I suspect there is a greater dynamic range. It is not a case of preferring the valve sound, which I do, because all my sources go through a valve buffer amp (MF -X10 clone if I recall the name correctly). Hope this helps. Dave.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 11:33:18 GMT
Cheers Dave
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 27, 2013 16:37:24 GMT
The same album on CD and vinyl are likely to not have the same masters. For Vinyl the dynamic range needs to be compressed (limited) and this is often done at the pressing plant. For CD in most cases (older recordings and older CD pressings) the master was transferred directly, sometimes peaks were limited. Later CD pressings get 'compressed' again but in a different way (loudness wars)
Add to that the cartridge changing the FR as well and you get a different sound from different 'master recordings' because of different 'masters'.
Sometimes older recordings get remixed and EQ'd simply to make them sound less clinical.
Have a look at DR database and see how the same albums but released in another year get more compressed the later the pressing was made. The 'early' CD's were least compressed and thus sound 'boring and flat' compared to vinyl releases and later compressed albums (when we are talking about pop music for the millions, ermm masses)
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 29, 2013 21:13:03 GMT
Update: - I received some lower value resistors today so I replaced the 390 ones with 330 and had another listen to the same LP as previously - to say I was gobsmacked with the difference is an understatement - the highs seemed clearer and all the muddy/fogginess was gone from the bass and the volume/gain was vastly increased . It was like listening to a different system. And then I noticed ............................ there was no power LED lit on the MF-X10 buffer amp clone, doh!!!! All my sources go through this buffer amp as I thought giving it a tubey sound was better and since swapping out my Mini-Ts for the Class A monoblocks it had not occurred to me to change this arrangement. After trying the set up with and without the MF-X10 clone being powered it was obvious that powering up the MF-X10 was really 'choking' the sound. I now propose to take the MF-X10 completely out of the system and see if that changes anything anymore. I think I can understand a little how the MF-X10 powered up in the system might 'choke' the sound but I am surprised that leaving it in the system but without power made any improvement, let alone such a vast one. If this makes sense to anyone \I would be interested in receiving a brief non-too-technical explanation as to why this might be so. Cheers, Dave.
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Post by puffin on Oct 30, 2013 7:57:48 GMT
If the X-10D clone is an active device (in the same way as the original) it is surprising that the signal would pass through without it being powered up.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 30, 2013 12:50:45 GMT
If the X-10D clone is an active device (in the same way as the original) it is surprising that the signal would pass through without it being powered up. Hi Rob, The buffer amp is powered so I assume it is active. Because I try to have as flexible and versatile system as possible (multi source and outputs) some of my wiring would give an audio engineer nightmares. It is possible that removing the now unused Beresford DAC and Logitech Touch out of the system, at least temporarily, would simplify things and make 'sorting' the problem a little easier. Thanks for your reply. Dave.
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Post by puffin on Oct 30, 2013 20:13:27 GMT
Maybe the X-10D was MF's attempt at comedy i.e Extended....in that it extended to playing when switched off....permission to laugh...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Now.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 30, 2013 21:09:58 GMT
Maybe the X-10D was MF's attempt at comedy i.e Extended....in that it extended to playing when switched off....permission to laugh...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Now. And all I can say to that is, "On yer bike!!!" Dave.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 30, 2013 21:35:41 GMT
Further thoughts: - I have now sorted out my phono pre-amp and settled on 470 value resistors as giving me a the most pleasing sound. I have also reset everything as per the bible (anti-skate, parallel tone arm, and cartridge alignment, load and completely horizontal in every plane in the playing position. I am very happy with what I now hear, with one exception and wondered if it was to be expected. On one particular LP, a bit of Tchaikovsky that I really like and have several LPs of, has always sounded quite OK up to now but tonight it was not really enjoyable, being distorted all across the sound spectrum. Everything else I've listened to has sounded as good as, or better than, I recall it sounding before so I think it is this LP rather than the set up. So, question: - Having got my set up about right is the price I'm gonna have to pay the fact that any sh1t records I might have are going to sound sh1t? Seems that way to me ATM. Dave.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 30, 2013 21:44:45 GMT
Try to increase the needle pressure a bit on that album. Sometimes another needle type (that rests in the groove at another depth) may be a solution.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2013 0:21:48 GMT
After trying the set up with and without the MF-X10 clone being powered it was obvious that powering up the MF-X10 was really 'choking' the sound. I now propose to take the MF-X10 completely out of the system and see if that changes anything anymore. I think I can understand a little how the MF-X10 powered up in the system might 'choke' the sound but I am surprised that leaving it in the system but without power made any improvement, let alone such a vast one. If this makes sense to anyone \I would be interested in receiving a brief non-too-technical explanation as to why this might be so. Cheers, Dave. Hi Dave, Just tried listening to some cool '80's stuff (Blondie, T-Pau, Spandau O.K., I'll get my coat!!) thru' HD-600's and then unplugging my M-F X-10D. Don't know if it matters but it's an RG-modded version with lots of extra capacitance. All that happens to me is I get music for another 10 seconds or so then it all fades out as the caps discharge. I can't get mine to keep playing when un-powered. There's only 2 connections at the back, 'in' and 'out', plus power. Is that the same for your unit? Maybe Frans could explain - not too technically as you say - how you are getting better sound by by-passing yours, but I am getting no sound when by-passing mine?
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 31, 2013 6:04:56 GMT
Acc. to the schematics it should not give any sound once the heaters have cooled off and the reservoir caps have drained.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 31, 2013 18:41:38 GMT
Try to increase the needle pressure a bit on that album. Sometimes another needle type (that rests in the groove at another depth) may be a solution. Hi Frans, Not doubting for a moment the logic of your response but it is recommended for my cartridge that it is loaded at between 1.5 and 2.0 grms., which it is. I do not want to have to change that loading for different LPs, far to much hassle, but thanks anyway. Dave.
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