Clearaudio concept subpar sound quality - need help

[uint]

Hi all,

happy to have joined this great community and I hope you guys can help me.

I have a Concept turntable with concept arm and MM Clearaudio standard cartridge. The basic setup. It is connected to a Pro-Ject Phono Box E BT preamp that goes into a streaming hub (via a 3.5mm aux) and from there to my Buchardt A500 speakers. Lots of things the purists will not like but I am not a hardcore purist, so that’s ok.

My problem: the music coming out from the turntable is way worse than the same music being streamed from Spotify. So much that I am currently listening music only via Spotify. The sound from the turntable lacks in clarity and it seems to “saturate” the speakers.

I have verified the track force of the cartridge which is between 2 and 2.2 (depending where on the platter).

I am thinking the problem could be resolved with a better cartridge and phono preamp but would like to know what you guys think.

Thanks!!

 

[Deleted member 108165]

Think your problem may be the method of signal transmission (BT) rather than anything to do with the cartridge or turntable. For turntables wired connection is always best.

I could be wrong, if so I'm sure others will be along soon to correct me.

 

[uint]

Hi DougK,

thank you for your answer. While the preamp is capable of doing Bluetooth, I am not using it. I am using the 3.5mm output to connect into the aux of the streaming hub.

 

[Gray]

From what you've said about the 'saturated' sound, it seems there might be an overload issue somewhere.
Can you explain what a 'streaming hub' is?

 

[uint]

From what you've said about the 'saturated' sound, it seems there might be an overload issue somewhere.
Can you explain what a 'streaming hub' is?

Hi Gray,

it’s a hub that comes with the active speakers I bought, the Buchardt A500.

Hub info here: https://buchardtaudio.com/collections/accessories/products/hub-remote

This problem occurs only when I play vinyl via the hub and preamp. If I stream via the hub (e.g., Spotify) there is no such issue.

 

[Gray]

This problem occurs only when I play vinyl via the hub and preamp. If I stream via the hub (e.g., Spotify) there is no such issue.

Well that might suggest that the hub is not the culprit.
Nevertheless.....how is the vinyl sound with the preamp output connected directly to the speakers?

 

[uint]

Well that might suggest that the hub is not the culprit.
Nevertheless.....how is the vinyl sound with the preamp output connected directly to the speakers?

that’s a great question. Unfortunately the preamp is a cheap Pro-Ject phono preamp and has only the 3.5mm Jack output. The speakers have an XLR input. So, I have no way to directly connect the turntable to the speakers.

 

[abacus]

You are not using the active version of the turntable are you? As if so you need to either switch the output to bypass the inbuilt phono stage, or connect the turntable directly into the hub.
If not then it sounds like some form of overload in the chain between the turntable and hub. (Make sure the ground is connected, or if it is try with it disconnected to see if this makes a difference)
If your hub has Bluetooth, try using that instead to help narrow down where the problem is.

Bill

 

[Gray]

I have no way to directly connect the turntable to the speakers.

Where there's a will......
But before that, I didn't think there was a version of your TT with a built-in preamp.
But if that's what you've got, see Bill's post above - the first thing to do is ensure that you're sending the cartridge output (and not the preamp output) to the input of the Pro-ject......otherwise, there's your overload cause.

 

[uint]

The Clearaudio Concept TT has no integrated phono stage, so that’s not an issue.

 

[Gray]

The speakers have an XLR input. So, I have no way to directly connect the turntable to the speakers.

Direct connection is what you need to do to aid your elimination process.
You're currently going unbalanced into your speakers - that same cable just needs to go from preamp rather than hub, by using appropriate adaption.

 

[Gray]

...such as this:

3.5mm Mini Jack to RCA Adaptor Y Aux Splitter Headphone -Twin Phono 5060457589133 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 3.5mm Mini Jack to RCA Adaptor Y Aux Splitter Headphone -Twin Phono at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[uint]

...such as this:

3.5mm Mini Jack to RCA Adaptor Y Aux Splitter Headphone -Twin Phono 5060457589133 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 3.5mm Mini Jack to RCA Adaptor Y Aux Splitter Headphone -Twin Phono at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Gray I am confused. The speakers have only XLR inputs as analogue inputs. Otherwise they use wireless (Wisa). The preamp has only a 3.5mm mini Jack as output, there is no RCA output. Where would I use the adapter you suggest?

 

[Gray]

Gray I am confused. The speakers have only XLR inputs as analogue inputs. Otherwise they use wireless (Wisa). The preamp has only a 3.5mm mini Jack as output, there is no RCA output. Where would I use the adapter you suggest?

Sorry, I was thinking you were using a wired connection from hub output to XLR inputs on the speakers.

So let's be clear about your current situation....correct what I may be getting wrong:
The hub transmits wirelessly to the speakers.
You've not got any XLR leads, as you've never used the XLR inputs.

Is that right?

 

[uint]

Sorry, I was thinking you were using a wired connection from hub output to XLR inputs on the speakers.

So let's be clear about your current situation....correct what I may be getting wrong:
The hub transmits wirelessly to the speakers.
You've not got any XLR leads, as you've never used the XLR inputs.

Is that right?

To summarize my current setup: I have the Concept TT connected to the Pro-ject preamp via RCA connectors. The preamp is then connected to the speakers hub using the 3.5mm mini Jack. The hub connects to the speakers wirelessly (Wisa). No XLR input/output is used.

 

[Gray]

To summarize my current setup: I have the Concept TT connected to the Pro-ject preamp via RCA connectors. The preamp is then connected to the speakers hub using the 3.5mm mini Jack. The hub connects to the speakers wirelessly (Wisa). No XLR input/output is used.

OK, so it's back to finding the right adaption.
If you're connecting to the RCA inputs on the hub, then you'll already have a 3.5mm jack to twin RCA plug cable to use for your test.
If not, that adaptor I linked to above will give you RCA out of the preamp.
Then choose from these things to get you connected directly - they'll also give you a future RCA analogue in option for your speakers if you need one.
(The lead comes in different lengths - and you might want to completely separate the twin cable):

Phono To XLR Adaptor RCA Female Socket to XLR 3 Pin Male Adaptor | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Phono To XLR Adaptor RCA Female Socket to XLR 3 Pin Male Adaptor at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

2 x RCA Male Plug Jack to 2 x XLR Male Plug Audio Lead 50cm 1.5m 3m 5m | eBay

Copper conductor material. Durable connectors provide a secure connection. PVC cable insulation. Durable and flexible cable. Colour: Black.

www.ebay.co.uk

TWIN RCA Phono 2 x Female Socket to Socket Coupler Cable Joiner Adapter GOLD | eBay

2 x RCA Phono Female Sockets to 2 x RCA Phono Female Sockets. Twin RCA Phono Female Coupler Adapter. Twin RCA Phono Coupler. Can be used to extend your male RCA Phono Cables.

www.ebay.co.uk

That hub is expensive, you'd like to think it's not compromising the audio - but the point is, something is and direct connection is necessary to rule it out.
Obviously, if direct sounds fine, the hub is the problem.
If it still sounds rough, work back, starting with the preamp.

 

[uint]

Gray, thank you for your help and patience in explaining this. I will test using the adapters you mention and see what happens.