Icon Audio PS1

[stevebrock]

Just had this on demo over the weekend, the MM/MC version. Crikey I have a new LP collection. My Analogue front end is now all valve and boy does it sound beautiful.

The unit has been paid for sale or return - its staying though.

Gobsmacked by the realism, fluidity and air this has given me - unbelievable!

Next stop is an arm upgrade - sometime this decade!

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Nice! A good phono makes all the difference!

Regarding upgrade the arm it won't be aesy, the rb303 is a wonderful arm, is the base of many TT in the market as you know.

 

[stevebrock]

I have a used SME IV in my sights!

 

[Waxy]

The PS1 is a lovely looking piece of kit. I have been mulling over getting my paws on a dedicated phono stage for a while now. The more I look, the more expensive things become!

 

[stevebrock]

The PS1 is a lovely looking piece of kit. I have been mulling over getting my paws on a dedicated phono stage for a while now. The more I look, the more expensive things become!

Get on a Valve amp first - I guarantee you will be hooked! Nice TT btrw

However if your Onkyo has a direct mode then run a PS1 through that, use the Gain on the phono for volume - so bypass all that pre-amp gubbins in the Onkyo - lovely

 

[Waxy]

99% of the time, I do use the direct mode on the Onkyo pre-amp. There are a handful of recordings though that necessitate some sort of tonal adjustment| I won't be upgrading my amplification anytime soon. The Onkyo A9000R as pre, and M5000R for power are doing me just fine.

 

[stevebrock]

even better if you have a power amp - run a PS1 directly into the power amp - jobs a gudun

 

[CJSF]

Did'nt we tell you so Steve *biggrin* . . . by the way look at the Audio Mods arm, right price, right sound, IMHO?

Unless you have the extra cash of course?

CJSF

 

[Al ears]

Did'nt we tell you so Steve *biggrin* . . . by the way look at the Audio Mods arm, right price, right sound, IMHO?

Unless you have the extra cash of course?

CJSF

Good though the AudioMods arm is, it is ultimately a modified Rega (perhaps much modified).

There is a new SME M2-9 arm going on eBay for £699. Don't know how much the second hand SME IV might be going for but I know which tonearm I would choose.

 

[CJSF]

Did'nt we tell you so Steve *biggrin* . . . by the way look at the Audio Mods arm, right price, right sound, IMHO?

Unless you have the extra cash of course?

CJSF

Good though the AudioMods arm is, it is ultimately a modified Rega (perhaps much modified).

There is a new SME M2-9 arm going on eBay for £699. Don't know how much the second hand SME IV might be going for but I know which tonearm I would choose.

Much modified, to the point; . . . the only bits thats are rega is the arm tube, lift and rest, and even then the tube is resinance modified. I've seen the resinance print out/measurments for the SME compared with the AM arm, if figures prove anything, no contest?
Not saying anything other than 'Audio Mods' is worthy of consideration . . . depends on pocket, tast in musical presentation and if individualy hand made floats your boat? CJSF

 

[Al ears]

Did'nt we tell you so Steve *biggrin* . . . by the way look at the Audio Mods arm, right price, right sound, IMHO?

Unless you have the extra cash of course?

CJSF

Good though the AudioMods arm is, it is ultimately a modified Rega (perhaps much modified).

There is a new SME M2-9 arm going on eBay for £699. Don't know how much the second hand SME IV might be going for but I know which tonearm I would choose.

Much modified, to the point; . . . the only bits thats are rega is the arm tube, lift and rest, and even then the tube is resinance modified. I've seen the resinance print out/measurments for the SME compared with the AM arm, if figures prove anything, no contest?

Not saying anything other than 'Audio Mods' is worthy of consideration . . . depends on pocket, tast in musical presentation and if individualy hand made floats your boat? CJSF

No offence meant CJSF and I have just realised how much that AudioMods tonearm costs. As you can get it for the same price as the SME M2-9 I mentioned I guess you are indeed spoilt for choice.

I have always had a thing about 'modifiers' that basically just alter someone elses design and call it their own but, as you say, AudioMods do not use much of the original Rega tonearm in their design and to be honest I think it looks the doggies dangly-bits especially with the micrometer VTA adjuster.

I guess it all comes down, as you rightly say, to how deep your pockets are and your own personal taste in design.

(Also getting one of these would mean the OP would not have to fork out for a different arm-board) 🙂

 

[CJSF]

Did'nt we tell you so Steve *biggrin* . . . by the way look at the Audio Mods arm, right price, right sound, IMHO?

Unless you have the extra cash of course?

CJSF

Good though the AudioMods arm is, it is ultimately a modified Rega (perhaps much modified).

There is a new SME M2-9 arm going on eBay for £699. Don't know how much the second hand SME IV might be going for but I know which tonearm I would choose.

Much modified, to the point; . . . the only bits thats are rega is the arm tube, lift and rest, and even then the tube is resinance modified. I've seen the resinance print out/measurments for the SME compared with the AM arm, if figures prove anything, no contest?

Not saying anything other than 'Audio Mods' is worthy of consideration . . . depends on pocket, tast in musical presentation and if individualy hand made floats your boat? CJSF

No offence meant CJSF and I have just realised how much that AudioMods tonearm costs. As you can get it for the same price as the SME M2-9 I mentioned I guess you are indeed spoilt for choice.

I have always had a thing about 'modifiers' that basically just alter someone elses design and call it their own but, as you say, AudioMods do not use much of the original Rega tonearm in their design and to be honest I think it looks the doggies dangly-bits especially with the micrometer VTA adjuster.

I guess it all comes down, as you rightly say, to how deep your pockets are and your own personal taste in design.

(Also getting one of these would mean the OP would not have to fork out for a different arm-board) 🙂

The latest AM arm with the yoke bridge is said to have a lot in common sonicaly with SME presentation. The micromiter is a great idea if you are into geek type adjusting VTA on each record . . . Personaly I could not be bothered, and Mr AM says, the performance with the mic' fitted is not as good as without, it was what customers wanted so he did it as an option, the advantage of bespoke individual manufacturer? Verious internal arm wire is avaliable, another advantage of the personal touch.

CJSF

 

[stevebrock]

I apprecaite your suggestion of Audio Mods arm Cliff, but I have my heart set on an SME IV - used probably!

Just need to sell my right leg and for one to come along used!

 

[CJSF]

I apprecaite your suggestion of Audio Mods arm Cliff, but I have my heart set on an SME IV - used probably!

Just need to sell my right leg and for one to come along used!

Only your right leg Steve??? . . .

In all honesty, I have not heard the SME IV, but one starts to feel the line on 'deminishing returns' taking over at these sort of figures? In fact I am doing an about turn in my mind, over the past month or so, I have listened to nothing but digital music, tweaked the room a little at minimum cost and I'm enjoying my music so much. Looking at my own philosophy over recent years, 'getting the best from what I have', in my mind beats throwing money at those deminishing returns.

Just my personal view, I do spend big money on my other hobby, so I'm not 'Simon pure', not pointing the finger.

Back to the AudioMods arms, read the reviews, they are very challenging . . . ?

Enjoy, CJSF

 

[stevebrock]

I will Cliff!

Apollo R vs Apollo R/DAC ??????

What do you think?

 

[CJSF]

I will Cliff!

Apollo R vs Apollo R/DAC ??????

What do you think?

I think I said when I first got the DAC, it put an extra something in, I only did a brif comparison.

A while on, my feeling is poor recordings are poor recordings, what ever the medium. As far as what I listen to now, the DAC is a leveler, brings good CD's towards vinyl sound, in fact perhaps a tad more detail, but its still digita!!! The original Apollo R was a little lifeless, add the DAC and that changes. If I could have kept the original full width Apollo R as just a transport, I dont think there would have been an issue, but I had not got the space, so now with the two half size cases sitting side by side, I understand It is basicaly a 'Rega Satern' with 'two power supplies?

Means I have the bassis of a second system if I desired it, my original 'Croft intigrated P hybrid valve amp and an Apollo R', as that is unlikly to happen, it will be up for sale when I can be bothered to put it on the bay, or someone make me an offer I cant refuse?

The reason for not doing vinyl is more to do with the fact that I have moved the LP storage to the back room tempory whilst I did some decorating, since then, it has become evident that we are likely to be doing some remodeling to help with Hazels disabuility, major work, so leave all where it is for the present. Haveing been forced into a digital corner, it aint that bad . . . with a little tweaking here and there*ok*

CJSF

 

[Waxy]

Hi Steve,

One thing that bugs me about my current setup (with an on-board phono stage) is the background hiss. How does the PS1 perform here? I've read that an external power stage can reduce this... is it true?

 

[stevebrock]

Hi Steve,

One thing that bugs me about my current setup (with an on-board phono stage) is the background hiss. How does the PS1 perform here? I've read that an external power stage can reduce this... is it true?

Crikey more silent than silent - were talking valves here!

Remember you have an AV amp - phono stage in an AV amp with all that circuity is not conducive to a black background.

PS1 is silenter than silent!

 

[stevebrock]

Hi Steve,

One thing that bugs me about my current setup (with an on-board phono stage) is the background hiss. How does the PS1 perform here? I've read that an external power stage can reduce this... is it true?

Crikey more silent than silent - were talking valves here!

Remember you have an AV amp - phono stage in an AV amp with all that circuity is not conducive to a black background.

To be honest your TT deserves a dedicated 2 channel amp with in-built phono - Rega Brio / Elex ??

I've owned a Brio & Elciit R, neither displayed any hum using the phono stage!

PS1 is silenter than silent!

 

[Waxy]

HOW DARE YOU!

I'm using an Onkyo A9000R as a pre-amp, into an Onkyo M5000R power amp.

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/a-9000r-58584.html

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/m-5000r-35271.html

The TV is in a different room! *biggrin*

 

[stevebrock]

HOW DARE YOU!

I'm using an Onkyo A9000R as a pre-amp, into an Onkyo M5000R power amp.

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/a-9000r-58584.html

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/m-5000r-35271.html

The TV is in a different room! *biggrin*

oops Waxy - hope I havent offended you - ok lets talk phono satges!!!!!

You see with the PS1 running into your Power amp, its going to give you a massive upgrade - in effect by-passing your Pre shennanigans 🙂

The using the gain on the PS1 for volume - it cant get anymore direct !!!

if the budget doesn't go that far then I reckon a Trichord Dino MK3 would be the job!!! Its upgradable with various power supplies/cables and if you want to experiment with MC carts as well it will accomadate.

 

[Al ears]

HOW DARE YOU!

I'm using an Onkyo A9000R as a pre-amp, into an Onkyo M5000R power amp.

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/a-9000r-58584.html

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/m-5000r-35271.html

The TV is in a different room! *biggrin*

oops Waxy - hope I havent offended you - ok lets talk phono satges!!!!!

You see with the PS1 running into your Power amp, its going to give you a massive upgrade - in effect by-passing your Pre shennanigans 🙂

The using the gain on the PS1 for volume - it cant get anymore direct !!!

if the budget doesn't go that far then I reckon a Trichord Dino MK3 would be the job!!! Its upgradable with various power supplies/cables and if you want to experiment with MC carts as well it will accomadate.

Nice bit about the PS1 stevebrock .

Each to their own but I'd have to disagree with you about the Trichord. I ran the Mk2 for a while and can only assume that the Mk3 is not a great deal different. For £499 (basic model) you can now get a whole lot better. The Dino would need it's updated power supply to keep up with the Rothwell thus putting it well outside the OP's budget. Its good but in my opinion not good enough with the basic wall-wart power supply.

The OP, of course, can decide for himself, but I'd still urge him to audition the Rothwell or Tom Evans Audio MicroGroove if he can.

 

[plastic penguin]

HOW DARE YOU!

I'm using an Onkyo A9000R as a pre-amp, into an Onkyo M5000R power amp.

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/a-9000r-58584.html

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/m-5000r-35271.html

The TV is in a different room! *biggrin*

Worth checking this out. Not heard it but if their in-built stages are a benchmark then this should be cracking. And it comes with a 14-day returns.

 

[Waxy]

Another one on the ever growing list

 

[DIB]

There's one for sale on The Art Of Sound forum at the moment for £300 if anyone's interested.

Nought to do with me I hasten to add, I don't even know if that's a good price or anything.

.