Phono Stage

[admin_exported]

I posted recently about buying a new Systemdek turntable. Ive fell in love with it and have only listened to vinyl as to my ears it sounds superb.So much more musical than my Arcam Alpha 7se cdp. I am using it plugged into the built in phono stage of my arcam alpha 8r. Would using an external phono stage improve the sound further?

I am also going to upgrade the cartridge to an Ortofon Red and buy an Audionote acrylic platter to replace the glass one and felt mat. Should this make an improvement. I recently posted about taking tweaking too far and dont want too flush my pennies down the loo.

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone?

 

[plastic penguin]

bobbyg81:

I posted recently about buying a new Systemdek turntable. Ive fell in love with it and have only listened to vinyl as to my ears it sounds superb.So much more musical than my Arcam Alpha 7se cdp. I am using it plugged into the built in phono stage of my arcam alpha 8r. Would using an external phono stage improve the sound further?

I am also going to upgrade the cartridge to an Ortofon Red and buy an Audionote acrylic platter to replace the glass one and felt mat. Should this make an improvement. I recently posted about taking tweaking too far and dont want too flush my pennies down the loo.

I agree - turntables are excellent. As regards an outboard phone stage I would say no. Only because Arcam produce some of the finest built-in turntable stages around for the price.

You could improve on it if you buy an expensive stage. If you go for a Cambridge or Nad or any other budget ones, you'll probably not notice any difference: that's because the Alpha range, unless you have 9 or 10 may not give enough transpancy, so, as always, try and demo a couple before handing over your money.

Hope this helps.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for that.ill stick with the inbuilt phono then.Have you or anyone any experiences of upgrading to an acrylic platter?

 

[plastic penguin]

No, not platters. If you are looking for a cracking cartridge upgrade, find your nearest retailer who does ClearAudio Classic Wood cartridge - it's fantastic sounding.

I have one fitted to my Project Xpression One, and it's probably the best single item I've purchased [in hi-fi terms].

 

[Anonymous]

I had a look for the clearaudio cartridgeyou mentioned.It was £245.Tbh i was only looking to spend about a hundred max on a cartridge. I dont know if the Systemdek IIX would warrant spending much more? Or am I talking nonsense?

 

[plastic penguin]

Crikey - when I bought mine [true 2 years ago] it cost me £110.00. . . .wipe the brow time.

I can't comment on your TT, but mine was only £200 brand new.

 

[Anonymous]

I paid a penny under 60 quid for mine second hand.Its from the mid to late 80s.They seem to be held in quite high regard from what ive read.

 

[John Duncan]

bobbyg81:thanks for that.ill stick with the inbuilt phono then.Have you or anyone any experiences of upgrading to an acrylic platter?

I upgraded to a slightly thicker glass one (from a.....thinks....big chunky turntable that was a step up budgetwise from the Planar 3, suspended, there was an 'M' in it......) to zero effect, but I suspect getting an acrylic one the same weight (and therefore maintaining the balance properly) would be very thick, and you'd have issues with arm height.

Agree on phono stage answers though, stick with built in until you get a better amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Try a Funk Firm's Achromat - might work instead of a whole new platter.

 

[John Duncan]

Yep, might do, or try a ringmat (which my mate swears by).

Just having a thought though, i know that Audionote put an acrylis platter on what basically is a IIX - you might contact them and see if they have aftermarkets and whether it would upset the balance.

 

[Anonymous]

yes they do Mr Duncan. You have to change the arm height by 8mm though. If its something i can do without cocking it up im really tempted! here it is here..

http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/analogue/misc_platter_systemdek.shtml

 

[John Duncan]

bobbyg81:
yes they do Mr Duncan. You have to change the arm height by 8mm though. If its something i can do without cocking it up im really tempted! here it is here..

http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/analogue/misc_platter_systemdek.shtml

I love the look of acrylic platters, but I wouldn't do it for £120 quid (having paid 60 quid for the deck). Look at power supply upgrades and cartridges first.

 

[Anonymous]

Thats a fair point. Im happy with the sound at the moment so might just get a new cartridge,belt and an anchromat and be done with it. Like you say the acrylic platters do look nice though!!

 

[Anonymous]

Oh one more question.I have been recommended the denon dl110 cartridge many times.As this is MC will my turntable be quieter than it is at the moment? The reason I ask is my arcams are already getting a workout trying to power my ATCs.