Upgrade Cartridge or Phono Stage?

[JohnNB]

I have an Thorens TD160 tt with a Logic Basic tonearm played through a Roksan Kandy amp and a Rega Mini Phono stage into Spendor SP1 speakers. I recently replaced an Orofon cartirdge with a Golding 2100. The Ortofon was lively and bright and I'm dissappointed with the dull sound of the Goldring. Can anyone advise if I should go for a different phono stage to liven up the sound from the cartridge, or should I replace the cartridge?

JohnNB

 

[plastic penguin]

I have an Thorens TD160 tt with a Logic Basic tonearm played through a Roksan Kandy amp and a Rega Mini Phono stage into Spendor SP1 speakers. I recently replaced an Orofon cartirdge with a Golding 2100. The Ortofon was lively and bright and I'm dissappointed with the dull sound of the Goldring. Can anyone advise if I should go for a different phono stage to liven up the sound from the cartridge, or should I replace the cartridge?

JohnNB

Shouldn't feel the need for a outboard phono stage as the Kandys built-in one is pretty good. I presume you purchased the "Mini" from a high street/online Rega dealer, and I rather think this is a budget-influence buy. Certainly the Mini is a entry-level type of stage, so you'll need to hear what other stages/carts can do.

In this instance I'm deliberately avoiding names as this may colour your view of any potential upgrade.

 

[Al ears]

I have an Thorens TD160 tt with a Logic Basic tonearm played through a Roksan Kandy amp and a Rega Mini Phono stage into Spendor SP1 speakers. I recently replaced an Orofon cartirdge with a Golding 2100. The Ortofon was lively and bright and I'm dissappointed with the dull sound of the Goldring. Can anyone advise if I should go for a different phono stage to liven up the sound from the cartridge, or should I replace the cartridge?

JohnNB

Shouldn't feel the need for a outboard phono stage as the Kandys built-in one is pretty good. I presume you purchased the "Mini" from a high street/online Rega dealer, and I rather think this is a budget-influence buy. Certainly the Mini is a entry-level type of stage, so you'll need to hear what other stages/carts can do.

In this instance I'm deliberately avoiding names as this may colour your view of any potential upgrade.

I concur PP. Not too sure why the OP would want the Rega Mini as the inbuilt one in the Roksan is far better. You'd only need this if it didn't have an inbuilt phono stage or intended to go moving coil cartridge at some stage.

If a big change in the SQ is required then a change of cartridge is the only way to go. Try a Nagaoka.

Also I'd like to know just how he is connecting that Rega Mini to the Roksan as this could be where the problem lies.

 

[JohnNB]

I bought the Rega Mini on the strength of the review, and on the principle that separate phono stages are generally better than in-built ones. The dealer also said that the Kandy's phono stage was good, but the Rega Mini sounds better to my ears. The sound staging is bigger and there's more detail. I'll try going direct into the Kandy again though in case I was willing the Mini to sound better!

 

[JohnNB]

Thanks All Ears

I think the Rega Mini sounds better than the Kandy's own phono stage, but I'll try again to see if I was being biased having made the purchase! I have the Rega Mini connected to the Kandy with an Atlas Element Inergra cable, which I use throughout my system. Do you think a different inter-connect would change the sound much, and if so, do you recommend anything? The only Nagoka in What Hi Fi is £500, which is a bit more than I had planned to spend, but if you think it would get a better sound from my Spendors I'll consider it.

JohnNB

 

[respe]

Forget changing the cable, unless it has some gross anomoly, it is not going to change a dull cart to bright. I would suggest you ensure the goldring is set up properly, and tracking at the best vtf for your system. If it still sounds dull, then I would suggest that you have a preferance for the ortlfons brighter house sound. If that is the case then look at moving back to ortofon,maybe a bronze.

 

[JohnNB]

Sorry but just noticed an error in my original post. My tonearm is a Linn Basic (maybe you worked that out!)

 

[stevebrock]

is the Fono the £80 unit or the £200 unit?

I struggled to even find the difference between the £200 Fono and my old Elicit's in built phono, so really cant understand why you went this route.

Sell the Fono use the Roksan stage and buy yourself a Nagaoka cart, 3 to choose from MP110,150,200

 

[stevebrock]

Sell the Fono use the Roksan stage and buy yourself a Nagaoka cart, 3 to choose from MP110,150,200

 

[nopiano]

I agree with the general thrust here, though the Rega is a great little unit. When I got mine the dealer said it was hard to beat until you spent nearer five hundred GBP on a pre preamp. But it does seem to be nedless here.

The snag these days is in auditioning pickups. I date from a time when you could audition several, even if compromising by using removeable head shells. I used Duals and SMEs. I remember Nagaokas too, though have no experience of current models. Worth checking before going for another change, that the new cart is properly aligned and set. And I vaguely recall that Goldring series is made by Nagaoka, but will need to check that out fully.

 

[nopiano]

Sorry, double post

 

[JohnNB]

Hi Steve,

I have the £80 Fono. Since getting advice that the Kandy's phono stage is good I've plugged the tt straight into the amp. I'll spend a few days listening then switch back to the Fono to compare. Must admit though that there was no discernable difference in sound initially. I'll keep you posted.

JohnNB

 

[JohnNB]

The Goldring was set up by a professional, so I assume it's set up correctly. I'm trying the Kandy's phono stage at the moment. I'm not convinced now that the Rga Fono sounds better like I initially thought, but will compare them again. People seem to be advising against using an external phono stage, which surprises me as I thought it was better to separate the phono stage from the amp. The Nagaoka cartridge seems to have a lot of fans, so maybe I'll wait till the stylus in the Goldring needs replacing then audition (if possible) a Nagaoka. I was also under the impression that better quality cartridges were MC, but looking at the prices I notice that there are some expensive MM cartridges also. Any thoughts on this and what the pros and cons are of MC against MM?

JohnNB

 

[Freddy58]

Any thoughts on this and what the pros and cons are of MC against MM?

JohnNB

Good question

 

[nima]

Upgrade Cartridge or Phono Stage?

That's an easy one: turntable.

 

[nopiano]

Upgrade Cartridge or Phono Stage?

That's an easy one: turntable.

I am glad you said that, as I was thinking the same. And definitely if going the MC route in the future!

 

[Al ears]

Well, maybe the tonearm.

 

[JohnNB]

Are you suggesting that the Thorens and, or the Linn Basic tonearm are not a good match with the Spendors and the Roksan. I've had the TD160 and the SP1s for years and my aim was to build a system around them rather than go in a different direction. The consensus seems to go for a Nagaoko or Ortofon cartrige, which I'll probably do and forget the phono stage

 

[Freddy58]

Any thoughts on this and what the pros and cons are of MC against MM?

JohnNB

Good question

Anyone?

 

[nopiano]

Are you suggesting that the Thorens and, or the Linn Basic tonearm are not a good match with the Spendors and the Roksan. I've had the TD160 and the SP1s for years and my aim was to build a system around them rather than go in a different direction. The consensus seems to go for a Nagaoko or Ortofon cartrige, which I'll probably do and forget the phono stage

John, I think more that a MC is waste of money with a Linn Basic arm. Arms do not 'match' amps and speakers, but they need to be good enough for a demanding pickup cartridge. A decent MM is fine though, as you suggest.

 

[nopiano]

Any thoughts on this and what the pros and cons are of MC against MM?

JohnNB

Good question

Anyone?

http://bit.ly/1lvB3UF

 

[Freddy58]

Any thoughts on this and what the pros and cons are of MC against MM?

JohnNB

Good question

Anyone?

http://bit.ly/1lvB3UF

Yes, very funny.

 

[JohnNB]

Thanks, that's useful - a MC cartridge wasted on a Linn Basic arm. The arm was fitted recently and is a big improvement on the original Thorens tonearm, but not up to MC standard. I'm enjoying the Roksan's phono stage by the way. Perhaps it needed to be played in a bit?

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks, that's useful - a MC cartridge wasted on a Linn Basic arm. The arm was fitted recently and is a big improvement on the original Thorens tonearm, but not up to MC standard. I'm enjoying the Roksan's phono stage by the way. Perhaps it needed to be played in a bit?

I think, also, you'll need a better amp for a MC cart: From what I've read on here and elsewhere, you need to be looking at around £400 for a MC cart to demonstrate a noticeable imporovement over a good MM.

 

[stevebrock]

Thanks, that's useful - a MC cartridge wasted on a Linn Basic arm. The arm was fitted recently and is a big improvement on the original Thorens tonearm, but not up to MC standard. I'm enjoying the Roksan's phono stage by the way. Perhaps it needed to be played in a bit?

I think, also, you'll need a better amp for a MC cart: From what I've read on here and elsewhere, you need to be looking at around £400 for a MC cart to demonstrate a noticeable imporovement over a good MM.

and the rest