Matador Audio Discussion Greatest Hits

[Patrick]

By request -

Links to the various discussions about audio and equipment on this forum:

Mono cartridges and headphone amps (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2708&perpage=15&pagenumber=3)

Single disc CD players (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2804)

Bookshelf speakers (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2801)

New Stereo help (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2797)

Wireless microphone suggestions (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2756)

Acoustic Guitar recommendations (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2754)

Buying a record player and accessories (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2744)

On the subject of decent record players (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2746)

The guitar thread... (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2664)

Vinyl/turntable questions (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1876&highlight=stereo)

Stereo System recommendations (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2200&highlight=stereo)

Another stereo request (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2057&highlight=stereo)

Recommendations on good/inexpensive stereo equipment (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=325&highlight=stereo)

Wearing out an LP (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=989&highlight=stereo)

Recommendations on some good/inexpensive headphones (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=626&highlight=stereo)

[TheSadDebaser]

Maybe you should just write out a pamphlet or provide a link to the Electrical Audio forums.

[tinobeat]

why the long face, Patrick?

[Patrick]

Just some attitude.

Patrick

[otto midnight]

Originally posted by Patrick
Just some attitude.

Patrick

from whom?

[Patrick]

Jesus, you guys aren't very punk rock are you!

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

Oh shit, here I am one of those clamouring for a single audio discussion thread, and when Patrick puts it up, I miss it and keep posting on the individual threads.

Anyway, thanks Patrick. I find you very knowledgeable and less rabid/dogmatic than many other web-based audio resources.

[otto midnight]

Originally posted by Patrick
Jesus, you guys aren't very punk rock are you!

Patrick

is that from the bible?

[Maximo]

Heh, a lot of those are mine :p sorry for all the questions!

[andrew]

Hey! Where's the Pavement tuning guide?

[Squall91]

Fucking awesome.

Just what I needed. And from the Matador board too!

Patrick, do you provide fashion tips too? How about how to get laid instantly without feeling guilty of being shallow? How to grow old gracefully? How to do well in school? :)

[Lukas]

hey man what the hell?
You stole Copeland from us! Why couldn't you have taken Calvillo, why did you have to take someone good?

[the Pawnbroker]

Patrick:

I will be getting the big Snell speakers in a few weeks and had a question on isolation/floor spikes. I believe the only "feet" the speakers have are these massive metal carpet spikes, which cannot be used on our living room's hard wood floors.

I was looking around and found these floor protectors:



Quadraspire Floor Protectors (http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=QUADQS4&product_name=Quadraspire%20Floor%20Protective%20Di scs%20-%20Set%20of%204)

The spikes are intended to fit into these, correct?

Would you recommend going this route (spikes & protectors) or trying to do something else?

Keep in mind the speakers are 15 years old and no longer in production, so finding different spikes/feet might be a problem.

Thanks for the help.

[Patrick]

The speakers are meant to be spiked, so I would go with the floor protectors. The Quadraspires look nice.

Patrick

[Lukas]

Those are awfully expensive for something like that, couldn't you just get those cork type ones you put on the bottom of furniture, sort of like a smaller version of coasters. Those things go for a buck ;)

[Salman]

I'm in the market for a portable field recorder. I'm not looking for a high-end DAT recorder, but something decent in the $125-$200 range. Any suggestions?

[the Pawnbroker]

Originally posted by Lukas
Those are awfully expensive for something like that, couldn't you just get those cork type ones you put on the bottom of furniture, sort of like a smaller version of coasters. Those things go for a buck ;)

I think the idea is as much isolation/anti-vibration as floor protection.

Plus they look cooler than cork. My stuff/shelves are all black.

[Lukas]

yah i was thinking about sound quality, whatever I am sure though that you could find a better deal than that

[Patrick]

DIY audio is always worth trying - it only costs a few bucks, and you'll know immediately if it has an effect.

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

On the DIY front, I was wondering what experience you have had with DIY Tube preamp kits? What kind of difficulty level are we talking about (I have never used a sodering iron, but I am willing to learn)? What sort of cost break do you get from kits versus buying an equivalent level assembled preamp? Any kits you would recommend?

[bitterfruit]

Anybody have any opinions on the Bose noise cancelling headsets? 300 duckets is a bit much, but I am tempted.

[Patrick]

They sound like shit, but they do cancel the noise. Great for airplane movies. I wouldn't use them for music, but it's your money.

Patrick

[bitterfruit]

I don't think that there's a headphone thread so any suggestions?

I do kinda want the noise canceling bit, but if you're telling me that they're shite, then I can deal with a little airline noise for the sake of having a quality headset on the ground.

[bitterfruit]

Fuck, nevermind:

http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=626&highlight=stereo

[Patrick]

I stand by my recommendations in that thread, but I will say that the noise-cancelling feature works like a charm on airplanes, and I suspect you spend a LOT of time on them bitterfruit... it may be the only to truly enjoy movies or music, even in biz class.

Sennheiser does make some closed models however that are used in many recording studios (where note precisely no Bose is used, in any capacity). They still won't keep out the persistent roar of aircraft noise the way the Boses will. But the Boses keep out something else too.

As I said, great for movies on planes.

Patrick

[Patrick]

n the DIY front, I was wondering what experience you have had with DIY Tube preamp kits?

pb, I've made a couple of tube kits, both from Bottlehead (http://www.bottlehead.com). Right now I'm working on a solid-state amp kit and it's driving me insane. It's a good way for me to get off the drinking/partying/going out constantly bandwagon that is my personal and, unfortunately, also my professional life.

I liked the sound of the Bottlehead Paramours, but at 3.5 watts per channel you need some mighty efficient speakers. Unfortunately I don't really like the sound of speakers that efficient, at least in my room (they involve either single drivers, or horns, or huge cabinets, or a combination of the above), so I've moved on.

EDIT: Oops, I've just noticed you were asking specifically about preamp kits. First, be forewarned that preamps are more complicated than amps. Second, I will say that the Bottlehead Seduction phono preamp kit I made is fuckin' good. I use it for my mono cartridge, and I use my Aesthetix Io Signature for my stereo cartridge. Look up the price on the latter and you'll know that this is no easy game to play. Gotta to be happy to use a soldering iron, play around with dangerous voltages and clutter up the kitchen table (or other available workspace) for weeks or months while you solicit for help on the Bottlehead bulletin board though. Fun for some (definitely for me).

Patrick

[bitterfruit]

Originally posted by Patrick
and I suspect you spend a LOT of time on them bitterfruit...

Sennheiser does make some closed models however that are used in many recording studios (where note precisely no Bose is used, in any capacity).

Patrick

Are these (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00079PNU6/sr=1-3/qid=1110159343/ref=sr_1_3/102-5745870-9246502?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A3ET1CHCB2RN4K&n=12850561&s=merchant&v=glance) the Sennheiser ones you are talking about?

Last year alone, I was on 112 individual flights. Delta loves my ass.

[Lukas]

bitterfruit what is your profession again?

[bitterfruit]

Big pimpin' software baller.

[tinobeat]

yeah.. "software"...

[bitterfruit]

I wish I had the balls to pimp anything else. I'm a scared-y cat.

[Lukas]

so that requires many conferences which you need to attend to by plane, or different facilities perhaps?

[bitterfruit]

Originally posted by Lukas
so that requires many conferences which you need to attend to by plane, or different facilities perhaps?

Patrick,

I bought the Bose noise cancelling headset. You're right: not the sound you would expect for the cost, but the engine noise is lowered substantially.

Lukas,

I visit clients 99% of the time, Hawaii was indeed a conference though. For instance, I got in this morning at 6AM on a red-eye, back out tomorrow morning to DC for a couple of days to visit a client.

[Lukas]

sounds like your are doing quite well.

[bitterfruit]

I'm somebody's bitch. An appearingly glamourous facade with mania and bitterness inside.

[Elijah]

OK. How about portable speakers? Right now, I have a crappy set of computer speakers that I plug into my iPod whenever I'm in a hotel room, or staying at someone's house where I don't have free reign on the stereo. The crappy sound is starting to get to me, though.

Can anyone recommend something that sounds good for between $75- and $125-? They don't need to be audiofile quality--I'm just looking for something with reasonably decent sound. If they're rechargeable, and/or they run on an AC adapter that isn't heavier than the actual speakers, that's a nice bonus.

[Elijah]

In reference to my post above, I'm curious to know if anyone's tried either of these...

Harman JBL on Tour Portable Music Box Speaker System (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002SAE56)
Monster Cable iSpeaker iPod Portable Speakers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001HIT2S)

[9000]

Originally posted by Elijah
In reference to my post above, I'm curious to know if anyone's tried either of these...

Harman JBL on Tour Portable Music Box Speaker System (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002SAE56)
Monster Cable iSpeaker iPod Portable Speakers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001HIT2S)

i don't have the tour portable music box speakers, but have the jbl on stage unit and the creature speakers. the on stage unit (looks like a donut), is alright. the first one i got went all heywire after a few uses and i was forced to send it back for a new one. the sound is tin-like at lower volumes, but improves as you crank it up. pretty powerful for a little dinky thing. i like the creature speakers more, but they don't provide the portability you want.

[the Pawnbroker]

Patrick:

What is your view on the difference made by swapping tubes (6922) in a tube (or hybrid ss/tube) preamp?

Do NOS tubes make that much difference?

If so, any brands you recommend?

[Patrick]

Tube swapping always makes a difference, not always for the better. I'm using Amperex military-grade 7308s in my Seduction phono pre in place of the specified stock 6DJ8s, with good results.

Hard to recommend any specific brands esp of 6922s. I'd check the Tube Asylum on Audio Asylum. A lot has to do with your particular circuit, and tastes. You'll be adjusting the sonic flavoring.

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

Originally posted by Patrick
Tube swapping always makes a difference, not always for the better. I'm using Amperex military-grade 7322s in my Seduction phono pre in place of the specified stock 6DJ8s, with good results.

Hard to recommend any specific brands esp of 6922s. I'd check the Tube Asylum on Audio Asylum. A lot has to do with your particular circuit, and tastes. You'll be adjusting the sonic flavoring.

Patrick

Cool. This seems like a relatively inexpensive way to (hopefully) upgrade the sound. Currently, I have what I assume are the stock 6922s. Amperex seems to be a very popular brand across the board.

I have done a fair amount of reading on AA, but for every strong opinion on one side of an issue, there appears to be an equally strong opinion on the other (ie. cables).

[Patrick]

Sorry, I meant 7308s not 7322s. I edited my post, but your quote contains my original mistake so I thought I'd point that out.

You can't just go by brand - you need the date and country of the tubes. Amperex manufactured in many countries. The most desirable ones are from Holland and have an orange drawing of a "bugle boy" printed on the side of them - hence are known as Amperex Holland Bugle Boys.

However these are widely counterfeited in the Far East, so be sure you know who your seller is!

Tubeworld is good, and Kevin Deal is very good (but pricey and won't allow you access to his 'Secret Stash' unless you're also buying new equipment from him).

What are you retubing?

Best
Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

I would be retubing an Audio Research Sp-9 (hybrid tube/ss preamp), which uses two 6922s.

Thanks for the tips regarding tube manufacturer/country of origins. I find this whole end of the hobby fascinatingly complex.

Couple more questions:

Does Kevin Deal = Upscale Audio? I have read a good bit of that site, including the secret stash.

Is there any good basic primer on audio tubes? One thing I would be looking for it means that one tube is in the same family as another. Apparently, the 6922s are in the same family as the 6DJ8s and your 7308s. Does this mean they are are interchangeable?

[Lukas]

Does anybody know a good overdrive pedal for cheap?
I am getting a gibson maestro fuzztone and need an overdrive pedal for some things. Actually to get that old Westing sound should I get an overdrive?

[Lukas]

will no one answer?

[Salman]

I guess this really doesn't belong here, but I didn't want to start a new thread. But anyways....

Basically I'm new to the bootlegging world. I recorded a couple of shows over the weekend with my MiniDisc player, and transferred that data on to my PC into wav. Now, it was transferred as one big long track, and I want to splice and seperate the songs. So, does anyone know of a good free program that does that I can download online?

[tinobeat]

I believe, unless I'm hopelessly out of date with the PC sound world, CoolEdit and/or CoolEdit Pro should do the trick...

[johansen smith]

I have a Mac now, but yeah, that's what I used when I had a PC.

[winterversion]

Can anyone help me out here? Whenever I play vinyl on my stereo, the "s" sounds are very harsh and slightly distorted. Is there something wrong with my wiring or something, because I've got pretty decent equipment, IMO (NAD amp with a Music Hall MMF 2.1 turntable, both bought new last Fall). Any suggestions?

[winterversion]

Any ideas?






Anyone?

[the Pawnbroker]

I will try, but my knowledge is pretty basic:

1. Try isolating the cause. Is it all records or only some records? Note, some sources (ie. LP’s) have harsh sibilance (“s” sounds) due to performance, recording, or pressing. Also, make sure the record is clean.

2. Assuming there is a problem with your system and not the source, is this a recent problem, or one that has occurred since you bought your system? I assume this problem is vinyl only (ie. does not occur when playing CDs).

3. Check to make sure all cables are securely fastened and/or disconnect and reconnect all cables/components. I don’t know if this is likely to have any effect.

4. Make sure the turntable cartridge has not come loose (retighten it), as well as the wires connecting the cartridge to the arm.

5. Try moving the turntable away from other sources of electricity (amp/speakers). This is usually for hum or feedback.

6. Try going to www.audioasylum.com and run searches for “sibilant” or “sibilance” in the vinyl asylum, or you could just post a question.

[winterversion]

Hey, thanks for the suggestions. These are some ideas I haven't thought of, so I'll give it a shot. But to answer some of your questions, the problem does appear on most records I play, even brand spanking new ones that are played for the first time. I don't have a CD player for my system yet, so I'm not sure if it's just a vinyl problem.

Thanks again.

[Patrick]

What tracking force are you using

Patrick

[tinobeat]

My right speaker just started farting out the bass frequencies... all broken up and nasty.

I'm gonna switch the speakers to see if its the speaker or the signal going to the right channel, but any preliminary thoughts on why this might be happening? I don't ever play anything loud enough to blow a speaker or rip a speaker cone, but who knows? I dunno, its really annoying..

I need new speakers anyway, though. I'm thinking of getting some Cambridge Soundworks speakers... any thoughts on those or similarly priced competitors?

[winterversion]

What tracking force are you using

Patrick

Forgive my ignorance (I'm really not much of an audiophile), but by tracking force, do you mean how heavy I have the stylus on the record? If that's what you mean, I think it's at about 17 grams. Should I make it lighter?

[Patrick]

Dude, it's definitely not 17 grams... maybe 1.7 grams!!!

People usually err towards the low side, which encourages mistracking, which encourages more record damage (believe it or not)... and sibilance is a sign of mistracking.

The problem is that tonearm VTF usually is not that accurate... which is why most audiophiles recommend buying the Shure tracking force scale (about $15).

If you're really at 1.7, try 1.9 or 2.0 grams and see how that works. Remember, you should adjust antiskate after adjusting VTF.

Keep asking questions - 'cause vinyl ain't easy.

Patrick

[winterversion]

I obviously have a lot to learn. Thanks Patrick, you've given me a great starting point.

[the Pawnbroker]

I need new speakers anyway, though. I'm thinking of getting some Cambridge Soundworks speakers... any thoughts on those or similarly priced competitors?

I've never heard of Cambridge but I checked out the website. Which ones are you looking to buy? Bookshelves or floorstanders? The prices on the floorstanders go up to $2000.

I've read very good reviews on the PSB Image T55 (http://www.psbspeakers.com/s/ImageSeries.html). They retail for $899 a pair, but you should be able to find them a bit cheaper. I've not heard them, but reviews say they are great for powerful rock.

[Wallerton]

Can anyone help me out here? Whenever I play vinyl on my stereo, the "s" sounds are very harsh and slightly distorted. Is there something wrong with my wiring or something, because I've got pretty decent equipment, IMO (NAD amp with a Music Hall MMF 2.1 turntable, both bought new last Fall). Any suggestions?

I can't remember--does the 2.1 come with a clamp? I have an MMF-5. Very, very rarely I'll have a problem with sibilance on certain records. I've found that the problem usually goes away if I use the clamp. If not, increasing the tracking force ever so slightly can help.

[Patrick]

So did increasing the tracking force (VTF) help?

If not, it's possible the cartridge is misaligned in the tonearm. Download a protractor and print it out (make sure it's to scale) from enjoythemusic.com to check it.

The turntable and platter are absolutely level right? Check it with a spirit level.If not, use shims under the feet until it is level. THEN do your alignment and VTF.

Patrick

[Wallerton]

Download a protractor and print it out (make sure it's to scale) from enjoythemusic.com to check it.

Or, if you don't mind shelling out a few bucks, buy a Hi-Fi News Test Record: it comes with a protractor.

You might also want to consider reducing overhang. Using the HFNTR protractor as my guide, I pushed the cartridge as far back as it would go (and still be aligned properly). Virtually eliminated inner-groove distortion, though it wasn't too bad to begin with. For all I know, it might help with sibilance, too.

[winterversion]

So did increasing the tracking force (VTF) help?

If not, it's possible the cartridge is misaligned in the tonearm. Download a protractor and print it out (make sure it's to scale) from enjoythemusic.com to check it.

The turntable and platter are absolutely level right? Check it with a spirit level.If not, use shims under the feet until it is level. THEN do your alignment and VTF.

Patrick

I increased the tracking force to about 1.8, which didn't seem to help much. The cartridge looks OK. I also readjusted the anti-skating.

I'm thinking the sibalance is mainly a recording issue. It seems to be more of a problem with this Sufjan Stevens' "Seven Swans" record. It's not as bad with other records.

[Wallerton]

I'm thinking the sibalance is mainly a recording issue. It seems to be more of a problem with this Sufjan Stevens' "Seven Swans" record. It's not as bad with other records.

That's a crap pressing, as is Greetings from Michigan. I'll only buy Sufjan Stevens on CD because the vinyl has been so damn bad.

[winterversion]

Agreed. Although I didn't notice much of a problem with Michigan.

What makes for a good vinyl pressing anyways? Is it primarily how many grams it is?

[Wallerton]

Is it primarily how many grams it is?

There's a lot of (relatively) thin vinyl from the 70s and 80s that sounds a helluva lot better than some of the crappy pressings being put on thick slabs o'vinyl these days. (At least one person on this board has opined that Matador's vinyl went to hell when it went to 120 grams, but I don't find this to be the case.)

I'm sure Patrick can speak to this at length, but there are a lot of factors that go into a quality pressing: the skill of the mastering engineer and disk cutter, the quality of the vinyl itself (virgin vs. recycled), and on and on and on...

Frankly, I wish record companies wouldn't bother with vinyl unless they know what the hell they're doing. There are a lot of us out there who buy vinyl not because we think it's quaint or retro or whatever but because we actually listen to it.

[pabost]

Speaking of vinyl, does anyone know how to play a turntable through a computer? I've just moved and, due to space constraints, abandoned my stereo but not my turntable.

Thanks.

[Elijah]

These links are coming up as broken. :(

Can anyone recommend a set of good bookshelf speakers for under $250? They'll be used for my computer, but through an amp, and I may or may not add a subwoofer at one point.
By request -

Links to the various discussions about audio and equipment on this forum:

Mono cartridges and headphone amps (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2708&perpage=15&pagenumber=3)

Single disc CD players (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2804)

Bookshelf speakers (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2801)

New Stereo help (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2797)

Wireless microphone suggestions (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2756)

Acoustic Guitar recommendations (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2754)

Buying a record player and accessories (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2744)

On the subject of decent record players (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2746)

The guitar thread... (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2664)

Vinyl/turntable questions (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1876&highlight=stereo)

Stereo System recommendations (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2200&highlight=stereo)

Another stereo request (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2057&highlight=stereo)

Recommendations on good/inexpensive stereo equipment (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=325&highlight=stereo)

Wearing out an LP (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=989&highlight=stereo)

Recommendations on some good/inexpensive headphones (http://www.matadorrecords.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=626&highlight=stereo)

[Elijah]

Speaking of vinyl, does anyone know how to play a turntable through a computer? I've just moved and, due to space constraints, abandoned my stereo but not my turntable.

Thanks.You need a Griffin Turntable Connection Cable (http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Turntable-Connection-Cable-Grounding/dp/B0007PL4BC/).

[davidleeroth]

These links are coming up as broken. :(

Try these instead:

Mono cartridges and headphone amps (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2708&page=3)

Single disc CD players (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2804")

Bookshelf speakers (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2801")

New Stereo help (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2797")

Wireless microphone suggestions (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2756")

Acoustic Guitar recommendations (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2754")

Buying a record player and accessories (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2744")

On the subject of decent record players (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2746")

The guitar thread... (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2664")

Vinyl/turntable questions (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=1876)

Stereo System recommendations (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2200)

Another stereo request (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=2057)

Recommendations on good/inexpensive stereo equipment (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=325)

Wearing out an LP (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=989)

Recommendations on some good/inexpensive headphones (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=626)

[Fiona]

I'm taking my Garrard turntable out of storage, but before I dust it off need to buy a new stylus. Can anyone recommend a good online retailer which will also help match the model to the correct stylus please?

[Patrick]

Ooooh, wow, Garrard! What model Fiona?

Best
Patrick

[Fiona]

It's an AP76. Not one of the more exciting models but it served me well for many years. I've finally got space to use it alongside other equipment (it's pretty stocky) so time to get it out of the garage.

[Patrick]

Ah, OK, don't know that one. Yeah, it's the 301 and the 401 that really get the blood flowing, so to speak. Those were like $50 5 years ago; now they go for over $1000 on eBay... and climbing. They *really* don't make 'em like they used to...

Patrick

[Patrick]

Oh, and for stylus, you could try needledoctor.com. Based in the US so maybe not so convenient for you.

This guy is based in the UK and might be able to steer you in the right direction for a local supplier:

http://www.thecartridgeman.com/

or possibly the folks at this store

http://www.walrus.co.uk/

Patrick

[ShadySides]

I was hoping I could get some preamp recommendations and/or guidance on what to look for, e.g. the advantages of solid state vs. tube. I just obtained a Thorens 160B MKII with a Rega RB-250 arm and Benz Micro Silver MC cartridge.

Any assistance would be most appreciated.

[Patrick]

Nice, ShadySides!

I'm a big proponent of tubes, but they have to be extremely high quality to amplify an MC cartridge and not be noisy. So without busting the bank, it's probably wisest to choose a tube MM stage with a step-up transformer, or a hybrid tube stage with MC solid state section, or an all SS stage.

Google the following: the Graham Slee line, Wright Audio, and Hagerman Technologies (the Cornet is supposed to be great for the bucks).

Best
Patrick

[ShadySides]

Thanks Patrick! It's great to get this info from a trusted source.

[ShadySides]

Just one more thing (Christ, I sound like Columbo)...

I'm getting somewhat confused with how some of the nomenclature is used. What is the difference or is there one between a phone stage and a preamp? It seems some systems go from table to phone stage to preamp to amp.

Thanks in advance for any replies.