MC addition....

[Bernd]

Has it really been over a year since I last posted a little ditty about my Vinyl adventures? Somehow life got in the way and I swear that the days are getting shorter. Where does the time go. Anyway a couple of weeks ago I treated myself to a new addition.

And this is it, and for those who are interested in my findings, here we go with the obligatory first impression thread. I spent the first 5 hours enchanted by the Orpheus. This is the first time that a brand new cartridge has given me goose bumps right from the off. Side one, track one, first note of Christy Moore’s - Welcome to the Cabaret. Wow. Permagrin. It’s also the very first time that I called my wife up to the music room so early to hear it. But before I start gushing too much, here is how it went.
I started the loading at 50 ohm with 60db selected at the phonostage. The settings at the arm were almost identical to the P-1, insofar VTA (very slight tail down) and overhang. The VTF was set to 1.85 gram.
The Phase Tech P-1 displays several traits that the Orpheus brought to the table so to speak, but whereas the P-1 hinted what was in the grooves, the Orpheus fleshed those details out and gave them life. Almost like a groove hoover. The best way I can describe the difference is this. Imagine a warm summer’s day; you go for a stroll mid afternoon, meadows, brook, and birds singing, but dry and dusty. That’s the P-1. Now imagine the same scene after a summer downpour a slight breeze and the sun is re-appearing. That’s the Orpheus. Same scene, but somehow time has slowed down a little and it feels fresher and you notice more of everything.
The P-1 manages to give the illusion of having the musicians in your room playing just for you, whereas the Orpheus big trick is that it takes you to where the musicians are. A very distinctive difference.
I then changed the loading to 25 ohm and the Orpheus lost that magical musical coherence. It laid all the details it retrieves bare, almost de-constructs the song. I can see the detail fan boys will love that. Not dissimilar to what I had experienced with the Dynavector XV-1s. A very fine MC, but didn’t work well in my set up and was not for me.
It’s very tough to put into words how something sounds, but last night there was a real hint of something magical, something I have never felt listening to records. The Orpheus displayed some freedom and musical flow in an unhurried manner that I find very appealing. The one criticism I have of the P-1 is that it can sound a little hurried, whereas the Orpheus feels completely in control and never loses grip, but that becomes only noticeable by comparing the two. The volume also appeared to be louder with the Orpheus, but was not. I guess it’s down to the extra detail and tonal shades I was hearing.
This is only a first impression and I shall revisit this once the Orpheus has 50 hours on the clock. I will reset everything and will listen to the same records again. Anal, I know, but I don’t care.
And yes, big fingers need a big finger lift…………..
The cartridge has now 30 Hours on the clock and the soundstage is huge. I changed the loading to 200ohm and this setting fits like a glove now.
The Phase Tech is a bargain, no doubt. The Transfiguration Orpheus is expensive, but it gives you that little bit extra. Unfortunately, that comes with a large price tag. I am very fortunate to be able to own such a fine cartridge.