squeegy200
11-26-2006, 02:48 PM
Like Royphil345, I had been following a parallel path regarding cartridges. I had been using Grado Moving Magnet cartridges for a few months now and enjoying the experience.
However, I had the opportunity to audition a Moving Coil preamp and decided I might as well try it out. Since I did not have a MC cartridge, I decided to order the classic Denon DL103 from an online retailer in Germany. It was available, I'd read much about it, and it was inexpensive--$148
I received the cartridge just before Thanksgiving day. That did not give me much opportunity until the following weekend.
So this Sunday I did some extensive listening and A-B comparisons.
I setup two turntables
On a SystemDek IIX, I installed the Denon DL103 and configured it to spec using an ADC stylus alignment gauge and test record.
On an NAD 5125, I setup the Grado Black using the same stylus gauge and test record.
I would try both cartridges with at least two phono stages each.
Moving Magnet
1. I used a Bottlehead Seduction phono stage. It is a tube phono stage with a rating of 36db gain and 47.5k input resistance. It also has a non-adjustable load of 50pF
2. Phono stage of an Apt/Holman Preamp which has an adjustable cap load of 50-400pF. I tried each setting and settled on 100pF.
Moving Coil
1. Again I used the built-in step-up transformer within the Apt/Holman. The Denon recommends a capacitative load of 100pF or higher but I found it sounded best right at 100pF.
2. Micheal Yee Audio PFE-1 with adjustable gain and Capacitative load. (More on this later)
For the shootout-I listened to Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat" track 2. The selection was "Bird on a wire"
First impression.
The Grado Black was by far the least capable of the two and was not in the same league when compared with the Denon moving coil. Sound stage was two dimensional and flat. It was unmusical and best described as "muted". It was so bad that my wife got up and walked out. Although there was some improvement with the AptHolman phono stage, I decided to remove the Black from competition and instead installed a Grado Reference Platinum on the NAD turntable.
Thru the Bottlehead Seduction, the Grado Reference Platinum was noticeably better than the Black. Although the Bottlehead lacked the High and low end, it had similar space to the Denon. The Bottlehead seduction was likely the least capable phono stage in this shootout. But I wanted to introduce some tubes into the mix to see if it added any spice to the mix.
A more equal comparison is using the internal Apt/Holman preamp between the two cartridges. The Apt/Holman preamp has two phono inputs making A-B comparisons easy therefore reducing any imagined differences that I may create while switching between the two. Using the same phono stage also allows level playing field for true A-B comparisons. That I found were that the dynamics and sound stage was comparable between these two cartridges. However the Denon DL103 was slightly larger space and captured low end dynamics better than the Grado Wood. I could now distinguish the delicate sound of wood blocks and triangles in the background where as with the Grado Black, you knew they were there but could not tell what was making the sound.
Finally, the ultimate experience was installing the Micheal Yee Audio Pfe-1 to the Denon DL103. A good friend graciously loaned the Pfe-1 for me to audition as I could never afford such a piece of equipment. The Pfe-1 has 60db of gain and is adjustable in every imaginable way. But I decided to leave it at default which was 100pF cap load and 60db gain from its single output stage.
Using the Denon cartridge on a truly high-end phono preamp really made this humble moving coil perform as designed. It is no wonder, this 40 year old design is still considered a classic. The sound stage enveloped the entire room in a way a multi-channel setup would. The extreme lows and highs were smooth, clear, and distinguished. Each tiny percussion instrument had tangible position in the room and the decay made me visualize the size of the recording studio. I had never heard such dynamics from vinyl and the smoothness of the overall presentation was impressive.
I've recently listened systems equipped with cartridges costing $2-3k and this humble $148 Denon DL103 (if properly matched to the right phono preamp) in my opinion is in the same league.
I've since listened to numerous other LPs doing the same comparisons which have served to reinforce my initial conclusions.
Now I want to audition the Grado Reference using a true high-end MM preamp that is in the same league as the Pfe-1. I may get the opportunity to test an EAR very shortly. I'll report here if I do.
BTW: If any of you are in Southern California, your are welcome to come by and give it a listen. ;)
However, I had the opportunity to audition a Moving Coil preamp and decided I might as well try it out. Since I did not have a MC cartridge, I decided to order the classic Denon DL103 from an online retailer in Germany. It was available, I'd read much about it, and it was inexpensive--$148
I received the cartridge just before Thanksgiving day. That did not give me much opportunity until the following weekend.
So this Sunday I did some extensive listening and A-B comparisons.
I setup two turntables
On a SystemDek IIX, I installed the Denon DL103 and configured it to spec using an ADC stylus alignment gauge and test record.
On an NAD 5125, I setup the Grado Black using the same stylus gauge and test record.
I would try both cartridges with at least two phono stages each.
Moving Magnet
1. I used a Bottlehead Seduction phono stage. It is a tube phono stage with a rating of 36db gain and 47.5k input resistance. It also has a non-adjustable load of 50pF
2. Phono stage of an Apt/Holman Preamp which has an adjustable cap load of 50-400pF. I tried each setting and settled on 100pF.
Moving Coil
1. Again I used the built-in step-up transformer within the Apt/Holman. The Denon recommends a capacitative load of 100pF or higher but I found it sounded best right at 100pF.
2. Micheal Yee Audio PFE-1 with adjustable gain and Capacitative load. (More on this later)
For the shootout-I listened to Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat" track 2. The selection was "Bird on a wire"
First impression.
The Grado Black was by far the least capable of the two and was not in the same league when compared with the Denon moving coil. Sound stage was two dimensional and flat. It was unmusical and best described as "muted". It was so bad that my wife got up and walked out. Although there was some improvement with the AptHolman phono stage, I decided to remove the Black from competition and instead installed a Grado Reference Platinum on the NAD turntable.
Thru the Bottlehead Seduction, the Grado Reference Platinum was noticeably better than the Black. Although the Bottlehead lacked the High and low end, it had similar space to the Denon. The Bottlehead seduction was likely the least capable phono stage in this shootout. But I wanted to introduce some tubes into the mix to see if it added any spice to the mix.
A more equal comparison is using the internal Apt/Holman preamp between the two cartridges. The Apt/Holman preamp has two phono inputs making A-B comparisons easy therefore reducing any imagined differences that I may create while switching between the two. Using the same phono stage also allows level playing field for true A-B comparisons. That I found were that the dynamics and sound stage was comparable between these two cartridges. However the Denon DL103 was slightly larger space and captured low end dynamics better than the Grado Wood. I could now distinguish the delicate sound of wood blocks and triangles in the background where as with the Grado Black, you knew they were there but could not tell what was making the sound.
Finally, the ultimate experience was installing the Micheal Yee Audio Pfe-1 to the Denon DL103. A good friend graciously loaned the Pfe-1 for me to audition as I could never afford such a piece of equipment. The Pfe-1 has 60db of gain and is adjustable in every imaginable way. But I decided to leave it at default which was 100pF cap load and 60db gain from its single output stage.
Using the Denon cartridge on a truly high-end phono preamp really made this humble moving coil perform as designed. It is no wonder, this 40 year old design is still considered a classic. The sound stage enveloped the entire room in a way a multi-channel setup would. The extreme lows and highs were smooth, clear, and distinguished. Each tiny percussion instrument had tangible position in the room and the decay made me visualize the size of the recording studio. I had never heard such dynamics from vinyl and the smoothness of the overall presentation was impressive.
I've recently listened systems equipped with cartridges costing $2-3k and this humble $148 Denon DL103 (if properly matched to the right phono preamp) in my opinion is in the same league.
I've since listened to numerous other LPs doing the same comparisons which have served to reinforce my initial conclusions.
Now I want to audition the Grado Reference using a true high-end MM preamp that is in the same league as the Pfe-1. I may get the opportunity to test an EAR very shortly. I'll report here if I do.
BTW: If any of you are in Southern California, your are welcome to come by and give it a listen. ;)