Allnic H3000 naked z-foil vishay tweak

This is for those Allnic owners that are handy with a soldering iron or know someone that is. I've owned the H3000 for about a year before I decided to try this and I'm glad I did. I bought some 68k naked z-foil resistors. I bypassed the input resistor switch and soldered them straight to the input block. This of course will mean you can not change the resistance without soldering in a different resistor but I found no need to do so in my setup. I also have a friend that tried it on his unit with good results as well. On the Allnic you can still adjust the loading somewhat by adjusting the step up transformers.

This results in a sound that is more pure. It does not change the tonality that I noticed. At least in my system and that of my friends there was no down side short of less loading options.

H3000.jpg
 
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The Z-Foils are the best sounding resistors I've heard. I use them in the cartridge loading position of my phono stage as well.
 
I think it would be an improvement for most phono stages that can use them. It certainly brought the already very fine H3000 up a notch.
 
Try them you will not be disappointed. They make them up to 100K and will make custom values,for 1/2 watt or less
 
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How did you come up with 68k as a value?

The stock value is 47k. My favorite cart (AT150ANV) is a MM and I found it sounded better with a higher value. I initially had Allnic send me a new resistor switch with a 75k value instead of 47k for my MM. I liked what I heard and saw how easy it would be to bypass the switch and use a better resistor so I gave it a shot.

MC's go through a SUT on this phono stage so 68k did not change the loading much for them compared to 47k. I never tried the 47k z-foil but my friend did and he preferred 68k with his MC's. It would be interesting to try the 100k value but I am happy with the sound I have now.
 
47k is way too high for loading a typical MC cartridge. Anything over 1k and you have essentially unloaded a MC. If your friend prefers 68k for a MC, than he must like bright sound. I have never heard of loading a MM cartridge above 47k which is the industry standard, so I really don't know what that would do to the sound of a MM cartridge.
 
47k is way too high for loading a typical MC cartridge. Anything over 1k and you have essentially unloaded a MC. If your friend prefers 68k for a MC, than he must like bright sound. I have never heard of loading a MM cartridge above 47k which is the industry standard, so I really don't know what that would do to the sound of a MM cartridge.

Mark the actually value once you add the load of the SUT is much lower. I don't know the exact value without doing the math but it is down around 100 ohm's.

Have you actually tried a higher than 47k loading on a good MM cart before? The results will depend on the MM cart. I've heard of some MM carts sounding better with a lower than 47k load. Then there is capacitative loading to consider as well for MM's.
 
Sean-Sorry, I forgot about the SUTs lowering the actual value of the load. I think that people used to experiment with loading Grado cartridges lower than 47k, but I have never heard of anyone loading a MM cartridge higher than 47k. Have I ever done that or heard a MM that was loaded at higher than 47k? Nope. I think it has been over 30 years since I last owned a MM cartridge, and I know that I would have never set the loading higher in order to experiment. Maybe you are onto something, I personally have no idea.
 
Sean-Sorry, I forgot about the SUTs lowering the actual value of the load. I think that people used to experiment with loading Grado cartridges lower than 47k, but I have never heard of anyone loading a MM cartridge higher than 47k. Have I ever done that or heard a MM that was loaded at higher than 47k? Nope. I think it has been over 30 years since I last owned a MM cartridge, and I know that I would have never set the loading higher in order to experiment. Maybe you are onto something, I personally have no idea.

I can not take credit for the idea. Raul's 11k+ post thread on Audiogon is where I got the idea.http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1200430667&&&/Who-needs-a-MM-cartridge-type-when-we-ha

There is lots of discussion on the subject there.
 
Is this the "enjoy the music" Raul?

I believe so. I don't happen to agree with all of his opinions. Especially about tube gear but that is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water.:) I think we can learn something from everyone. Even if we don't always agree with them.
 
so this tweak defeats/bypasses the loading impedance switch on the unit ?

Yes. Not that it is absolutely necessary. I did not try to replace the resistor on the switch with a z-foil because one it would have been more difficult to solder and two I figured it would sound better not sending the signal through a switch's circuit board, contacts, and extra wire.
 
This is for those Allnic owners that are handy with a soldering iron or know someone that is. I've owned the H3000 for about a year before I decided to try this and I'm glad I did. I bought some 68k naked z-foil resistors. I bypassed the input resistor switch and soldered them straight to the input block. This of course will mean you can not change the resistance without soldering in a different resistor but I found no need to do so in my setup. I also have a friend that tried it on his unit with good results as well. On the Allnic you can still adjust the loading somewhat by adjusting the step up transformers.

This results in a sound that is more pure. It does not change the tonality that I noticed. At least in my system and that of my friends there was no down side short of less loading options.

First this is a killer phono stage. I've heard one (a 3000v in my system) and have 2 friends with 3000's that I've heard a lot. I think anytime on a phono signal when you can get rid of a switch and go with a hard connection has got to help..doesn't surprise me on your findings!
 
I think the first part of your first sentence disqualifies me, Sean. But, otherwise, I'm totally with you (in concept).
 
I believe so. I don't happen to agree with all of his opinions. Especially about tube gear but that is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water.:) I think we can learn something from everyone. Even if we don't always agree with them.

I think that Raul has a story to tell and mixed in there is maybe some good advice at times. I just love the fact that he routinely pulls out a verbal butterfly knife, slashes you in a thousand places before you realize you are bleeding to death, and then he ends his evisceration of you with "enjoy the music." It's comical really-or at least I see some humor in it.
 
I think that Raul has a story to tell and mixed in there is maybe some good advice at times. I just love the fact that he routinely pulls out a verbal butterfly knife, slashes you in a thousand places before you realize you are bleeding to death, and then he ends his evisceration of you with "enjoy the music." It's comical really-or at least I see some humor in it.

He is a character.
 
Current phono stages have loading above 47k. example is the 3 input Accuphase C27 which for MM has 1k, 47k and 100k loading


c-27.jpg
 

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