Recent content by sefischer1

  1. sefischer1

    Any Bergmann "Galder" owners here ?

    I would place the pump housing on the floor and not the rack shelf. While it is very quiet and low in vibration, there is still some. I have mine way away on a carpeted floor where it is not noticeable or taking up valuable real estate.
  2. sefischer1

    Any Bergmann "Galder" owners here ?

    I wanted a dual arm solution without the awkward positioning at the front. I designed and had Johnnie fabricate this elegant solution which places the surface mounted VPI at a 45degree position. The mount is a sliding key slot locked disk which allows for distance and orientation adjustment over...
  3. sefischer1

    To SUT or not to SUT?

    An SUT provides additional gain for very low output cartridges, but no RIAA equalization. The latter requires a standard MM phono input or stage. You can't use an SUT by itself to feed a regular line level input. I
  4. sefischer1

    To SUT or not to SUT?

    It depends on how the rca to xlr is wired. If it is an adaptor made to apply a signal to 1 phase and ground the other, then it won't work properly. These would tie the rca outer and inner contacts to pins 1 and 2, and short 3 to 1. I believe there are adapters (or cables) which tie the rca outer...
  5. sefischer1

    To SUT or not to SUT?

    At the moment, I have access to the similar, but excellent, Air Tight Opus 1. I first tried it with the Ortofon ST90 (24 db gain about 16 turns ratio) which is the best match, among my several options, for my Ortofon Anna. It was not a great match for the Opus 1. I then used the Luxman EQ-500...
  6. sefischer1

    To SUT or not to SUT?

    A 10x transformer will provide 20dB of step-up or 5mV rating, which when coupled with a basic MM input of 40dB will provide a total of 60db of gain. The transformer will also transform down the 47K MM input resistance to 470 ohms which will be a good match for the MySonic cartridge.
  7. sefischer1

    I am sick of failing amplifiers

    I get it, some of you love tubes. Unfortunately, amateur designers are pushing these devices and circuits way beyond practical limits without experience of the trade offs and complications until you call them to tell them about them. Product design? That's a whole other can of worms. Let's see...
  8. sefischer1

    I am sick of failing amplifiers

    I've owned a long series of amps which have all been reliable even when bought used: Harmon Kardon Citation 19, Marantz MA 30 (4), MA 22 (4), Levinson 27.5 (2), 331 (2), Threshold T400, Accuphase A50 (2), Classe CT-500 (2), CA-5100, BAT VK150se (2), Luxman M 800a (2), Pass XA-60.5 (2)...
  9. sefischer1

    Zero Distortion: Tango Time

    Multiple TTs are great just because there are so many to love. But on a practical note, the ability to support multiple arms with different cartridges is a huge benefit. Rather that choosing on a track basis, I've found each record has a recorded personality that often favors one arm/cart combo...
  10. sefischer1

    Paul McGowan Prefers Digital

    I'm not blaming the Koetsu at all. On the contrary, it, along with my Anna, is my go to cartridge for symphonic or large scale or dense music. Similarly I like the Transfiguration Proteus for chamber and small ensemble classical, jazz etc. In this case, unexpectedly, the Ashkenazy just didn't...
  11. sefischer1

    Paul McGowan Prefers Digital

    I like both but for the last many months listen to analog mostly. Opened a new copy of Ashkenazy doing Rachmaninoff concertos and found the sound with the Koetsu Onyx way too warm, thick, dull. Atypically for a symphonic recording, my Transfiguration Proteus stepped up and sounded much better...
  12. sefischer1

    Paul McGowan Prefers Digital

    OMG! There's 36 pages of this.
  13. sefischer1

    Nagra Rip Off?

    I have a Nagra VPS which can be run off of a battery pack which is an option in the Nagra MPS which goes for several thousands. I found a 6000 mAh battery pack on Amazon which has a 12V output connection. I simply bought 2 of them and used a Y adapter to connect them in parallel for a total of...
  14. sefischer1

    Nagra Rip Off?

    The price represents not just the batteries but the product design, case, circuit boards, connectors etc. The ripoff is trying to sell a whole module rather than a new battery pack to plug in. He muses just such a thing.
  15. sefischer1

    Azimuth adjustment the easy way...

    Looks good. What I was trying to describe is that the above is a solid technique but can only resolve to an acceptable solution it the cartridge diamond mount and generator are properly aligned. Tilting a diamond tip won't correct poorly manufactured devices.

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