Aesthetix Io Users Group

[Kcin]

The lowest cartridge that I have tried is the Etsuro Gold at 0.3mV at this point. The only other low output cartridge I have on hand is the Koetsu Jade at the same output. I think my GFS is double that.

It is just clear to me that silence is impressive based solely on the PS upgrades. The tubes are the same ones I had been using prior to sending the units in.

 

[OGH]

This sounds very good. My Lyra Atlas is .56 and the Io is silent with the right tubes. I have been lucky to get a quad of ultra silent Telefunken in the first gain stage. Though there is some background noise, it is even lower than with the jj tubes supplied by aesthetix in 2018. Yet I am reluctant to switch to another cart with lower output. Does the new upgrade fix that?

 

[oldvinyl]

No question that the original chassis is "functional" at best. I have heard the full eclipse chassis version and frankly could not tell the difference. On the other hand, from a pride of ownership point of view it wins.

I have the original chassis now upgraded to full Eclipse and and with the latest transformer and choke/wiring/PS mods. That is where the upgrade $ should go if anyone is considering it. I believe it to be greater in magnitude than the partial eclipse upgrade. It is stunning.

On the other hand, some would call me overdamped--- I have yet to re install my damping plates and VPI bricks etc since getting the Io back. I believe there to benefit to damping the chassis.

I too use the Walker Validpoints on top of the power supplies and the phono stage; 3 on each. Not really sure how much effect they have given the build of the HRS rack.

 

[oldvinyl]

The lowest cartridge that I have tried is the Etsuro Gold at 0.3mV at this point. The only other low output cartridge I have on hand is the Koetsu Jade at the same output. I think my GFS is double that.

It is just clear to me that silence is impressive based solely on the PS upgrades. The tubes are the same ones I had been using prior to sending the units in.

I agree - the new transformers and power supply capacitors leave barely a trace of tube rush. Also interesting is that they give the impression of reducing groove noise.

The Io is just quiet quiet quiet with these updated power supplies.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Same with the new Callisto, Don Saltzman reports.

 

[OGH]

Interesting. And even groove noise? some kind of filtering? My Einstein The tube mk2 preamp is a champion of 'silent' but not sure i like it so much.

 

[oldvinyl]

Interesting. And even groove noise? some kind of filtering? My Einstein The tube mk2 preamp is a champion of 'silent' but not sure i like it so much.

I honestly don't know what would give the impression of less groove noise, but it sounds that way. Maybe other folks with the latest power supply mods can weigh in on whether they notice any reduction of groove noise.

All I can say is that the Io is eerily quiet for 1) vinyl and 2) beaucoup tubes.

The power supply updates would in no way filter signal from the cartridge. So, no - I don't think power supply filtering is involved.

 

[OGH]

I would guess - it simply means less noise. And thereby, affecting groove noise too. And tube choices. I suspect that with this upgrade, the Io might work well with the low output carts from e g Lyra, like Atlas or Etna SL versions, but I have not heard this combination.

A question: is there a big benefit of using footers under the Io power supplies, if they already stand very solidly on their stock feet, in a stable granite rack? And if yes it makes a difference - should they be decoupling (like spring footers) or rather send the vibrations down, like cones?

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

you want to isolate psus from surrounding vibes or "drain" from psu
I´d go Rubloc Trisolators which is a pro no BS isolation product I´ve used for many years

FMT acoustics - Your partner for acoustic materials and solutions

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last time I demoed them for Rune Skramstad from NNNN when we tried his new transmissionline subs in my system, and he was shocked as to their isolation properties

 

[Kcin]

I have the largest HRS pucks under my PSs and I have what was the top HRS platform under my Io ... I have not kept up with HRS product development over the past few years.

The industrial product is interesting for sure. We have similar products in NA

My point is that I believe that you can impress better performance from good isolation on all parts of the Io and probably many other products.

On the power supply upgrade: whether you have to do it or whether you do it for an upgrade--- it offers uncanny silence for a 32 tube device - there is no noise or hiss with selected tubes. It is an order of magnitude quieter that the original Mercury Magnetics transformers. It is SS quiet. YMMV and all that.

 

[oldvinyl]

I would guess - it simply means less noise. And thereby, affecting groove noise too. And tube choices. I suspect that with this upgrade, the Io might work well with the low output carts from e g Lyra, like Atlas or Etna SL versions, but I have not heard this combination.

A question: is there a big benefit of using footers under the Io power supplies, if they already stand very solidly on their stock feet, in a stable granite rack? And if yes it makes a difference - should they be decoupling (like spring footers) or rather send the vibrations down, like cones?

HRS
Aesthetix uses Nimbus couplers from HRS in place of the feet for the Eclipse version. I prefer these or something like christensenleif mentioned over springs, cones or ceramic devices.

My impression is that the fancy footers help, but it is not a huge difference in my system. That’s also why I prefer the couplers - they are a reasonably priced option.

 

[Lagonda]

I have the largest HRS pucks under my PSs and I have what was the top HRS platform under my Io ... I have not kept up with HRS product development over the past few years.

The industrial product is interesting for sure. We have similar products in NA

My point is that I believe that you can impress better performance from good isolation on all parts of the Io and probably many other products.

On the power supply upgrade: whether you have to do it or whether you do it for an upgrade--- it offers uncanny silence for a 32 tube device - there is no noise or hiss with selected tubes. It is an order of magnitude quieter that the original Mercury Magnetics transformers. It is SS quiet. YMMV and all that.

Did they change capacitors and other parts along with the transformers ? You guys have the older Io's that have been upgraded trough 20 years ?

 

[Kcin]

Did they change capacitors and other parts along with the transformers ? You guys have the older Io's that have been upgraded trough 20 years ?

Hi Milan,


I got my Io update about 4-5 years ago to Eclipse at that time I got some of the electrolytic caps in the head unit and the filament smoothing electrolytic caps in the PS's changed on their recommendation. At that time it was to current parts standards.

This time I got all the Transformers changed, grounding scheme change AND they recommended new filter caps in the PS again because they said they are now are of a better quality. My service record is with them so they did some accommodation for me on the PS caps because they just did them on the Eclipse mod a few years back.

I went for the full monty.

 

[OGH]

My power supplies stand on hefty granite slabs (Larvikite) at the bottom of my rack. The wood floor below the rack is supported by columns from the basement. External vibrations are not a big issue, I can jump in front of the rack with no cartridge skipping, etc. So damping to protect from external vibration seems less relevant. But I am open to the idea that a very stable foundation plus good isolation is a way to go. Not one or the other, but a combination. I have ordered Nobsound springs, to test this. I find that in most matters of damping, vibration control, etc, the best solution is "just so". Not too much, not too little.
So far, my experiments with Cerapucs and other feet below the power supplies, on the big stone platforms, have been so-so. In the "well yes maybe" class. Not a big improvement. But we shall see.

 

[OGH]

Is there a verdict, with the updated ps? Should I consider a very low output cart (like .25), or stick to more robust voltage, like .40, or (like I have now), .56? My impression over the years is the Io likes MC carts with a fairly high output. Not just due to overcome tube noise but also to get the full dynamic sound, explosive transients, etc. But maybe this is no longer the case? What is the optimal cart output, with the new ps? I like Lyra carts, and maybe an SL low output version would now work well with the Io. But I would not try that, unless i had a clear "go for it" response.

 

[OGH]

Some years ago I had an email discussion with Glenn at Aesthetix, about SUT. I had a low output Lyra and tried it with a SUT into Io. He said, basically, forget it. I heard the same. It was money out the window. Why invest in a SUT when you already have pure tube amplification.

 

[oldvinyl]

Is there a verdict, with the updated ps? Should I consider a very low output cart (like .25), or stick to more robust voltage, like .40, or (like I have now), .56? My impression over the years is the Io likes MC carts with a fairly high output. Not just due to overcome tube noise but also to get the full dynamic sound, explosive transients, etc. But maybe this is no longer the case? What is the optimal cart output, with the new ps? I like Lyra carts, and maybe an SL low output version would now work well with the Io. But I would not try that, unless i had a clear "go for it" response.

Hmmm …. I can’t say much about the low output cartridges. I have only used Benz LP, Benz LP-S and Clearaudio Goldfinger with the Io.

What I can recommend is to get the power supplies fully updated (grounding, capacitors and transformers), then clean all the sockets, connectors, cable plugs, tube sockets. Then assess the results and decide whether or not to use a cartridge with lower output.

Aspects of that decision are personal - they depend on listening preferences and music tastes. Factors such as table, tonearm, cables, power also affect the outcome.

I will say that the updates are very noticeable - and in a good way. With well recorded and mastered vinyl, it is easy to forget that a spinning record is involved. The latest DG Original Source Vinyl have no background noise on the Io (other than the lead in or lead out grooves).

For a change like that, I would try to find a way to audition the cartridge first.

 

[audioquest4life]

Is there a verdict, with the updated ps? Should I consider a very low output cart (like .25), or stick to more robust voltage, like .40, or (like I have now), .56? My impression over the years is the Io likes MC carts with a fairly high output. Not just due to overcome tube noise but also to get the full dynamic sound, explosive transients, etc. But maybe this is no longer the case? What is the optimal cart output, with the new ps? I like Lyra carts, and maybe an SL low output version would now work well with the Io. But I would not try that, unless i had a clear "go for it" response.

I have the new power supplies and other electrical upgrades since 2021. This is a partial Eclipse upgrade but with any other electrical upgrades deemed necessary to upgrade my unit. I suppose this is the caps as now they are gold foil.

The Io has up to 82.5 db gain (volume set at 45 (wide open)) in a volume controlled unit or 80 db gain in non volume controlled configurations. I have my jumpers set to 62 db gain in a non volume controlled unit. I have Been using that with .34 mv output (Benz LP and LPS) and with Soundsmith Hyperion with .40 MV output and Air Tight Opus 1 with .45 mv output. All these cartridges were used with the Io using the same gain of 62 db. Utter quietness during playback. My preamp (Octave Jubilee) does offer a high / low gain switch and mine is set to low gain because the designer made that option for horn speakers. So that works for me. I still only can crank it up about 1/4 to 1/3 because it plays loud, very loud. My horns are 103 db efficient and 16 ohm rating.

I mention all this because the gain setting of the phono amp is part of the entire playback system. The lower noise floor with the upgraded power supplies adds to the realization that you have more gain options because the phono amp is quieter. There is no discernible hum and the background is quieter with minimum tube rush. Way less than before. This makes listening to music more enjoyable and also perhaps affords the ability to hear some groove noise. I think with such a low noise floor in the Io, you would be okay to try a gain setting of 68-70 for experimenting. I caveat that by inferring that one has the new power supplies and that they don’t have spurious noise from tubes. I do not have tube noise. I am using all OEM tubes except for V1/V2 which are Sovtek balanced, matched, low noise tested 12AX7s. Works for me just fine.

 

[oldvinyl]

I have the new power supplies and other electrical upgrades since 2021. This is a partial Eclipse upgrade but with any other electrical upgrades deemed necessary to upgrade my unit. I suppose this is the caps as now they are gold foil.

The gold capacitors in the phono stage (head unit) are Peter Moncrief's Stealth Capacitors. They are coupling capacitors and contribute to improvements in sound quality.


The power supply capacitors are part of the voltage regulation and filtering. These are the new Panasonic (if I recall) that are the ones we have been attributing the lower noise floor to. This comes from less noise within the capacitor and better filtering of the noise from the voltage regulation. They have the purple or green case color (under all the transformer leads).

 

[Kcin]

I can only reiterate that the new transformers, grounding, and heater supply caps are transformational. Explicitly quiet and as a result you hear deep into the music with exquisite rendition of space. Highly recommended modification.