New! See Michael Fremer's Review of the SW1X LPU III Balanced Phono Stage

[Joe Cohen]

Analog Corner #324: Phono Cartridge Standards, SW1X LPU III Balanced phono preamplifier, Sumiko Wellfleet phono cartridge

Whenever I do turntable-setup seminars, I complain to the participants about the lack of cartridge-pin diameter and clip-opening standards. Anyone who does their own setup has experienced it: The connection is too tight or too loose. Forcing the clip onto the pin usually results in a broken-off...

www.stereophile.com

Please note the things he says the LPU III Balanced does better than his CH Precision P1 and X1 combo, which is 4 times the cost!

 

[bonzo75]

Analog Corner #324: Phono Cartridge Standards, SW1X LPU III Balanced phono preamplifier, Sumiko Wellfleet phono cartridge

Whenever I do turntable-setup seminars, I complain to the participants about the lack of cartridge-pin diameter and clip-opening standards. Anyone who does their own setup has experienced it: The connection is too tight or too loose. Forcing the clip onto the pin usually results in a broken-off...

www.stereophile.com

Please note the things he says the LPU III Balanced does better than his CH Precision P1 and X1 combo, which is 4 times the cost!

Where did you read that it does better?

"My reference, the solid state CH Precision P1, with the X1 power supply, produced a different but equally pleasing sensation, the musical event occurring well back in space from where the LPU III placed it. While the colors were somewhat muted and the three-dimensionality less exuberant, the imaging and soundstaging solidity produced an equally convincing picture, though with noticeably less air. That was compensated for by the P1/X1's bottom-end weight and solidity, which had me concluding, as I did for the LPU I, that while the SW1X LPU III is easy to recommend for classical and acoustic jazz, rockers in need of full electric bass extension and transient grip should look elsewhere."

 

[Joe Cohen]

Where did you read that it does better?

"My reference, the solid state CH Precision P1, with the X1 power supply, produced a different but equally pleasing sensation, the musical event occurring well back in space from where the LPU III placed it. While the colors were somewhat muted and the three-dimensionality less exuberant, the imaging and soundstaging solidity produced an equally convincing picture, though with noticeably less air. That was compensated for by the P1/X1's bottom-end weight and solidity, which had me concluding, as I did for the LPU I, that while the SW1X LPU III is easy to recommend for classical and acoustic jazz, rockers in need of full electric bass extension and transient grip should look elsewhere."

"....the colors were somewhat muted and the three-dimensionality less exuberant..with noticeably less air..."

He is describing the things the P1 and X1combo does less well. However, even if we reduce it to just this - "an equally convincing picture", one would have to admit that that is quite an accomplishment at 1/4 the price, no?

 

[LL21]

Congrats...holding your own ground vs the CH (at 4x the price) is serious mettle. Look forward to hearing your reference digital someday.

 

[Joe Cohen]

Congrats...holding your own ground vs the CH (at 4x the price) is serious mettle. Look forward to hearing your reference digital someday.

Thank you. All credit to Slawa Roschkow.

 

[Joe Cohen]

Electrified Yello SW1X Pre III Special and SW1X LPU III Balanced Phono Stage. The very one Fremer reviewed.

Please listen loud with headphones. Weak bass?

 

[Joe Cohen]

Try this little ditty.... Another Brick In The Wall, Pink Floyd

Headphones, Loud

How we doin' on the bass?

 

[Atmasphere]

he imaging and soundstaging solidity produced an equally convincing picture, though with noticeably less air. That was compensated for by the P1/X1's bottom-end weight and solidity,

FWIW dept.: the ear acts a bit like a tone control- if there is more bass, the highs will get less emphasis. Conversely if there is a brightness on top the sound might seem bass shy even though it isn't. So the bass extension or whatever it is about the P1 having more emphasis easily explains the 'less air'.

 

[Joe Cohen]

FWIW dept.: the ear acts a bit like a tone control- if there is more bass, the highs will get less emphasis. Conversely if there is a brightness on top the sound might seem bass shy even though it isn't. So the bass extension or whatever it is about the P1 having more emphasis easily explains the 'less air'.

Quite reasonable… Michael made the point that these two components gave equally convincing performances but in different ways.