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Conference hips::uk_audioo

Title:You get surface noise in real life too
Notice:Let's be conformist
Moderator:GOVT02::BARKER
Created:Thu Jul 28 1988
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:550
Total number of notes:3847

446.0. "Phono Problem" by SHIPS::WHITWOOD_N (Nigel Whitwood) Thu Sep 30 1993 15:33

    I have recently purchased a new system and have gone CD only (the
    Rotel amp has line inputs only).
    
    I do have a substantial vinyl collection but have not really listened
    to it for a number of years now, the "high points" having gradually 
    been replaced by CDs.
    
    I do however have a number of obscurities which are unlikely ever to
    appear on CD and a large number where I only like one or two tracks
    (and thus they are not worth replacing).
    
    My solution is to tape these via a "Demion" battery powered phono
    stage directly onto video tape (into the back of a JVC Nicam VCR).
    
    Problems
    
    1.  It is probably because I am now used to CD but the sound seems to 
        lack punch.  This varies from record to record (most from the 70s).
    2.  The combination accasionally picks up (continental) radio
        broadcasts - saves having to buy a tuner :-).
    
    For the record (excuse the pun) its a Rotel RP850 Deck with Audio
    Technica cartridge (110 ?) which sounds marginally better than the
    eight year old Ortophon that it replaced.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
446.1TASTY::JEFFERYChildren need to learn about X in schoolFri Oct 01 1993 08:4411
I guess that the phono stage isn't quite as good as one you get with an
amplifier.

Have you tried earthing the 'earth' for the record player?

This may screen things better.

It seems strange to buy an amp without a phono input. Sign of the times I
suppose.

Mark.
446.2Voltage output of Phono eq.COMICS::FLANDERSDI remember the look in your eyeFri Oct 01 1993 14:167
The other possibility is that the outboard phono stage doesn't produce as much
output as the CD player (typically 2V).

This would certainly have a bearing on "lack of clout" impressions.

Dave
446.3Pre-AmpMASALA::PCARLINBook worm!Sat Oct 02 1993 14:3216
    I don't like the sound of a battery powered pre-amp. Perhaps you could 
    beg, borrow or steal an integrated amplifier with phono inputs and use
    the TAPE socket to plug into your VCR. Alternatively, you could feed 	
    your battery pre-amp into the AUX input of your own amplifier and then
    use its TAPE output to feed the VCR and see if this helps any.
    
    I use a Hi-Fi VCR as my main tape deck with very good results: I have
    my mc cartridge feeding an ordinary pre-amp with my VCR connected to
    its TAPE socket.
    
    I'm also blessed with foreign radio reception on my system. In my case
    it's Radio Moscow and really quite enjoyable although it seems to fade at
    all the good bits.
    
    Paul.
446.4FORTY2::SHIPMANMOGMon Oct 04 1993 09:524
>    I don't like the sound of a battery powered pre-amp.

Why not?  I've heard of pre-amps powered by lead-acid gel cells that're
supposed to be superb.
446.513 Amp PlugKIRKTN::PCARLINMon Oct 04 1993 16:5211
    "Lead-acid gel cells", eh?
    
    I think I'll stick to my 13Amp plug thanks. Anybody who has experienced
    a Naim Hi-Cap  ( its name comes from the expression, "High Capacity" ) 
    will know the benefits of having a good'n'powerfull supply for a pre-amp
    phono stage. I'm not suggesting that our friend above rushes out to buy
    one to cure his VCR problem but even a modest (electrical) pre-amp may
    help. 
    
    Paul.
446.6A few suggestionsRDGENG::FRYBrentTue Oct 05 1993 13:1440
    
>    I do have a substantial vinyl collection but have not really listened
>    to it for a number of years now, the "high points" having gradually 
>    been replaced by CDs.


It wasn't clear to me whether you want to use your turntable, or put
the stuff permanently on some other medium and eventually ditch the turntable?

Can't you get a good magnet phono add-on for your Rotel amp, and then
if you have a moving coil, just use Ortophon in-line step-ups?
I guess this would all depend whether your're going to get rid of the
turntable stuff entirely.

I'm listening to a Linn/Ittok Denon DL-304 cartridge (very v. good!)  through
Ortophon step-ups and it's definitely got the punch, without sacrificing too
much of the subtlety. (Didn't anybody ever tell you you can't get both?)  :) 

I recently beefed up a friend's Linn Linnk moving-coil-to-line pre-amplifier
for 24V lead-acid.  (I've still got the amp if you would like to borrow it,
subject to my friend's approval.)

However... I was unable to get the dynamics I wanted with the Audio-Technica F9
I had at the time, so I went back to the Ortophons into my magnet input. 
After all these years, I know my spending limits, and I'm in the lower
regions of audio nirvana thank you very much. :)

I got one of those Rotel RCD-965BX players they rave about but, well, it's a
CD. :) Actually, speaking of CD, I recently had a revelation in cabling my US
brother's NAD.  We thought we had some good cable going into the amp, but I
didn't particularly like the sound.  So we got some 2-conductor small stranded
cable all surrounded by a screen.  I used the 2 conductors in the normal way,
and tacked the screen to the amp end only, leaving it off the CD end.  Wow! 
What a difference cables make, even with CD high-level signals.  But I digress.

Try to keep some analog/vinyl in your system!

Good luck,
Brent