ernieS
Well-Known Member
At has a tremendous value per dollar spent. I’ve an older AT12XE and a AT2111 that still sound big, bright and beautiful. Love your pics.
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Lowrider
krautmaster
68 Chrysler -440 Magnum !
So I have playing with this new cart quite a bit getting it set up, I use the extra 10 gram weight on the end of the tonearm with the heavy 33xMLD (10.1 grams/17.8 with headshell and screws), and got the resonant frequency in the proper range so that the stylus dances like Jagger from 11hz down to 9 hz. Now I have been adjusting the loading as I read somewhere on the internet that you could use between a 100 and 500 ohm load with this cart. I had initially tried 200 ohms on the Schitt Stjarna preamp but it sounded somewhat sibilant especially in the center tracks of an album (but not the inner tracks ??)... I checked my alignment three times and it was as near perfect as I can get it. I turned the load down to 100 ohms and it was okay, but still lacking (a bit weak).
I swapped the Stjarna out with my Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 which has an infinitely adjustable range from 10 to 1000 ohms, while the Stjarna has 50 ohm steps up to 350 ohms, this way I could tinker around and find the best load for my system. On the DS2 100 to 150 ohms was okay, 175 to 250 was not good at all- very bright high frequencies, tweaking acoustic guitar, and sibilant voices. I went up some more and I found the magic at 350-400 ohms - this baby sings !!! I tried 500 ohms but it was tweaking like a meth head that needs a fix, so back down to 400 ohms it went.
I put the Stjarna back in and set it to its max of 350 ohms and 60 DB gain and it was very very good, but due to all the gain coming from the tubes only, it had a low hum instead of a dead black back ground like the DS2 (which is a hybrid that doesn't get all the gain from the tubes so it is quieter.) So the Stjarna is now in the office with my SL-1200GR2 and AT-VM740xML moving magnet cart and sounding awesome when set at 47 db gain and 50pF.
I'll use the DS2 in the main system with the SL-1300G and At-33xMLB cart set at 60 db gain and 350-400 ohm loading.
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Interesting. As you know, both my Denon and Audio-Technica MC cartridges sound the "fullest" around 200-ohms. This is with the Raytheon 5751 tubes.
Another unabashed example.
Bad Weather.
Off Poco's "From The Inside." EPIC Records. KE 30753. Pitman pressing. 1970.
Run-out: o p PAL 30753-1A
Another unabashed example.
Off Poco's "From The Inside." EPIC Records. KE 30753. Pitman pressing. 1970.
Run-out: o p PAL 30753-1A
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krautmaster
68 Chrysler -440 Magnum !
Interesting. As you know, both my Denon and Audio-Technica MC cartridges sound the "fullest" around 200-ohms. This is with the Raytheon 5751 tubes.
Another unabashed example.
Bad Weather.
Off Poco's "From The Inside." EPIC Records. KE 30753. Pitman pressing. 1970.
Run-out: o p PAL 30753-1A
I currently have a set of long plate JJ ECC803 S in the DS2... next time I swap tubes around I'll see if it still likes that much load. The Stjarna has a quad of Voshkod Rocket 6N1P tubes and the cart liked the max load (350 ohms) on that one too.
I rolled maybe one new issue pair of Gold Lion 12AX7/B759 and a bunch of NOS through the pre-amp the first week. But, for whatever reason, when I put the Raytheon Windmills in this particular unit, the difference was day and night (not close).
Kinda like when I went to close mic'ing using studio-quality AKG mics and acoustic panels, there was a day and night difference in the recordings.
A lot of experimenting. But now I'm set.
One thing, all the fuss is worth it, as good pressings really sound good. Unfortunately, the gap between good and bad pressings is more apparent.
So, you may be forced to find good, clean pressings to bring out the setup's full glory.Another unashamed video.
Bloodstone's "Natural High." DECCA (UK). SKL 5150. 1972.
Run-out: XZAL-11698.P-1W.
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If my phono preamp offered 200 ohms, I would use that with my AT33 PTGII. Have to use 150 ohms, which sounds very good! Used 243 ohms but didn't sound as good as 150 ohms. With Denon DL-103, using 660 ohms. More open with better high frequency detail.Interesting. As you know, both my Denon and Audio-Technica MC cartridges sound the "fullest" around 200-ohms. This is with the Raytheon 5751 tubes.
Another unabashed example.
Bad Weather.
Off Poco's "From The Inside." EPIC Records. KE 30753. Pitman pressing. 1970.
Run-out: o p PAL 30753-1A
So, maybe there is some specific cartridge/pre-amp thing going on. Anything above 200-ohms on either the Denon 103R or 103SA does not sound good (not full-sounding), in my system with my ears.
Oh, yes, the 103R has different internal ohms. Much lower than standard 103, which is 40 ohms.So, maybe there is some specific cartridge/pre-amp thing going on. Anything above 200-ohms on either the Denon 103R or 103SA does not sound good (not full-sounding), in my system with my ears.
krautmaster
68 Chrysler -440 Magnum !
I believe it has to do with the tubes in my system (the ones in the DS2 phono amp and the ones in my Freya+preamp). I put my Raytheon windmill getter 5751's back in the DS2 and the 33xMLD now likes 230-250 ohms. Later I'll swap out the tubes in the Freya+ from the Ray Select to some vintage Sylvania chrome tops and see what happens then.So, maybe there is some specific cartridge/pre-amp thing going on. Anything above 200-ohms on either the Denon 103R or 103SA does not sound good (not full-sounding), in my system with my ears.
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krautmaster
68 Chrysler -440 Magnum !
After tube rolling with the DS2 phono amp and Freya+ preamp for most of the day I have determined that using the Ray Select 6SN7 tubes in the Freya + and the Raytheon windmill getter 5751 tubes in the DS2 provides the best sound with the loading turned up to 350-400 ohms. This setup provides the widest and most 3D sound stage than any other combo.
The new AT-33xMLD needs a different loading than the older PTG II and the 33Sa... must be due to the new three piece body (zinc, aluminum, and polymer) and suspension. At loads below 280 ohms some voices were sibilant and occasionally a bit sharp, loads of 300 and above smoothed them out, above 350 bright piano notes and acoustic guitars also smoothed out. Going above 420-450 and electric guitar got really tweaky (overload) with a bit of honk. Anyway, the 33xMLD sounds wonderous !
The new AT-33xMLD needs a different loading than the older PTG II and the 33Sa... must be due to the new three piece body (zinc, aluminum, and polymer) and suspension. At loads below 280 ohms some voices were sibilant and occasionally a bit sharp, loads of 300 and above smoothed them out, above 350 bright piano notes and acoustic guitars also smoothed out. Going above 420-450 and electric guitar got really tweaky (overload) with a bit of honk. Anyway, the 33xMLD sounds wonderous !
How is the 103 working for you?
Have a Zero 100sb over here which still is due for a new cartridge or replacement stylus.
ernieS
Well-Known Member
The reduction of “record noise” is dramatically reduced. It sounds amazing. My next fav is a Sumiko Perl. Excellent detail without being bright, Grado Black III, very mellow and warm. Also have an AT12XE and AT2111, AT71. They won’t be used again. No cartridge is as quiet as the Denon. It’s an MC. Lucky to have a Mitsubishi DA-P20 that has MM & MC.
I’ve just ordered a Zero 100 to restore. The restoration on the Zero 92 was a tough go. Especially when I used an aftermarket sled that tore out the contacts. Lucky to have a parts 92.
A genuine thank you for sharing all of this and wish you fun with the upcoming Z100 restoration.
N2552
Super Member
My only cartridge. A JVC 4MD-20X discrete 4-channel CD-4 MM cart. No stylus yet.
So I had to check if it will work at all. I don't have a turntable you see. And neither a stylus
But today I was going to find out and did the channel resistance multimeter test.
It measures well into specs 480 Mili Ohm right and 460 mili Ohms left channel. Not bad for a 40 plus year old mm cart.
You see I paid 70 euros plus shipping to the Netherlands for this thing on a Belgian used good site. Sold "AS-IS, Don't know if it works, no returns", in late 2024 when I still had my 70's JVC quad gear.
But I will use it someday in the future as a decent 2 channel stereo MM cart.
So I had to check if it will work at all. I don't have a turntable you see. And neither a stylus
But today I was going to find out and did the channel resistance multimeter test.
It measures well into specs 480 Mili Ohm right and 460 mili Ohms left channel. Not bad for a 40 plus year old mm cart.
You see I paid 70 euros plus shipping to the Netherlands for this thing on a Belgian used good site. Sold "AS-IS, Don't know if it works, no returns", in late 2024 when I still had my 70's JVC quad gear.
But I will use it someday in the future as a decent 2 channel stereo MM cart.